Seward, Alaska
As forecasted, the storm brought strong winds and sleet, melting into rain, heavy at times, as the temperature rose into the high 30s.
While birding from the shelter of the car on Monday, a juvenile COMMON LOON popped up along the breakwater, providing a nice comparison to the Sunday adult Loon in transition.
COMMON MERGANSERS snorkeled past as well as red-eyed HORNED GREBES. Tiny MARBLED MURRELETS dove farther offshore. A frenzy of gulls, including a few BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, mobbed the seafood processor’s fish waste.
During the pouring rain today, nine PELAGIC and four DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS in the boat harbor brightened an otherwise dark and dreary afternoon. They co-mingled amicably, providing a nice side-by-side comparison of the relative sizes, the thin vs thick necks, and especially the Pelagic’s dark pencil-bill vs the bright golden-yellow large bill of the Double-crested.
After a period of diving and fishing, first one then another Cormorant flapped up to the nearby dock for a preening party. Two brownish immature Double-crested Cormorants joined one adult while another adult patrolled below alongside the dock. A Pelagic also joined the party while others continued to fish.
The normally wary Cormorants were not only a pleasure to watch, but inspiring. Preening in the Rain…
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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