Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:15 am, sunset 4:15 pm for a total day length of 6 hours and 59 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 9 seconds shorter.
Instead of the forecasted several feet of snow, we had a week of mostly dreary rain on a few inches of crusty snow. Today, the sun triumphed and almost felt warm as it arced low across the southern sky.
The overnight high of 31around midnight gradually fell to daytime temps in the mid 20s. More sunshine with lower temps predicted for the next few days, then back to the “dismal wintry mix.”
No rarities today, aside from the sun. I spotted the KILLDEER, still hanging on after those miserable days and nights, feeding at the tideline.
Four SNOW BUNTINGS waltzed out of the beach rye grass right in front of me at the beach. They glanced at me then posed on a nearby stump to preen and fluff up in the sunshine. One ate snow off the stump while another plucked a beach ryegrass seed fresh from the stalk for breakfast. Yesterday a flock of about 40 flashed overhead in the gloom.
At high tide, a lone drake LONG-TAILED DUCK dove in the flooded estuary creek. Uncommon here, I’ve only seen LTDU in the ocean, not freshwater. Closer to the bay, two TRUMPETER SWANS plunged their long necks into the creek to feed on submerged salad.
Over in the Clearview Subdivision behind Safeway, a GREAT BLUE HERON flew over the neighborhood homes from the northwest towards the bay. I wondered where it flew from? A secret spruce tree roost in someone’s yard?
33 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS perched high in a look-out cottonwood. These are likely the same flock that was downtown a few days ago. After chirring and chiming, they flashed a block away to devour Mt Ash berries.
Two RAVENS enjoyed the frozen red berries on another tree, and a small flock of PINE GROSBEAKS feasted on yet another. Plenty of Mt Ash Berry Diners to choose from!
Along Lowell Point Road, along with the usual suspects, I found a distant COMMON MURRE and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER diving. Two River Otters swam steadily, headfirst like smart otters, close to the rocks.
At Lowell Point Beach, a young BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE strutted unconcerned at my feet, almost too close to photograph. The sun highlighted the gorgeous iridescence of its green and blue finery.
Back home, three SLATE-COLORED JUNCOS scrounged below the sunflower seed feeder when the territorial resident SONG SPARROW allowed. A few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES flitted back and forth, enjoying the suet and seeds.
To top off a lovely day, the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD zoomed in to the warm sugar water feeder, another survivor of the lousy weather. I hadn’t seen him at all on Wednesday or Thursday. What a joy to see this resilient little green spirit!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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