Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Orcas!

Seward, Alaska

The long, cold, windy, sunny streak continued today until afternoon clouds dimmed the light. This morning, I again enjoyed Lowell Point Beach, slightly sheltered from the north wind. 

 

On my way home, I spotted the unmistakable black dorsal fins of two Orcas steadily rising, arching, and slicing back down into the water, heading my way! I had heard Orcas were in the bay a few days ago. I quickly pulled over, grabbed the camera and watched from behind my car, out of the wind.

 

The sleek, glistening dorsal fins sometimes rose together, sometimes apart, veritable “tips of the icebergs”; most of the huge, powerful whales remained hidden underwater. Their misty vapor clouds hung, momentarily suspended, before the wind whisked them away.  

 

Just as I anticipated their breathing pattern, they completely disappeared. I watched and waited expectantly for many long minutes. Nothing, just whitecaps and emptiness. Finally, I saw their blows, far off Lowell Point, still heading south. Wow! 

 

Happy Birding (and Whale-watching!)

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, March 1, 2026 What a Week!!!

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:57 am, sunset 6:25 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 28 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer. Wow! So much light!

 

Severe weather did indeed slam into Seward starting on Wednesday as temps plunged to a low of minus 8 and the wind kicked up to 20 mph with gusts to 45. Temps remained in the single digits, minus and plus, with strong north winds the rest of the week. NOAA issued severe weather advisories for wind chill alerts as low as 15 to 35 below.

 

And the brilliant sun did nothing but deceive and charm, beaming on the dramatic wind-scoured mountains and seascape.

 

Whitecaps churned the bay, the spray flattened by the wind and twirled into sea rainbows. Ghostly steam released from the warmer water streamed downwind, hugging the surface.

 

A fishing boat slowly but steadily chugged up the bay, listing with heavy ice. Powerful tug boats escorted ice-clad barges around the bay, waiting for the Gulf gales to subside.

 

Birding was tough, but the weather was tougher on the birds. Some sea birds sought shelter in the lee of breakwaters and the harbor, paddling to stay in place with their beaks tucked into their wings. Others braved the surf, forced to feed regardless.

 

Friday highlights included a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET flitting among the branches of a spruce tree at Afognak Beach (kinda sorta out of the north wind). 

As the wind briefly died down that evening, I heard a distant SAW-WHET OWL beeping from Mt Marathon. Other nights, either he gave up or the wind snatched his voice.

 

Today, five noisy STELLER JAYS visited the ground under my feeder for any escaped sunflower seeds. I finally saw the resident SONG SPARROW inside the exclosure, a single CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Exciting numbers for an otherwise mostly quiet feeder.

 

I ventured out to Lowell Point Beach this morning, (somewhat sheltered), where a pair of beautiful and wary HARLEQUIN DUCKS snorkeled and dove in the shallows by the shore. A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL grabbed a floating chunk of something and flew off with its prize. BARROW’S GOLDENEYES hunkered around ice-coated Pinnacle Rock, feeding on mussels.

 

Birding from the protection of the car, I enjoyed watching a COMMON LOON preen and stretch in the harbor. Then he dove and popped up as closely as possible, swimming through vibrant reflections of nearby boats. That was fun!

 

And what have we here? Why, it’s yet another Cold Weather Advisory for very cold wind chills as low as 15 to 20 below zero from 9 tonight to 11 tomorrow. Yawn. That actually seems normal by now. Maybe it will truly warm up by April.

 

Happy Brrrrrrding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Monday, February 23, 2026 Bald Eagle frenzy, Snow Buntings, Barrow’s Goldeneyes

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:14 am, sunset 6:10 pm, for a total day length of 9 hours and 55 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 27 seconds longer.

Today provided a delightful mild day of momentary reprieve from Winter’s bitter grip. Temps rose from a low of 30 to a high of 38; the north wind mellowed to 2-8 with gusts to 20 mph. Everything, birds and humans, was allowed to relax. It’s been a tough winter.

Freed from the merciless wind, I ventured across the bay to Spring Creek Beach. A jittery flock of about 30 SNOW BUNTINGS rose up and down, flying from one spot to the next in the battered grasses of the frozen wetlands without lingering. They even flashed overhead several times, more challenging to photograph than summer Swallows.

Next, I checked out Fourth of July Creek. A single SHORT-BILLED GULL pecked at a dead fish at the tide’s edge. As I approached, it fled, giving me a good look at a decaying carcass. Not a pretty sight.

After I walked on, a young BALD EAGLE swooped in, grabbed the "prize" and flew towards the breakwater to dine. Two more young Eagles materialized and vied for possession. Siblings? Last summer’s Eaglets from the nearby nest?

Screeching and flapping, it was a wonder they didn’t crash into the sheet piling or tumble entangled into the water. In a few seconds, the battle ceased but I could not tell who “won” as they dispersed.

Below, BARROW’S GOLDENEYES momentarily retreated but soon paddled back to pry off exposed mussels clinging to the breakwater.  Paddle-up fast food.

Shortly afterwards, an adult Bald Eagle (mom?) flew low over the beach, hunting. In a flash, she grabbed a fish out of the water and settled down to eat it, unchallenged. A closer look revealed that it was a fish head, source unknown. The Eagles were not feasting on fat, live fish. Hungry times.

Back at Spring Creek Beach, I watched another small raft of Barrow’s Goldeneyes dive just a few feet off the beach. Likely, they too were finding mussels in easy reach at low tide. Different strategies, but both effective. The sun caught their golden eyes and illuminated the males’ purple iridescent heads as the water poured off their waterproof plumage. Beautiful sea ducks!

Two severe weather warnings predict Winter roaring back this week: a wind watch for north winds 30-50 mph and gusts to 65-75 mph starting Tuesday night, coupled with dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below as the temp drops to minus 9 by Wednesday night. Batten the hatches and bundle up!!!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter