Tuesday, October 7, 2025 Swans, Dowitcher, Kingfishers, River Otters, and Exit Glacier

 Seward, Alaska

The dreary clouds parted late yesterday; the full Harvest Moon sailed across a clear sky last night, and today dawned bright and sunny!

Great day today! At the tidelands this morning, three adult TRUMPETER SWANS amicably shared a small pond. They will likely hang together with other overwintering Swans.

A surprised momma River Otter near the beach bounded away across the tide flats, followed by her three long-tailed pups. I was surprised too and barely got my camera focused before they turned into undulating dots.

A late DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT approached from behind and flew overhead, away from the ocean. A dozen GREEN-WINGED TEAL dabbled in the pond, feeding horizontally while a single, lingering DOWITCHER, likely a LONG-BILLED, probed vertically like a rotund sewing machine.

Two rattling BELTED KINGFISHERS continued an argument from yesterday, chasing each other around. One male circled wide then flew overhead. I got lots of overhead shooting practice today!

The day was so fine and rare, I headed to Exit Glacier. The gate was reopened three days after the September 24 brown bear mauling, following an investigation and all-clear. I spotted a black bear from the parking lot, blacker than ink, foraging on the mountainside, comfortably far away. RAVENS called in the distance.

From a vantage point on the Glacier Overlook Loop Trail, I found a single Mt Goat lying down on the steep mountainside, enjoying the sunshine and maybe the view. 

As I came around a bend, I heard BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and caught a flash of what I believe was a NORTHERN SHRIKE chasing one! It all happened so fast I couldn’t get a photo and though I waited and watched, all was silent.

The fall colors, blue sky, shadowed glacier, and wildlife gave the few visitors, and me, a spectacular and memorable experience in Kenai Fjords National Park.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, October 5, 2025 Cackling Goose, Northern Shrike, ASLC

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:14 am, sunset 7:19 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 4 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 25 seconds shorter.

 

Intermittent showers and moderate rain continued today with temps in the mid-40s and calm. During a break in the weather late yesterday afternoon, I chanced to find a single CACKLING GOOSE circling the estuary before landing out of sight. I wondered what happened to the rest of its flock as it seems strange to see only one. I did not refind it today.

 

This morning during another break, I caught a glimpse of a juvenile NORTHERN SHRIKE perched on a spruce spire lookout. Three aggressive BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES joined forces and quickly drove it away. They were not at all pleased to share their neighborhood with a bird-eating predator.

 

As the rain returned, I headed to the Alaska Sealife Center to check out the aviary. No one gasped with excitement or pointed out the KING EIDER drakes now clad in deep brown hues instead of their vibrant blue, green, and white breeding colors. A smaller orange shield and the cool “jet fins” remained.

 

The RHINOCEROS AUKLET still had his rhino “horn” but the side whiskers were mostly gone. Gone too, were the white face and most of the golden head tufts of the TUFTED PUFFINS. One tough guy in black still managed to look rakish while sporting much shorter tufts, oozing with personality.

 

The white-bellied HORNED PUFFINS have also exchanged their bright white faces for darker shades. The gaudy bill plates that they no longer need for courtship were loose and looked ready to fall off. One Puffin yawned wide, showing the backwards-facing spines called denticles on the roof of its mouth that allow it to grab and hold multiple fish without dropping them.

 

Instead of remaining dark, the face and throat of the COMMON MURRES were changing to white. A pair gently preened each other, fine-tuning the new feathers while reinforcing the pair bond. Of all the seabirds, the Murres were the noisiest today, circling in a tight raft, calling their name.

 

It was fun to watch the two male Steller Sea Lions in the outdoor pool: Forrest now 11 years old and 1400 pounds, and Kuliak, 8 years old and 1200 pounds. They lounged on the pool deck like tourists at the beach, almost immobile. Then suddenly, Kuliak launched into the pool and the two roared at each other, baring their teeth. The game was on as they chased around the pool and tussled on the deck. Such powerful, enormous, yet graceful animals!

 

I will be back soon to enjoy the seabirds and other animals, especially if this rain keeps up!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Reporter

Saturday, September 27, 2025 Storm-petrels, Sea Mammals

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:55 am, sunset 7:43 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 47 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds shorter.

 

The phenomenal FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS are still flitting and pattering in Resurrection Bay. I counted at least 70 from my favorite viewing spot at the pullout on Lowell Point Road just south of the seafood processing plant. One even circled around my car when I first arrived! Though they frequently flew over the rocks below me, they never landed. 

 

This pocket is protected from the north wind. I marveled at the ever-changing patterns in the gently rolling water, a mesmerizing and lovely background for the dainty tubenoses.

 

The BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE numbers continue to diminish, now concentrated in a small, raucous flock. 

 

A raft of four Steller Sea Lions lazed past, then a Sea Otter, smacking on a prickly sea urchin. Yesterday, a Harbor Seal joined the fray, poking its head up like a periscope, nostrils flared wide open to breathe, then sealed shut as it silently submerged.

 

Just as I was about to leave, a resident SONG SPARROW hopped up on a nearby rock. He will probably still be here, long after the flashy visitors are gone.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter 

Thursday, September 25, 2025 Exit Glacier Beauty and the Beast

Seward, Alaska 

On Monday, September 22, I celebrated the Autumn Equinox with a scenic hike at Exit Glacier. Under cloudy skies, the flaming cottonwoods in Resurrection River valley and along the outwash plain glowed next to their still-changing neighbors clad in various hues of green and gold. No wind or rain, and mild temperatures made for a perfect fall day in Kenai Fjords National Park.

The rushing waters of Exit Creek and the gurgling smaller streams in the area made birding by ear challenging; I only heard one BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and saw no birds. 

 

I joined a few other visitors at the Glacier Overlook to admire the blue-ice glacier in its bedrock cradle, striped with a prominent medial moraine. Though greatly reduced in size, Exit Glacier was still an impressive, wild and beautiful glacier. Shutters clicked to commemorate the moment. 

I felt special to be a local, knowing that I could return anytime, maybe the next day and the next, whereas it was a once-in-lifetime experience for the visitors from around the world. 

 

But I was mistaken. 

 

Two days later the park suddenly closed due to a brown bear mauling on Wednesday evening! Today’s news reported that a man and woman were returning from a hike on the Harding Icefield Trail at dusk when they encountered a brown bear on the main trail about a quarter mile from the parking lot. 

 

They had no bear spray. Details have yet to emerge, but after being attacked and bitten on the legs and butt, they somehow managed to escape and drove themselves to the Seward medical center emergency room for treatment. Wow! What a terrifying encounter!

 

The Park Service closed the trails and the boundary gate at the Resurrection River Bridge while the investigation continues in conjunction with the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

 

No matter how peaceful and lovely the surroundings, this terrible incident is a vivid reminder to be bear-aware and carry bear spray.

 

Carpe diem!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, September 21, 2025 More Fork-tailed Storm-petrels Photos

Seward, Alaska

At high tide today, the FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS swooped and paddled close to shore for excellent views by the cannery on Lowell Point Road. Ten tiny tubenoses pirouetted, landed lightly, pecked at the smooth water, and then left watery footprints as they leapt into flight. Raindrops glistened on their waterproof feathers like glass beads.

 

An AMERICAN CROW briefly tried to attack a Storm-petrel as it slowly paddled along. Fortunately, the seabird quickly took flight and easily out-maneuvered the pesky land lubber. Danger lurked everywhere, even in seemingly peaceful surroundings.

 

The number of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES was significantly reduced from yesterday, resulting in a somewhat quieter backdrop for the silent sprites zipping among them. Who knows how long they will grace us with their presence? It’s such a pleasure to watch and photograph them.

 

An enormous Steller Sea Lion exhaled explosively, took a deep breath and dove as he leisurely swam back and forth along the shore. Another slightly smaller one followed, their rhythmic breathing punctuating the air. What a thrill to see and hear these powerful sea mammals so close!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter