Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Oystercatchers, Loons, Scoters

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 4:33 am, sunset 11:26 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 53 minutes. Tomorrow will be 0 minutes and 34 seconds longer. That's about it! We've reached the max!

 

Mild temperatures continued today with a low of 43 accompanied by drizzle, and a high of 53 under partly cloudy conditions in the afternoon. The sky was weirdly hazy from wildfire smoke drifted over from the raging wildfires in British Columbia, Canada. The forecast calls for temps rising into the mid-60s with sunshine for the next few days, then back to clouds and showers.

 

Yesterday, at Fourth of July Beach, a loud, ringing “WHEEP! WHEEP!” spun me around in time to see a pair of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS flying along the shore. The chunky all-black shorebirds with long, red bills and orange eyes landed on the other side of the creek and snuggled down in the rocks exposed at the low tide. After a few minutes, back they flew, the lead WHEEPING as they flew far out into the middle of the bay and disappeared. What a great surprise and hard to miss!

 

Next, I found a pair of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS paddling, stretching, and flying, displaying their white wing patches. I wondered if they were the same birds spotted this winter. What strange and fascinating flattened bills they have! That white crescent under the drake’s pale eye is very fetching!

 

Today, I refound the White-winged Scoters with 13 SURF SCOTERS, diving in synchrony just offshore. The Surfer drakes sported almost gaudy orange, white, and red bills, riveting pale blue eyes, white foreheads, and a dashing white stripe down the back of their heads. A pleasure to see.

 

A bit farther out, I found first one, then two COMMON LOONS in full breeding plumage diving and paddling away, then closer. Can black and white birds get any more stunning? Their pattern of white stripes and spots was impeccable. When they stretched, it looked like a cape of glittering stars laid out across their wings and backs.

 

A male BALD EAGLE perched in a nearby cottonwood while the female sat patiently on her palatial rainforest nest. Godwin Glacier peeked out of its mountain cradle, blue crevasses atop the newly exposed bedrock. 

 

What a place, Resurrection Bay, framed by spectacular scenery and home to fabulous birds!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Reporter

  

Sunday, June 15, 2025 Alas, no cygnets

Seward, Alaska

Though I’ve checked the Nash Road Mile 1 pond twice a day since Friday, I have not seen any signs of cygnets. I watched expectantly as the adults emerged from behind the tall vegetation, straining to see the tiny babies close beside them. Hopes rose. After both were fully in view, my heart sank anew. The adults paddled serenely either singly or together without any babies in tow every time. 

 

I even found a MALLARD hen hiding in the wind-blown grass near the nest on Friday evening while the parents were out dining. Hopes sank. On Saturday, an adult Swan preened by the nest before slipping into the water. Hopes rose. This morning, one Swan paddled from the middle of the pond to the back. Hopes sank again. There is nothing to indicate that they are parents.

 

It seems they are content to rest and eat in this productive wetlands while maintaining ownership for next year. Sigh.

 

Sorry for the sad news.

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, June 12, 2025 No Cygnets YET

Seward, Alaska

 

I checked the pond at Nash Road this morning: only one TRUMPETER SWAN in the far back. I checked again this afternoon around 5:45 pm and found one Swan close to the road, leisurely preening and eating water horsetails without any apparent concerns. It was delightful to watch him up so close, nestled among the blooming bog buckbean.

 

I repeatedly scanned the pond, particularly the nest site, now overgrown with greenery. Nothing.

 

By and by, the Swan slowly paddled off, grabbing bites of salad as he went. I looked one more time before starting the car to drive home and saw, to my astonishment and relief, a white Swan rising like a specter from the grass shrouding the nest! She stood over the nest, big as a billboard, as I strained to see if there were any puffs visible underneath. No, not yet. 

 

How did I miss seeing her all these times? Her presence explains why her mate remained. He wasn’t alone after all!

 

She proceeded to carefully cover the nest with nearby vegetation as her handsome beau approached. Then she gracefully descended and they both paddled off, side by side. Expectant parents, enjoying a few quiet moments before the kids hatched and dominated their every moment for the next 9 or 10 months.

 

There is hope! While this is a very late date for hatching, the grand event could be any day. Perhaps when I check tomorrow, they will be bookending their darling babies on a tour of the fast food joints nearby. And then, let the milestones flash by!

 

Hooray!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Wednesday, June 11, 2025 No Cygnets

Seward, Alaska

 

Sunrise 4:35 am, sunset 11:21 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 45 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 38 seconds longer as we approach the longest day of the year during Summer Solstice on June 20.

 

After being out of town for several days, I anxiously checked for the TRUMPETER SWAN family today at Mile One Nash Road. The pond seemed eerily empty. 

Yes, there was a MALLARD family of cheeping ducklings, a handsome drake RING-NECKED DUCK, the rattle of a KINGFISHER, and several TREE SWALLOWS swooping over the water. Finally, in the far back, I saw the long white neck of one adult Swan periscoping above the green vegetation. Just one.

 

Last Wednesday, both Swans were away from the nest, on what I hoped was a lunch break. On Saturday, Tasha texted concern about both Swans being away from the nest without their babies close by. She feared that the high water in May may have flooded or chilled the eggs and made them unviable. Or the cold, wet spring, or any number of other reasons for nest failure.

 

I checked again later today and didn’t even find one Swan. This is highly unusual. Swans do not leave their cygnets. Poof! Gone was the anticipated joy of counting the tiny youngsters, then watching them learn about food by imitating their magnificent parents, to see them grow and gain confidence, to fledge, and learn survival skills in the lean winter, and then to be totally independent and the cycle started anew. 

 

I will keep checking on the slim chance that they have been well-concealed, hoping for the best but fearing the loss. Sometimes it’s just tough to watch Mother Nature.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

Monday, June 2, 2025 Trumpeter Swans update

Seward, Alaska

 

Sunrise 4:45 am, sunset 11:09 pm, for a total day length of 18 hours and 24 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 0 seconds longer.

 

Cool spring temps with a low of 38 and a high of 44 continue with scattered rain showers and a southerly breeze. 

 

Every few days, I check on the nesting TRUMPETER SWANS at Mile 1, Nash Road. The female (pen) has been diligently sitting on her eggs through rain, wind, and chilly temperatures for the past month. 

A few times on warmer days, I observed her rise and carefully use her bill to cover her precious family with vegetation. Then, she eased over the side of the nest into the nearby water, and paddled straight for the water horsetails on the edge of the pond. She must get very hungry!

 

Meanwhile, the male (cob) luxuriated in eating, preening, and napping whenever and wherever he likes, while keeping a sharp eye out for intruders, of course! 

 

On May 27, I happened to arrive just as he took off from the pond. I leapt out of my car to watch and photograph his flight. He ponderously flapped his wings and slapped his giant black webbed feet on the surface, then rose and circled around the pond. He didn’t go far and soon descended with a waterski splash to the smaller pond on the east side of the road and grabbed some salad.

 

After a short while, he paddled to the far end of the pond, bugled, and again revved his engine for takeoff. My heart was in my throat as he gained altitude, abruptly veering upwards past the first row of high-voltage power line wires, and then the next set. I was so relieved when he finally cleared the menacing and deadly wires and landed safely back on the other pond. 

 

A 25-pound Swan who falls after hitting power lines, has little to no chance of surviving the crash, even if he is not electrocuted. 

 

On May 31, I was surprised to hear a “honk!” and find seven Trumpeter Swans flying in a ragged line at the head of the bay. They landed but soon took off. The leading pair of adults few right overhead on their way to the edge of the low tide, followed by two more adults and three, year-old cygnets. After a short while, the pair again took off, trailed closely by the other five.

 

The beautiful Swans flew in an ever-widening circle around the valley becoming smaller and smaller until they disappeared. Where did they come from, and where did they go? More mysteries to ponder. 

 

Today, the pen was still sitting on her nest. I’m excited to see how many cygnets will pop out this year…four like last year? Seven?  The answer will be revealed soon!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Snipe Hunt, Humpback Whale, Black-bellied Plover

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 4:53 am, sunset 11:00 pm, for a total day length of 18 hours and 7 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 36 seconds longer.

 

Yesterday, I was determined to see and photograph a winnowing WILSON’S SNIPE. The ventriloquist males, swooping down from great heights, have been serenading their best beloved, or whatever might be paying attention, for weeks. Staring up at the blank sky in the general direction of the eerie sound, it seemed impossible at first and a bit ludicrous. I hoped no one was watching. 

 

Then, yes! A silent speck rising and falling with a quavering “woo-woo-woo-woo-woo.” There! Another male! First one, then the other, swooping and looping sky specks, vibrating their outspread tail feathers. What clever fellows!

 

Seen on the ground, one might not believe that these chunky, long-billed, short-legged shorebirds could be so aerobatic. Gotta see it to believe it; good luck!

 

After a hard rain last night, this morning dawned bright and clear with a very strong north wind with gusts to 23 mph. The temperature rose from a chilly 34 to a pleasant 50º by mid-afternoon.

 

From the shore at Fourth of July Beach I saw a Humpback Whale breaching in the distance, white belly flashing! Wow! As I watched, it swam down the bay, closer. A pleasure craft had stopped and all the passengers in the stern were intently watching something that I could not see. 

The huge Humpback approached the bow, dove under, and resurfaced a good distance aft, apparently undetected. Then it fluked, showing a small patch of white on the underside, dove deeply, and disappeared. So cool!

 

At the head of the bay, just as I was thinking about BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, last seen about a month ago, a handsome male popped up as if conjured! Another surprise!

 

Nearby, a dapper SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER expertly plucked amphipods from the muck, some wrapped in algae. Not a speck of mud spoiled his immaculate white plumage.

 

Over at the Waterfront, I did not refind the Wandering Tattlers, but caught a glimpse of a likely SPOTTED SANDPIPER flitting along the beach.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

 

Monday, May 26, 2025 Terns, Tattlers, Crane

Seward, Alaska

 

The Seward waterfront campgrounds filled up for the Memorial Day weekend, spilling vacationing visitors onto the beaches with fishing poles, kids, and dogs.

 

I was amazed on Friday to find the pair of WANDERING TATTLERS prowling among the algae-covered rocks by Scheffler Creek, plucking amphipods and other goodies as people and dogs walked past, oblivious. They somehow survived the pressure of the long weekend. This evening, I happened to see them mating! I wonder if that means they hope to try to nest here?

 

A pair of AMERICAN WIGEON enjoyed fresh green algae nipped off the intertidal rocks. They too, frequent this area, apparently nest-free.

 

ARCTIC TERNS zipped along the shore, diving for recently released salmon smolt or other smaller fish. A skirmish broke out between a fisher and fishless, something I rarely see. I lost track of the prize as two Terns continued a rather fierce confrontation without it. 

 

3 BONAPARTES GULLS in varying intermediate plumages with one in full breeding plumage stood in the shallows. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES occasionally patrolled the waters.

 

This evening at the head of the bay, I was delighted and surprised to find a solitary SANDHILL CRANE quietly feeding in the sedges. His pals have long since headed north, leaving him behind for now. 

And, guess who at 11:15 pm? That persistent little SAW-WHET OWL, beeping from far up the forested slope of Mt Marathon.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter