Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:37 am, sunset 3:59 pm for a total day length of 6 hours and 22 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 5 seconds shorter.
Mild temperatures in the mid-30s, light rain, and generally calm winds continued for the past several days. Yesterday, the sun broke through and lifted everyone’s spirits for a glorious day.
Even the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD seemed to react to the brighter dawn of a clear day, appearing at my heated feeder almost 45 minutes earlier than on the previous dark Sunday morning.
He continued to be very suspicious, zooming in, ticking loudly as he surveilled the airspace around the feeder. Up, down, this side, and that, even hovering and staring at my kitchen window. Oops! How did he know?
When he tentatively touched down, he just as quickly zoomed away into the nearby spruce. It took several reconnaissance flights before he finally settled down to drink. I wonder how long he will remember the abduction by aliens and my complicity!
The KILLDEER flew in yesterday with a loud “dee, dee!”, last seen by me on November 22. I was happy to see that he, like the Hummer, survived the recent storm. eBird reported sightings on November 28. As the tide ebbed, he foraged along the tidelands gleaning amphipods hidden in the mud.
18 ROCK SANDPIPERS chittered excitedly as they too foraged in a tight flock along the ebbing tide line. They seemed to exclaim over every tidbit they found, like treasures at a garage sale, very fun to hear.
At the Mile 1, Nash Road wetlands, 19 TRUMPETER SWANS, including a family with two dark cygnets, rested in the sun, snorkeled for salad, or even took a bath in the open water at the far side of the otherwise frozen pond.
Also of note on Sunday, November 30, I found a NORTHERN PINTAIL with a small flock of MALLARDS, AMERICAN WIGEONS, and GADWALL at the tidelands. A drake LONG-TAILED DUCK and COMMON LOON dove at Fourth of July Beach.
After that sunny break in the huge low rolling across the Gulf of Alaska, the dark clouds and rain showers returned today, concealing the stunning beauty all around.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
