Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 4:34 am, sunset 11:24 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 50 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 10 seconds longer as we approach the summer solstice on June 21 with the maximum of 18 hours and 54 minutes.
A big storm blew in last night with the first real soaking rain (sorely needed), south winds gusting to 40 mph, and temps in the low 40s. It must have been a tough time for incubating birds and newly hatched nestling in exposed nests.
On a stroll around Two Lakes Park on Tuesday afternoon, June 9, I lucked into Woodpecker Alley by the First Lake outlet stream. A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER flew ahead of me, landing about 10’ up successive spruce trees. It was huge compared to a male DOWNY WOODPECKER that followed in its wake. I returned the next day with optics, but alas, no woodpecker sightings.
In the mysterious ground fog at the tidelands on Wednesday morning, I found a lone HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL foraging along the tide’s edge. This is a late bird. A male WILSON’S SNIPE winnowed overhead, adding to the eerie scene. That’s a challenging dot-speck to photograph!
I heard my FOS ALDER FLYCATCHER singing and enjoyed watching a SAVANNAH SPARROW belt out his song from a lichen-encrusted snag.
Around 11 pm, the lonesome SAW-WHET OWL beeped from the forest of Mount Marathon.
Another late sighting of a WANDERING TATTLER on Friday, June 12 made me wonder if they are nesting somewhere along our numerous gravel riverbeds or up in the subalpine tundra.
ARCTIC TERNS may have some hatchlings; one Tern caught a tiny fish perfect for a baby and flew it home. Most of the catch still seems to be larger salmon smolt. On June 13, much to my surprise, I happened upon the intimate scene of two Terns mating. While this is likely evidence of failed nesting, it seems much too late in the season for a second attempt with their tight traveling schedule.
A dainty immature BONAPARTE’S GULL, a two-year gull, loosely associated with the bigger SHORT-BILLED GULLS.
Back home, the male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD finally got perch at the feeder, though he proved very wary and elusive. I snuck some photos through the rain-spattered window while he dined. What a beauty!
As we reach mid-June and bird parents busy with their babies, birdsong has greatly diminished. Much to my delight, I heard the long song of a tiny PACIFIC WREN yesterday.
Still serenading/celebrating today after the storm was a lusty FOX SPARROW, fluting HERMIT THRUSHES, the occasional sweet ROBIN, TOWNSEND’S, YELLOW-RUMPED, and WILSON’S WARBLERS.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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