Sunday, October 26, 2025 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Yellow-billed Loon, Killdeer, Dunlins

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 9:07 am, sunset 6:18 pm for a total day length of 9 hours and 11 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 17 seconds shorter. 

 

Seward basked (relatively) in a brilliantly sunny weekend though the temps dipped to a low of 30 overnight. The skim of ice on the Lagoon and frost soon melted with highs of 36-38. Cooler temps and mixed snow/rain are in the forecast for the next few days.

 

A trio of phenomenal birders descended on Seward on Saturday and pulled out a fantastic number of species (over 50!) I felt fortunate to tag along in their wake for a bit. The weekend headliner featured five juvenile SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS, a new local record.

 

A single DUNLIN accompanied the wayward Asiatic sandpipers in the saltmarsh while a second Dunlin foraged solo in the tidelands. They found a seasonally expected surprise KILLDEER that split time between the tidelands and the pond, and the immature NORTHERN SHRIKE far out on the tide flats, harassed by a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE.

 

Two CACKLING GEESE, subspecies minima, joined the lonely juvenile in the salt marsh. Maybe they will be able to migrate together and figure out the way? 

 

Bristling with scopes and binocs, sharp eyes and radar hearing, they pulled one bird after the other out of the ether. I was especially impressed with their sightings of Loons, apparently all over the place: two Common Loons and one Pacific Loon at Fourth of July Beach, a Pacific Loon at Spring Creek Beach, a Common Loon along the Waterfront and along Lowell Point Road, two more Pacific Loons along Lowell Point Road, and a very uncommon Red-Throated Loon along Lowell Point Road.

 

They even found the 16 STARLINGS in town that flew over my car on October 19 and have proved elusive and camera-shy since.

 

While looking to refind a few of those fabulous Loons today, I found a YELLOW-BILLED LOON at Spring Creek Beach! Too cool!

 

The moral of the story is to bring a sherpa to carry your scope. Or just get lucky and sail along with these birders.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, October 24, 2025 Anna’s Hummingbird update

Seward, Alaska

In the dusk around 5 pm on Tuesday, October 21, I spotted the distinctive silhouette of the elusive ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD quietly perching on a bare branch of an aspen tree near the feeder. I did not see it feed. 

 

On Wednesday, it rained so hard during a big storm, I needed windshield wipers on my kitchen window. I leaped up, camera in hand when the hummer zoomed in to the feeder around 9:30 am. 

 

Though the light was dim and the rain ran in rivulets down the window, I snapped a photo though the glass as he turned and flashed his scattered magenta speckles. The minimal spangles lead me to think he is an immature male. I wonder if youngsters are extending their range from BC, or if he was a born and raised Alaskan?

 

I did not see him on Thursday, but after another dreary, dim, rainy morning, the sun peeked out around noon and the hummer returned. He seemed a bit jumpy, flitting up then back, maybe wary of the Nuthatches and Chickadees zipping in and out of the big-bird exclosure. But he soon settled back down to rest on the handy feeder perch while he sipped the cold sugar solution.

 

He's a toughie! As the news traveled, other neighbors were considering putting up their hummingbird feeders too. Spread the joy! Nothing like the sight of a tiny hummingbird to cheer one up on these otherwise gloomy days.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Update: Hummer bander extraordinaire, Todd Eskelin, confirmed that this is definitely a hatch-year male. The closest known breeders are in Juneau, so he could have hatched in SE Alaska, but Todd thought it more likely he came from British Columbia, Canada. Over 75% of the Anna's he has banded have been hatch-year males. They are the most likely to disperse to new areas.

Monday, October 20, 2025 Red-faced Cormorant, Tundra Swan

Seward, Alaska

I did not see the flashy green Anna’s Hummingbird today. However, I did refind the CACKLING GOOSE, MIA since Friday, hanging out with MALLARDS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, and GADWALL.

 

Hundreds of Silver Salmon returned home last week, flooding into Scheffler Creek the Lagoon, and into the small tributaries. The fish-viewing platform just north of the Gateway Hotel on Fourth Ave provided great views of a dense formation swimming in the middle of the stream. Salmon spawned right in front of the interpretive signs. 

 

The bonanza attracted many predators. Harbor Seals lurked at the mouth of Scheffler Creek and Steller Sea Lions patrolled in deeper water. BALD EAGLES, RAVENS, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, AMERICAN CROWS, and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES in turn feasted on fresh salmon on the sandbar in the Lagoon. DIPPERS and MALLARDS dined on salmon eggs. It’s the last hurrah before winter.

 

On Thursday, October 16, I found seven GREAT BLUE HERONS perched on the fuel tanks stacked in the industrial zone near the airport wetlands; adaptable birds! A late-date SNIPE flushed from the sedges.

 

On Friday, on an end-of-season ebike ride on Exit Glacier Road, I had the pleasure of hearing PINE GROSBEAKS singing in the distance. I have yet to hear them in town.

 

Over at the seafood processing plant on Lowell Point Road on Saturday, I found an immature RED-FACED CORMORANT fishing with a single DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and several PELAGIC CORMORANTS. The species trio made for great comparisons. The Red-faced Cormorant’s light-colored bill, thicker than a Pelagic Cormorant’s, really stood out. 

 

An immature RED-NECKED GREBE paddled along shore. A few dozen BARROW GOLDENEYES rafted and dove among the scattered BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, and SHORT-BILLED GULLS. 

 

Seeking refuge from the chilly blast of the north wind, I hunkered down at Fourth of July Beach. It seemed really quiet bird-wise. Then, I saw a male BELTED KINGFISHER successfully spot, dive, catch, and eat several small fish in succession from his perch at the top of the sheet-pile breakwater. What a superb fisher!

 

On Sunday, two distant Swans circled the head of the bay and then flew off to the northeast. When I checked my photos, I discovered one was a TRUMPETER SWAN, as expected. But the other, smaller Swan, sported a yellow spot in front of its eye: a TUNDRA SWAN!

 

That afternoon, the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD visited my feeder.

 

What an exciting week!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

Sunday, October 19, 2025 Anna’s Hummingbird!

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:49 am, sunset 6:38 pm for a total day length of 9 hours and 48 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 22 seconds shorter.

 

After almost a week after I put up my sunflower seed bird feeder and four days after I added peanut butter suet, the little songbirds finally found it. CHESTNUT-BACKED and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and a SONG SPARROW flitted back and forth from the nearby spruce trees through the big-bird exclosure made with wire fencing. By the afternoon, the Nuthatches didn’t even bother to perch on the wires before entering; they just expertly shot right through.

 

A too-big STELLER’S JAY squawked in frustration, perched precariously on the outside. I didn’t feel bad; these guys are well-fed with peanuts and other snacks from other neighbors. So far, the pigeons have not yet found it.

 

While casually enjoying the busy scene from my kitchen window, I snapped to attention when an ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD suddenly appeared, hovering on the outside of the exclosure!  Though I grabbed my camera quickly, I was too late. 

 

What a dilemma! Should I try to feed this wayward wonder, likely doomed to perish over the long, long, winter, and agonize over its welfare? Or simply marvel at its presence and wonder where it might be finding tiny insects, spiders, pollen, and nectar in mid-October. 

 

I didn’t ponder long. Soon, I had retrieved a hummingbird feeder from storage, mixed up a sugar solution, and hung the feeder up outside the exclosure with sigh of resignation and a tingle of anticipation. I hope I’m lucky with the camera if it returns!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

Monday, October 13, 2025 Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebes, Common Loons, Bufflehead

Seward, Alaska

As Typhoon Halong slammed catastrophically into southwest Alaska, Seward dozed under a misty gray cloud blanket today with temps in the mid 40s and calm. About 2” of rain is forecast for Wednesday, with rain for a week (possibly snow on Sunday.)

The lone CACKLING GOOSE, the smallest and darkest subspecies minima, remained at the tidelands possibly lost from its flock. Tasha thought there's still hope that it may attach to other migrating geese as juveniles do not know the way instinctively. 

Eight GADWALL paddled in an intertidal stream with a dozen MALLARDS.

As if fall were here to stay, so was the LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, plugging away in the pond with its GREEN-WINGED TEAL companions.

Six GREAT BLUE HERONS stalked the shallow waters or stood like statues, immobilized. They will likely stay, but the Dowitcher, Teal, and Goose should book a flight south soon.

Overwintering seabirds continue to return to Resurrection Bay. I was excited to find two COMMON LOONS fishing at the Harbor Uplands around noon. One caught a very slender, long fish that could be a Bay Pipefish. The fish was much thinner than a sand lance. 

A juvenile RED-NECKED GREBE, still sporting camouflage stripes on its head paddled and dove nearby. I haven’t seen this species in a long time, much less a zebra-striped juvie. 

10 red-eyed HORNED GREBES in their black and white winter plumage dove in a loose raft. Their numbers are steadily increasing. A single handsome drake BUFFLEHEAD foraged by itself. 

There might be a bait ball here attracting BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, PELAGIC CORMORANTS and the other seabirds, plus a Harbor Seal, Steller Sea Lion, and Sea Otter. Quite the show!

Though the light was dim, the birds sure brightened my day!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter