Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 5:40 am, sunset 10:30 pm for a total day length of 16 hours and 50 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 53 seconds shorter.
Mostly sunny today with temps ranging from 49 to 60, a brisk south wind, and rain in the forecast for this evening and tomorrow morning.
It seemed quiet in the bird world today, but upon reflection, I found many special birds after all.
About four LESSER YELLOWLEGS strode along the tide flats and another couple waded in the wetlands plucking morsels. Ten DOWITCHERS busily probed like sewing machines in the shallows.
A MERLIN perched precariously at the tip of a spruce, swaying in the wind. When it zoomed off, I did not see what it was pursuing, anything from a dragonfly to a shorebird.
I watched a frenzy of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES plunging after baitfish near shore at Fourth of July Beach. Several DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flew in to join two PELAGIC CORMORANTS for the feast.
Ten HARLEQUINS bobbed on the waves and dove in synchrony nearby. MARBLED MURRELETS piped up shrilly then dove with a tiny splash.
Three Sea Otters floated nonchalantly on their backs, lazily paddling backwards as they dined.
The big surprise was the TRUMPETER SWAN pair at the Nash Road Mile 1 wetlands. I believe they hang out here in the summer, even without cygnets, as it is a known haven with good eats. But they mostly remain hidden in the tall vegetation in the back, their long necks only occasionally visible like white periscopes.
Today, however, was bath day showtime in the middle of the pond. While one Swan enjoyed lunch, the other bathed with gusto.
It preened sedately at first, delicately fine-tuning this and that. Then suddenly, it plunged its head underwater, shimmied side to side, and flipped over, water drops flying everywhere, enormous black webbed feet flailing in the air. What an undignified sight!
Surfacing, it then proceeded to stroke partially underwater, thoroughly drenching its wings and back. At times, it looked like a Swan’s head and neck stuck on a bedraggled down comforter. It’s hard to wash those many pounds of buoyant feathers!
The wash, rinse, and repeat cycled several times, interrupted by quiet preening. Abruptly, it just took off, pattering on the water like a maniac motorboat, wings flapping, flinging spray, barely able to rise. Almost as soon as it cleared the surface, it splashed down again towards the back of the pond and resumed preening, dunking, and spraying water.
Meanwhile, the other Swan cruised out of the greens and it too, began preening and bathing, though not as vigorously as the first. Both stretched and flapped those magnificent, powerful wings several times.
I left them to enjoy their bathing, happy for the entertainment and to see them again.
Back home, “my” two VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS circled around, calling. I heard the staccato begging of at least one baby still in the nest box and watched a parent fly in for a little fast-food delivery. This is a very late brood; I have not seen any other Swallows in several weeks. I wish them well!
Busy bird day, after all!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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