Sunrise 9:42 am, sunset 4:36 pm, for a total day length of 6 hours and 54 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 10 seconds longer.
The weather gods smiled beatifically today as if in apology for the treacherous rain-on-ice conditions delivered the past several days. The sun felt warm with a high of 35ยบ, the wind snoozed; the day was indescribably lovely.
On Wednesday, before the dismal rain, I happened to spot the elusive YELLOW-BILLED LOON at the harbor entrance, apparently heading inside. Through complex computations and clever maneuvering, ie luck, I intersected with the majestic bird when it popped up just feet away from where I stood waiting on the dock. Wow! To be that close to a rock star! Click, click, click went the paparazza!
A COMMON LOON also surfaced, farther away, for a nice comparison of the head coloration, bill shape, and color. Both sported the crisp scalloping of immature birds; full adult plumage is not achieved until they are 3 years old.
Skipping over the intervening days we would all like to forget, I looked for the celebrity again today. I enjoyed the parade of gorgeous RED-BREASTED and COMMON MERGANSERS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, and HORNED GREBES paddling by, and the wary PELAGIC CORMORANT with green eyes.
Suddenly, with a soft blip! the Yellow-billed Loon surfaced nearby and just looked at me straight on for a few heart-stopping seconds and then calmly dove. Though I waited, listened, and looked, it had vanished like a mirage.
A bit later, I heard the alarm yodel of a Loon at the entrance to the harbor as a BALD EAGLE swooped low over the water. I sure hope Loon is not on anyone’s menu!
Sunrise 9:52 am, sunset 4:20 pm for a total day length of 6 hours and 27 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 26 seconds longer.
Finally, a reprieve from the deep freeze, wind, and snow today! A more typical winter temp in the 20s prevailed by afternoon, the snow-laden clouds spit then fizzled out under sunny skies, and the gale winds calmed to 3-9 mph with gusts to 20.
I checked out the tidelands this morning in a blustery snow shower and found 20 ROCK SANDPIPERS eagerly feeding at the receding shoreline before I turned back.
Afognak Beach was sheltered from the north wind. The wild cries of two BALD EAGLES rang out from the tree tops. While walking along, I happened upon a mixed flock of song birds foraging along the beach.
To my surprise, the resident bossy SONG SPARROW accompanied a pair of OREGON JUNCOS and two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS.
The Tree Sparrows were not found during the December 27 Christmas Bird Count; I have not seen this species for years. They all were persistent and hungry and immediately returned after being chased away.
As I was leaving, I spotted a single, wary Rock Sandpiper which flew off, perhaps to join its flock.
Before yesterday’s storm dumped 4-5” of snow in town, the frugivores easily found fallen Mt Ash berries on the mostly bare ground. Today, snow berms covered the recent hotspot on D and Third Ave by the community garden. The birds scattered.
By midday, it seemed warm in town, sunny and calm. What a delight! In the 200 block of Second, about 12 ROBINS, 5 PINE GROSBEAKS, and 2 VARIED THRUSHES hopped on the crusty snow, picking up frozen berries recently fallen from the trees. It was so peaceful watching them, fluffed up and glowing in the sunshine, calling and clucking. The two vibrant male Varied Thrushes frequently squabbled, but otherwise the birds seemed tolerant.
Submitted by CBC Compilers Tasha DiMarzio and Sadie Ulman
Birdwatchers flock to Seward for 2025 Christmas Count, spotting 64 species
SEWARD — A hardy group of birdwatchers braved true Alaskan winter December 27 for Seward’s annual Christmas Bird Count, tallying 2,447 birds across 64 species, a jump from last year’s 57.
Thirty volunteers patrolled the field, including three under the age of 18, while four others kept watch from their home feeders. Nine birders made the trek down from Anchorage, joining locals to scan the coast for feathered residents and holiday visitors. Out at Tonsina, a perennial group even packed in firewood the day before to keep warm while counting. “That’s true CBC spirit,” local organizer Tasha DiMarzio quipped.
Feathered Surprises
This year’s count wasn’t just about the numbers. A handful of unexpected visitors kept even the most seasoned birders on their toes. Anna’s Hummingbird, far from its usual southern wintering grounds, stuck it out through subzero temperatures, thanks in part to energy from a heated feeder — a tiny trooper refusing to head south. A lone Killdeer piped its “kee-dee” call at Afognak Beach. Perhaps most remarkable: an American Pipit, spotted for only the third time since the Seward count began, and the first since 2016.
Weather and Conditions
Seward’s long stretch of brutal winter weather didn’t make it easy. The planned boat route was canceled due to ice in the harbor and rough conditions in the bay, though the vessel KIMU was prepped and ready. On count day, the weather laid down a bit, with temperatures hovering near 20°F, gusty NNW winds up to 30 mph, and just six hours of daylight. It was a classic Seward challenge.
Count Day Highlights
After a day of scouring snowy roadsides and icy creeks, participants gathered at the Alaska SeaLife Center to warm up and share their “Birds of the Day.” Among the highlights: Snow Buntings whipping through the wind, Yellow-billed Loons diving in the bay, American Dippers swimming in frigid creeks, and Bohemian Waxwings gorging on mountain ash berries. Two owls, the Great Horned and the Northern Saw-whet, called from the darkness to close out the count.
Changing Trends
Finch numbers, once sky-high during the irruptive winter of 2023, remained low. Redpolls, Pine Siskins, and Crossbills were nearly absent, likely due to a poor spruce cone crop. This year’s tally reflects that ongoing shift.
Still, the energy and enthusiasm of the group shone through.
“It’s hard not to feel festive when you’re out in the cold, watching birds do their thing,” said one counter.
After all, it wouldn’t be a Seward Christmas Bird Count without a little weather, a lot of teamwork, and plenty of surprises.
Count Name:
Seward
Count Code:
AKSE
Count Date:
12/27/2025
# of Party Hours:
33.46
Species reported on count date:
64
Organizations & Sponsors:
Weather
Temperature
Minimum:
18.0 Fahrenheit
Maximum:
25.0 Fahrenheit
Wind Direction
North
Wind Velocity
Minimum:
5.00 Miles/hour
Maximum:
30.00 Miles/hour
Snow Depth
Minimum:
0.00 Inches
Maximum:
5.00 Inches
Still Water
Frozen
Moving Water
Partly Frozen
AM and PM Conditions
Cloud Cover
AM:
Partly Cloudy
PM:
Partly Cloudy
AM Rain
None
AM Snow
None
PM Rain
None
PM Snow
None
Start & End Times
Start time
End time
09:45 AM
08:00 PM
Effort
Observers
In Field
Total Number:
30
Minimum Number of Parties (daylight):
18
Maximum Number of Parties (daylight):
18
At Feeders
Total Number:
4
Party Hours and Distance (excludes viewing at feeders and nocturnal birding)
