Thursday, March 27, 2025 Sea Ducks

Seward, Alaska

The forecast erred in our favor! Sunny with haze and a brisk north wind!

 

Around 10:45 am I walked into dawn as the sun lumbered up above the nearby mountains at Fourth of July Beach. Small rafts of sea ducks dove along the beach just offshore on the rising tide, initially in the shade and then in the brilliant sunshine. 

 

BARROW’S GOLDENEYES raised their bills high in courtship and males chased each other, some attacking from underwater. Similarly, HARLEQUIN DUCKS chased, courted, and preened. A single LONG-TAILED DUCK chose to hang out with Harlequins. Such a delight to see this handsome duck up close as the raft eased warily closer to the beach where I stood concealed. 

 

A bit farther out, a raft of about 12 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS snorkeled and dove. Nearby, three HORNED GREBES paddled about.

 

This was the largest variety of sea ducks that I have seen here in a long time, even considering the absence of Surf Scoters.

 

All of these sea ducks overwinter in Resurrection Bay, but most of them migrate to freshwater ponds and rivers to breed. Their disappearance will be yet another sign of Spring.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter 

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Great Blue Herons, Swans, Western Screech Owl

 Seward, Alaska

 

Sunrise 7:41 am, sunset 8:28 pm, for a total day length of 12 hours and 29 seconds. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.

 

Light wind and rain this morning then overcast with temps in the low to high 30s. More of the same for the next few days then a bit of sunshine in the forecast. Snow is melting fast and ice on local ponds is soft and shrinking. 

Many Sitka willows are in bloom; buds swell on blueberry and elderberry bushes. Green beach ryegrass spears poke through last year’s skeletons. Spring is easing her way into the landscape.

 

Today at the old coal dock I found seven GREAT BLUE HERONS preening and napping. Six were lined up side by side on one railing while the seventh stood apart like a supervisor. Where do these large, secretive herons go when they are not hanging out here in plain sight? Birds of mystery.

 

Migratory gulls including GLAUCOUS-WINGED, a few HERRING GULLS, and KITTIWAKES, have arrived to join the resident SHORT-BILLED GULLS. BALD EAGLES are only too happy to do a nonchalant fly-over to stir them up and raise the decibels of their cries. Sounds of Spring!

 

TRUMPETER SWANS linger at the mouth of creeks and, to the surprise of many new observers, paddle in the bay. Somehow, they found food including eelgrass to sustain them through the winter. It’s wonderful to see the nine-month-old cygnets thriving and as large as their parents.

 

A friend reported a WESTERN SCREECH OWL hooting at 2:30 am at Mile 7 Seward Highway. A tad late/early for me, but worth a try on Exit Glacier Road past the locked gate, on Old Exit Glacier Road, or in the Lost Lake Subdivision.

 

Now is the ‘tween time as we wait, watch, and listen expectantly for migrants to arrive and fill our hearts with joy. Any day, any day…

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

Monday, March 17, 2025 Singing Shrike

Seward, Alaska

 

Sunrise 8:08 am, sunset 8:06 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 57 minutes as we approach SPRING EQUINOX on March 20. Looks like we will exceed equal night and day sooner with 5 minutes and 30 seconds more day length tomorrow.

 

March returned us from spring to winter with scattered snow showers and more seasonal temperatures in the mid-teens to mid-20s. Snow is forecast for the rest of the week but may well be sn’rain as temps rise above freezing. Whatever it is, it won’t last long. Crocuses are up and ready to bloom no matter what.

 

This morning, in bright sunshine and a chilly north breeze, I heard and then found a cheery NORTHERN SHRIKE singing in an alder, sheltered from the wind in the lee of a spruce woods. On and on it sang, a bubbly tune, casting all cares to the wind. What a treat to be a guest (tolerated) to the performance.

 

A few days ago, on a calm day, I watched as a handsome drake BUFFLEHEAD flew several feet above a mirrored reflection of snowy mountains in a stream. As he passed over the water, ripples radiated in his wake, the mighty mountains shimmering in response without being touched, invisibly connected to the small duck.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, March 6, 2025 Sunshine, Rock Sandpipers and one Dunlin

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:41 am, sunset 6:38 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 57 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.

 

After a week of rain, sn’rain, slush, and yesterday, about 4” of wet snow, today dawned bright. Gauzy clouds lingered against the snowy mountains, reluctant to leave. Welcome, warm sunshine illuminated the spectacular scenery all around. The wind napped, resting up for tomorrow’s forecasted NNW winds 10-20 mph, and clouds.

 

Midday low tides opened up access to Afognak Beach where I enjoyed watching 24 ROCK SANDPIPERS and one DUNLIN chitter and forage along the ebbing tideline. They stuck together like grannies at a garage sale, anxious to see what treasures everyone else was finding, worried about missing out. A few SHORT-BILLED GULLS wandered among them, towering over the busy shorebirds.

 

MALLARDS dabbled in the intertidal streams and a horde of AMERICAN CROWS plundered the freshly washed tidelands. An adult BALD EAGLE cried stridently from a treetop. All seemed to rejoice in the gorgeous, calm day and reprieve from the dismal weather.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Monday, February 24, 2025 Eagle swimming!

Seward, Alaska

 

Sunrise 8:11 am, sunset 6:13 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 2 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 27 seconds longer.

 

Mild April-like weather continued today with calm wind and temps between 28 around sunrise and a high of 36 by mid-afternoon. New ice glittered on puddles, a reminder that it is actually still supposed to be winter, then melted before noon. The pewter-gray clouds tossed down a few sprinkles that didn’t amount to anything, not even an annoyance. The ground remains snow-free and soggy.

 

While scanning the flat-calm waters with my binoculars for whales, I noticed two dark shapes about a mile away, appearing and disappearing, about in the same place. Otters playing? No, the pattern kept repeating like waves hitting a shoal but not quite. Intrigued, I took photos and zoomed in. To my amazement, I made out the tiny white head and dark wings of an adult BALD EAGLE steadily stroking, far from shore. Far, far from shore. O my! Poor thing! Would it make it or die from hypothermia? No rescue for this bird!

 

Slowly, ever so slowly, stroke by ponderous stroke, it inched its way closer to shore, fighting the out-going tide as well. A hundred AMERICAN CROWS watched with interest from the nearest spit of emerging beach. What an irritating welcome! As the Eagle finally swam closer, several Crows launched to harass it, sounding the alarm and nose-diving without touching it.

 

Onward, ever onward, until finally its feet touched the submerged ground. Then it hopped through the gentle waves, flapping its wings. As it emerged from the water,  I saw one foot firmly holding a fish! It dragged the fish with it, what a prize! to higher ground, and immediately began tearing into the hard-won lunch. Wow! What a champion! No apparent stress from the exhausting swim in 40º water.

 

No one seemed impressed by this feat except me. The Crows hovered nearby, cawing and carrying on, hoping to snag a morsel. Then an immature Bald Eagle flew in and tussled with the fisher who shrouded the catch and kept ripping into it. More Bald Eagles flew in until there were eight angling for a chance to steal the fish or grab a bite. What a sight! What a racket!

 

From then on, dining turned to defending. I lost sight of the fisher and fish in the flurry of wings, screeching, and cawing. Then suddenly, the party was over and all the Eagles flew off towards the trees, leaving the Crows to scavenge and brag about their bravery.

 

Whew! Tough job getting a bite to eat!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter