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
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