tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61657949746331355012024-03-17T18:59:50.220-08:00Sporadic Bird from Seward, Alaska Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.comBlogger1140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-41660272779640598922024-03-15T09:55:00.006-08:002024-03-15T17:43:52.873-08:00 Thursday, March 14, 2024 Bouquet of Beautiful Birds<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 8:16 am, sunset 7:59 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 42 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 30 seconds longer as the Earth tilts towards the Spring Equinox at 7:06 pm on Tuesday, March 19.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Light snow showers in the past week culminated in a surprise 18+” of snow overnight on Tuesday, with a dash more yesterday morning. As the town shoveled out, the sun peeked out, turning the scene into a winter wonderland. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Last night, as the moon’s Cheshire-cat grin drifted behind Mt Marathon, I heard a hopeful SAW-WHET OWL beeping in my neighborhood. I followed the sound to a tall spruce tree in a yard at Madison and Third. I wondered if the inhabitants appreciated the magic of this little Owl, or perhaps were annoyed by a supposed loader’s backup alarm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The new snow completely blanketed the ground, burying access to invertebrates, fallen seeds, and grit formerly available under the spruce trees.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">At first light, my feeders were buzzing with birds, mostly PINE SISKINS and REDPOLLS, with a dozen or so RED CROSSBILLS, a SONG SPARROW, two shy VARIED THRUSH, a raiding STELLER’S JAY, and a cameo by a SONG SPARROW. After I replaced the suet block, even a pair of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS zoomed in for the treat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">On this gorgeous sunny day, temps ranged from a low of 17 at 7:30 am to a high of 37 by midafternoon; without the wind, it felt like summer. Everything appreciated this break!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Red Crossbills and White-winged Crossbills seem to be everywhere this winter. I saw more Red Crossbills gleaning soggy seeds from tide-washed spruce cones at Afognak Beach today. They worked away at the cones, apparently finding seeds. Are the abundant tree cones empty? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Two males actually squabbled over one cone with tiny ferocity; the victor carried the heavy load into a nearby spruce for more private dining. I watched others eat rockweed and poke through the sand, possibly for grit or amphipods. It was enchanting to observe these trusting, beautiful finches at such close range. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Two red-eyed adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS in the distance skirmished with each other, flashing through the trees. One dove after a Crossbill but missed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I heard soft trumpeting and watched fourteen magnificent TRUMPETER SWANS fly from a stream to the eelgrass bed in the bay. These tough Swans have overwintered in the Seward area through very challenging weather and just have to hang in a little while longer for the ice to melt off the ponds and wetlands. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I watched RAVENS build a cliffside nest last week, fetching perfect sticks from their favorite Stick Store far away. 1”-long krill washed up on the beach on Monday’s high tide, an annual spring event a few AMERICAN CROWS appreciated. I heard at least ten Varied Thrushes singing in my neighborhood.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">With Daylight Savings, it’s light so much later and the long, cold nights are getting shorter. Spring is coming!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT36oS-Rvnfb44Y9C_RispxHPhC-CvmvUWJ9Kz1PDSetRWOx0wqrdv5Y4IEwNVNlsoNAcI1J_koxX0WcxOz7RlgD6X18blREXBRQPw-zR1ErZDCJ9fBnDyJJOJ_BUPCduZjokWY6EJieoQqCuxDddjY1t5vAIahCsbcxJMtLiV4c4ftwLewAhZ3nxIDw4/s2100/_22A2937-Varied-thrush-male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT36oS-Rvnfb44Y9C_RispxHPhC-CvmvUWJ9Kz1PDSetRWOx0wqrdv5Y4IEwNVNlsoNAcI1J_koxX0WcxOz7RlgD6X18blREXBRQPw-zR1ErZDCJ9fBnDyJJOJ_BUPCduZjokWY6EJieoQqCuxDddjY1t5vAIahCsbcxJMtLiV4c4ftwLewAhZ3nxIDw4/s320/_22A2937-Varied-thrush-male.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xSOGgeBzijQCcgeEn3mevjAi3wi4w67ths3JYz1sVJENxTb2JdQ04IEizyz0kMnwCvTCLbb5FmFtsw-XkQ1UyqUnsV6ACxbTKeDvmjdzIr-TY3j2bdczbYuykT3qQR-dV481NusEzt8rSzoX1NtUx8eHk9hhJ7rbvHG6Q_Q4hg1bZF-ZZsrs52NbPnw/s2100/_22A2970-vairied-thrush-male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xSOGgeBzijQCcgeEn3mevjAi3wi4w67ths3JYz1sVJENxTb2JdQ04IEizyz0kMnwCvTCLbb5FmFtsw-XkQ1UyqUnsV6ACxbTKeDvmjdzIr-TY3j2bdczbYuykT3qQR-dV481NusEzt8rSzoX1NtUx8eHk9hhJ7rbvHG6Q_Q4hg1bZF-ZZsrs52NbPnw/s320/_22A2970-vairied-thrush-male.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MsoKr_7DK4j1By1ZvGNt3KjtYOZdHpQrpJHmKM8bpoIe-k1PwTxMo5FxHMuLC0zeVUmk5UJ89z3o96jiG8Vk_pBYiHkOeuT4jj46xFIf5fQ9-pTJ7N1YecvnzjhIAOtVZ95tzQj0jHK75xhttEZzptNn5zpesXeb-aibKprw-lYC1ui3DJ7ewV3Obpw/s2100/_22A3105-male-red-crossbills.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MsoKr_7DK4j1By1ZvGNt3KjtYOZdHpQrpJHmKM8bpoIe-k1PwTxMo5FxHMuLC0zeVUmk5UJ89z3o96jiG8Vk_pBYiHkOeuT4jj46xFIf5fQ9-pTJ7N1YecvnzjhIAOtVZ95tzQj0jHK75xhttEZzptNn5zpesXeb-aibKprw-lYC1ui3DJ7ewV3Obpw/s320/_22A3105-male-red-crossbills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDAZyzs9pF7RqLJlyNkQRagnbym8oZJkdyv4BoUBpINC3fRfdDF8rW_cw6CcyOE5_W4KB5zRiW3nsBRfvYMUrUkkYUGBQGyj5SvEqnJf9TbhoSGU10-yWPPHAqc6rSveGumTaE9_QSAMhmYVr5Rv_luE5l1t-5Qn428IenRmHhls7Kywqh8YnG0pS-e8/s2100/_22A3175-male-red-crossbill-soggy-cone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDAZyzs9pF7RqLJlyNkQRagnbym8oZJkdyv4BoUBpINC3fRfdDF8rW_cw6CcyOE5_W4KB5zRiW3nsBRfvYMUrUkkYUGBQGyj5SvEqnJf9TbhoSGU10-yWPPHAqc6rSveGumTaE9_QSAMhmYVr5Rv_luE5l1t-5Qn428IenRmHhls7Kywqh8YnG0pS-e8/s320/_22A3175-male-red-crossbill-soggy-cone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk4ph2cZDmVm9ZjKKQBhTXIMzGyNwvC9V2bN2B_xYYpW0xKNKbORIOG3012YTWJ79q3kFsAUiFzmcbGPosNkb9HLdlswaDQkbZO3_SuwyleRmq0QEWjtFZe52s_fnOvS7mlE3sn9TkmPuivbP1Fh52eUCon5pYGP84TVfrlAwoOUIO-V_fKp-DO-Mg7g/s2100/_22A3056-red-crossbill-squabble.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk4ph2cZDmVm9ZjKKQBhTXIMzGyNwvC9V2bN2B_xYYpW0xKNKbORIOG3012YTWJ79q3kFsAUiFzmcbGPosNkb9HLdlswaDQkbZO3_SuwyleRmq0QEWjtFZe52s_fnOvS7mlE3sn9TkmPuivbP1Fh52eUCon5pYGP84TVfrlAwoOUIO-V_fKp-DO-Mg7g/s320/_22A3056-red-crossbill-squabble.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrKAKh6cW7rAFk-V2I2DTxH_uqEc4RhlJjsSzO237adENfDsZsLh73cUrSZE_jHstdOVvpbnCjz7L5Ta9VGV7hgiSnNUjOl48v2sYOl5jNSpGYSMvN6v-zq5CsDe40INOdsuRfsyY7t3r_HPpONP67oCQ4wXzQyGDRJfam1AMpqa67XBvqOFgWW0yXr0/s2100/_22A3058-red-crossbill-squabble.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrKAKh6cW7rAFk-V2I2DTxH_uqEc4RhlJjsSzO237adENfDsZsLh73cUrSZE_jHstdOVvpbnCjz7L5Ta9VGV7hgiSnNUjOl48v2sYOl5jNSpGYSMvN6v-zq5CsDe40INOdsuRfsyY7t3r_HPpONP67oCQ4wXzQyGDRJfam1AMpqa67XBvqOFgWW0yXr0/s320/_22A3058-red-crossbill-squabble.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0CPLlLLYpsvCMxIS6jxNlO7ZbPvl-BDKJ3A-2GeGLinbxg0bJRSRLZ_kVe-0j2PTrdTycnJ5ndKC3G7_WjDYGBnzYdqyN9g6FpciXs5kQgAhcJMCZUJh_FomjnkyJFi_d0iBDHgd8ESRJkk4RIvJ68lYNqaMary_Cc9pnlmOxuSPH8EJYxDLvCp5gts/s2100/_22A3084-red-crossbill-squabble.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0CPLlLLYpsvCMxIS6jxNlO7ZbPvl-BDKJ3A-2GeGLinbxg0bJRSRLZ_kVe-0j2PTrdTycnJ5ndKC3G7_WjDYGBnzYdqyN9g6FpciXs5kQgAhcJMCZUJh_FomjnkyJFi_d0iBDHgd8ESRJkk4RIvJ68lYNqaMary_Cc9pnlmOxuSPH8EJYxDLvCp5gts/s320/_22A3084-red-crossbill-squabble.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3hjHolzN8Rn4y0wCj42c33sFDyZWYaFfpR5XAZVpAIS6-PBC1R9pYk8ME3_P5iieLbX6fgmaGJcrWs_Q6CQlPXe7ySzxM__z8EcZ0Wfcg93Re98Olw6Q8QFDp_ivnjjNVa-8iOaBoL34sc2gWSy3I9toH02cg41HmwTlPxWGgNJTD3wIw6dnAIrkS2M/s2100/_22A3187-red-crossbill,-male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3hjHolzN8Rn4y0wCj42c33sFDyZWYaFfpR5XAZVpAIS6-PBC1R9pYk8ME3_P5iieLbX6fgmaGJcrWs_Q6CQlPXe7ySzxM__z8EcZ0Wfcg93Re98Olw6Q8QFDp_ivnjjNVa-8iOaBoL34sc2gWSy3I9toH02cg41HmwTlPxWGgNJTD3wIw6dnAIrkS2M/s320/_22A3187-red-crossbill,-male.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7ZYSNBORMOSAGJQPJV1CUIFBRUBK7li8Qf9SFcBRN_1ddrsJL7Fk6lzdDXHGe4-q2TKnqKNWy-SD5Cy6cfUpD13Tn8GK2cxAfIB0nonbHRNuWWk0rpJ_ONSWX1fyQEyOI44EFzLuNSYNLK9AmymlJMm_lNCTZt3RBVw48fthLs0JhKbCkmhO25sG7DA/s2100/_22A3217-red-crossbill-eating-rockweed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7ZYSNBORMOSAGJQPJV1CUIFBRUBK7li8Qf9SFcBRN_1ddrsJL7Fk6lzdDXHGe4-q2TKnqKNWy-SD5Cy6cfUpD13Tn8GK2cxAfIB0nonbHRNuWWk0rpJ_ONSWX1fyQEyOI44EFzLuNSYNLK9AmymlJMm_lNCTZt3RBVw48fthLs0JhKbCkmhO25sG7DA/s320/_22A3217-red-crossbill-eating-rockweed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06zaj3gtcNTk_Pa9ofJ1Y6tWNArTVSc7Xgod2mWCqcvVqP5wJ8IGWBRrYKCaTgdKWVuyxJns-IcM9KFp4oRNQNsGMsj8bAqLdtOJyPztmM1XLlt4dWu_wt6weXsy2ZhUJyBEX5ulid8sOfE25mz3lFHAZvL1lI4_OhJ_x3WvPRSqJIl_Z5GT2HYTtcYs/s2100/_22A3148-red-crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06zaj3gtcNTk_Pa9ofJ1Y6tWNArTVSc7Xgod2mWCqcvVqP5wJ8IGWBRrYKCaTgdKWVuyxJns-IcM9KFp4oRNQNsGMsj8bAqLdtOJyPztmM1XLlt4dWu_wt6weXsy2ZhUJyBEX5ulid8sOfE25mz3lFHAZvL1lI4_OhJ_x3WvPRSqJIl_Z5GT2HYTtcYs/s320/_22A3148-red-crossbill.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK8ScN7yLhO-a6drXKJOd5Absp7Uws53FwAKPSkpoL8mt51o8Z4XbUg4RWOZvRRe44vjY_5cTYIr2XAr14ghQkGdlavFLc23rRoK22ypVGP5cz6-ARQ6gDBY8A97oaFthsE6LIuq_Rz9A55xHAcuMBwZ2_AsR4TFToiBG1jpBa3edbaXWLaT4UA6n3qg/s2100/_22A3230-white-winged-crossbill-male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK8ScN7yLhO-a6drXKJOd5Absp7Uws53FwAKPSkpoL8mt51o8Z4XbUg4RWOZvRRe44vjY_5cTYIr2XAr14ghQkGdlavFLc23rRoK22ypVGP5cz6-ARQ6gDBY8A97oaFthsE6LIuq_Rz9A55xHAcuMBwZ2_AsR4TFToiBG1jpBa3edbaXWLaT4UA6n3qg/s320/_22A3230-white-winged-crossbill-male.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArrux1w5eWhzzM6vJ0I7KpVrZC0bxJHORxz7H3rtLB2MpUSESx-wohTAeHvcop9GziL0lXyaxi35AJVKp6fCW0C8fXWlH9CmNKOIf7RbJUrTDDZz4dc5uKNyfAXrVLEyscLfWIvsIYtw9tL2VJ7oq8nVx_vAm1Ybm05roOuhKMYguy1vVJh6evpZQvAk/s2100/_22A3240-sharp-shinned-hawk-adult.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArrux1w5eWhzzM6vJ0I7KpVrZC0bxJHORxz7H3rtLB2MpUSESx-wohTAeHvcop9GziL0lXyaxi35AJVKp6fCW0C8fXWlH9CmNKOIf7RbJUrTDDZz4dc5uKNyfAXrVLEyscLfWIvsIYtw9tL2VJ7oq8nVx_vAm1Ybm05roOuhKMYguy1vVJh6evpZQvAk/s320/_22A3240-sharp-shinned-hawk-adult.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZX_x7Zicke7ErbZ0JPEZyscsolQGjGdx3NwQ72YCWdzQGL9XMm-u1jfREl8RdO9BWYTBgKGBimn2o4IxV07itSkjyA5BEBASU2ivUYr4rjCekmbQh9dPMn67ysFptXGc-MU8CZtk29DBALCPNCEaOWvTk6eou3BED41YslabIW97TfB3U6gwy8lO4VI0/s2100/_22A3284-trumpeter-swans.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZX_x7Zicke7ErbZ0JPEZyscsolQGjGdx3NwQ72YCWdzQGL9XMm-u1jfREl8RdO9BWYTBgKGBimn2o4IxV07itSkjyA5BEBASU2ivUYr4rjCekmbQh9dPMn67ysFptXGc-MU8CZtk29DBALCPNCEaOWvTk6eou3BED41YslabIW97TfB3U6gwy8lO4VI0/s320/_22A3284-trumpeter-swans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSEXdHlmqMynyOngttDxRbMqk_4nlpI4gMxlq9a-W4rg5tqa6zQ1gKU_UGuy4pZ8ifMbY9hr3jg6n9Y1jZyT4SAV3Yz3Y3NRC8OusiejSxSZfTezY7ugMedSywJDwWYSKQGvFZPxikLdZB3aeX-BvtDyRYc8WMdQ16k2UnnJ2LLkE6vADcvUWJVsDIT8/s2100/_22A3292-trumpeter-swans-past-Seward.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSEXdHlmqMynyOngttDxRbMqk_4nlpI4gMxlq9a-W4rg5tqa6zQ1gKU_UGuy4pZ8ifMbY9hr3jg6n9Y1jZyT4SAV3Yz3Y3NRC8OusiejSxSZfTezY7ugMedSywJDwWYSKQGvFZPxikLdZB3aeX-BvtDyRYc8WMdQ16k2UnnJ2LLkE6vADcvUWJVsDIT8/s320/_22A3292-trumpeter-swans-past-Seward.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYwS-b1YZTx1P7Eu7bhzRzLNMboxiSPIu6IOk-12gPj-gh2XpBZL_bTMYDa_HhUy6H198EHiYSRQCB19pZSPr8I3j7QMn7zfaID-esb7H_wsPhwEuEZA5JcO0Oh0IPYnIXpbUHAXBhEfOpWKc5I7kIQMv_ki9rQgd9LfHajps8wXKIQFijp2ThAOlGTE/s2100/_22A3339-pine-siskin-back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYwS-b1YZTx1P7Eu7bhzRzLNMboxiSPIu6IOk-12gPj-gh2XpBZL_bTMYDa_HhUy6H198EHiYSRQCB19pZSPr8I3j7QMn7zfaID-esb7H_wsPhwEuEZA5JcO0Oh0IPYnIXpbUHAXBhEfOpWKc5I7kIQMv_ki9rQgd9LfHajps8wXKIQFijp2ThAOlGTE/s320/_22A3339-pine-siskin-back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGnpBCDdhfNCNWy1E1UD0KEnY5D8nw2MYGnLPRFZBXwCg7bxcpMzYukt6wFTX43iX-yNhUUwMRV0dqRO0dhaBh04a5xNN8SuNfliypIZn4jow0M6_maOEVDcLKfyuHarGJaZDD2FxX18SriFMDApnDrUqu8nkO5r8hoKBGP22-c8RuRDwXHrxAa53gJA/s2100/_22A3343-pine-siskin-underfoot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGnpBCDdhfNCNWy1E1UD0KEnY5D8nw2MYGnLPRFZBXwCg7bxcpMzYukt6wFTX43iX-yNhUUwMRV0dqRO0dhaBh04a5xNN8SuNfliypIZn4jow0M6_maOEVDcLKfyuHarGJaZDD2FxX18SriFMDApnDrUqu8nkO5r8hoKBGP22-c8RuRDwXHrxAa53gJA/s320/_22A3343-pine-siskin-underfoot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTd4-v7tHbtxwpwk6t9hj5asMEXsJ-UuDAPwH9wfnRWrSAUjjEVGRvTeRdY9fc2KVBs7uEaoqzF3Kt9O6z0BZ6cidr_62foNKZoxjbN3NQQWM-D7bARDHru1mCwaAd5FeYqtNubUYU4RpHPKuqMzpoz5PlAgmD8osXZekfeMM09ryu7IW4sAS8doFiL4/s2100/_22A3371-male-redpoll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTd4-v7tHbtxwpwk6t9hj5asMEXsJ-UuDAPwH9wfnRWrSAUjjEVGRvTeRdY9fc2KVBs7uEaoqzF3Kt9O6z0BZ6cidr_62foNKZoxjbN3NQQWM-D7bARDHru1mCwaAd5FeYqtNubUYU4RpHPKuqMzpoz5PlAgmD8osXZekfeMM09ryu7IW4sAS8doFiL4/s320/_22A3371-male-redpoll.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxYmhyphenhyphenuCf4uUMzqOuyQ_WFIPEYamV3gSDP9pTFhJQprfOUnkuJ8jW9XIxUojK-4S4eILpZdZi1Gp6ZYLyFPA9lHbhnY8D6m6u3PDWD1doH-p6yBtttSnjVS-8u1qfYdMDYzS0m8MO8uPkJ93vGqXXatyxKoyRhZceVMpIyIXUMXMSloP5N8dftb2um-I/s2100/_22A3389-red-crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxYmhyphenhyphenuCf4uUMzqOuyQ_WFIPEYamV3gSDP9pTFhJQprfOUnkuJ8jW9XIxUojK-4S4eILpZdZi1Gp6ZYLyFPA9lHbhnY8D6m6u3PDWD1doH-p6yBtttSnjVS-8u1qfYdMDYzS0m8MO8uPkJ93vGqXXatyxKoyRhZceVMpIyIXUMXMSloP5N8dftb2um-I/s320/_22A3389-red-crossbill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxGC8UMNjcdFigZ1419cCFMPhGv7NlDTft2sXOQKBiOCZkX3HfyPn2QsA-ZOrD-_MwBOum8pkawiVB2HzJ33mYOa8Qt2xA9ITKBz_v_k7xqNQM1WwRSwZ7z3vaY5kZO6xq8TldSB_MCn9cn2YbTYXSBNzF8-wwBIN99bGW_5XcO1WhKG8D1D12vVVOIM/s2100/_22A3401-red-crossbill-female.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxGC8UMNjcdFigZ1419cCFMPhGv7NlDTft2sXOQKBiOCZkX3HfyPn2QsA-ZOrD-_MwBOum8pkawiVB2HzJ33mYOa8Qt2xA9ITKBz_v_k7xqNQM1WwRSwZ7z3vaY5kZO6xq8TldSB_MCn9cn2YbTYXSBNzF8-wwBIN99bGW_5XcO1WhKG8D1D12vVVOIM/s320/_22A3401-red-crossbill-female.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-57708240236858988502024-03-07T21:11:00.001-09:002024-03-07T21:11:35.429-09:00 Thursday, March 7, 2024 Signs of Spring!<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 7:38 am, sunset 6:42 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 3 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Spring is in the air! The sun rises higher every day, peeking over the western mountains to cast welcome afternoon light on winter shadows in town.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The high of 34 today created puddles in the street and cracks widened in the frozen ponds. A few Sitka willows popped their tight buds; the first flowers of the year. Though snow showers are in the forecast starting on Sunday, winter is on the run.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Last night around 9 pm, I heard my first-of-year SAW-WHET OWL calling from Little Bear Mountain. What a joyous beeping! The Owl night life has been very quiet this winter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Today, I found dozens of GADWALL with about ten AMERICAN WIGEON and two adult TRUMPETER SWANS paddling offshore among the bits and blocks of beach ice stolen by the tide. A flock of very tired MALLARDS napped soundly onshore; I wonder if they are recent arrivals?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Farther out, many dozens of newly arrived BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES commandeered floating ice shelves like pirates on a prize, watching the seas for action. Their distinctive clamor is a sure sign of spring. Two Harbor Seals rested on a nearby ice raft. When they suddenly dove into the water, the Kittiwakes roared off to join them; something’s afoot!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Even as March tries to intimidate Spring with snow and wind, fearless migrants are on their way!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jtVJzE7nBN9bXfRKNMRwIOTaOeZrlwq8NCJR7Rd8iz1ZeZX_bS6gBNQuhyFFS1gdY1NtxsfGDJbyKWA7ty3h3Mx2rND5YOHeEnbHFdj9hPruuwAZv_jZ3a5EUhCyWtTQvHdGBbQFP5H_KNFVud2nlvMxDNvno6jI_WbGbb7_DV0M84qA-xfgJgMHQ9E/s2100/_22A2208-American-wigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jtVJzE7nBN9bXfRKNMRwIOTaOeZrlwq8NCJR7Rd8iz1ZeZX_bS6gBNQuhyFFS1gdY1NtxsfGDJbyKWA7ty3h3Mx2rND5YOHeEnbHFdj9hPruuwAZv_jZ3a5EUhCyWtTQvHdGBbQFP5H_KNFVud2nlvMxDNvno6jI_WbGbb7_DV0M84qA-xfgJgMHQ9E/s320/_22A2208-American-wigeon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxtgUJZoVt9Dvge3dD15NnMvLMZaZWovzTqeDMdksbye8rw9PlhjZlFkqEDmuPtdkUgIdzIO2AP4JbZiI5tPoFLXR9stvfBJkXQL8v4YHpMrob09ot0MXy87qZm5yuss0zCszN091iecZLlwY2VyXT-bmDK3Vn4Amuac4DknH0ifq_wgIWTvKFUzZRk4/s2100/_22A2231-gadwall-and-swans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxtgUJZoVt9Dvge3dD15NnMvLMZaZWovzTqeDMdksbye8rw9PlhjZlFkqEDmuPtdkUgIdzIO2AP4JbZiI5tPoFLXR9stvfBJkXQL8v4YHpMrob09ot0MXy87qZm5yuss0zCszN091iecZLlwY2VyXT-bmDK3Vn4Amuac4DknH0ifq_wgIWTvKFUzZRk4/s320/_22A2231-gadwall-and-swans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1mu92beS_M7LRJ_5B0uq2GeEuk00umFKQ-LyA0CQ_bp6-2DvWiGJWciVePpBR-xNikLrBeEOm7HptlymhLexR_yYwcg9O4Y4RiI9Wn2sLH8MRmnVS780ixFbCANcbR_viGDE999xsLwPXeyUV1Fw0v1VXgt94LiWAMxw_Frph0zE7NzfvYaTDpIQWqI/s2100/_22A2239-harbor-seals-on-ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1mu92beS_M7LRJ_5B0uq2GeEuk00umFKQ-LyA0CQ_bp6-2DvWiGJWciVePpBR-xNikLrBeEOm7HptlymhLexR_yYwcg9O4Y4RiI9Wn2sLH8MRmnVS780ixFbCANcbR_viGDE999xsLwPXeyUV1Fw0v1VXgt94LiWAMxw_Frph0zE7NzfvYaTDpIQWqI/s320/_22A2239-harbor-seals-on-ice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsO7liZgCv9LdCNdE1dQ4GQuiTFTG7v_6RkoZMUF2v1eFlUeYVGkN7n2xV8WA0bHKNH71a9F3iwoh0AGfQdeWARbW6Mdrh83KojxsQVlvuaxL1evntE-LBBqM9XGz-fpF1gRJZNkZqyrFzdleTzL3OkiFKxStl3Ym1oot5qYVziZZprLlTa0EcECVxMo/s2100/_22A2263-kittiwakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsO7liZgCv9LdCNdE1dQ4GQuiTFTG7v_6RkoZMUF2v1eFlUeYVGkN7n2xV8WA0bHKNH71a9F3iwoh0AGfQdeWARbW6Mdrh83KojxsQVlvuaxL1evntE-LBBqM9XGz-fpF1gRJZNkZqyrFzdleTzL3OkiFKxStl3Ym1oot5qYVziZZprLlTa0EcECVxMo/s320/_22A2263-kittiwakes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi-fmzy108WyNjujqYOwTrvfVqF9olGZ1yFTJu0I1usQhDYufKkdPIpYLHv-o72Kp7m-aDhPYYRwpVJiaG34abXPgZFj33ZhTkiS_pEegXJQ9t4kmOdyoAs2A9un7daFmCDmrlFt9Jn62vblKwIpG9zHLz7IKYuvwWJaFMTWy96-4pMNQRLVj2jMMRHU/s2100/_22A2284-pipe-ship-from-Monrovia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi-fmzy108WyNjujqYOwTrvfVqF9olGZ1yFTJu0I1usQhDYufKkdPIpYLHv-o72Kp7m-aDhPYYRwpVJiaG34abXPgZFj33ZhTkiS_pEegXJQ9t4kmOdyoAs2A9un7daFmCDmrlFt9Jn62vblKwIpG9zHLz7IKYuvwWJaFMTWy96-4pMNQRLVj2jMMRHU/s320/_22A2284-pipe-ship-from-Monrovia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-12949990194626738852024-02-18T20:21:00.002-09:002024-02-18T22:17:41.736-09:00Sunday, February 18, 2024 Alaska Sealife Center Eiders, Smew<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Cautions about avian flu have kept the aviary doors closed at the ASLC, but today all I had to do was step on the specially treated mats before entering a magical world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Many of the birds, like the HORNED and TUFTED PUFFINS, were still in drab winter plumage. But the SPECTACLED EIDER, KING EIDER, and STELLER’S EIDER paraded about in their breeding plumage finery. Such spectacular colors and patterns! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The females also sported a subtle dash of class: the iridescent blue speculum of the Steller’s Eider, and a glossy blue bill for the Spectacled Eider. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The elegant and striking black on white “cracked ice” pattern of the drake SMEW needed no colors to impress. The demure hen followed in his magnificent wake.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">These spectacular seabirds brightened my afternoon on an otherwise overcast and dim day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId2cVLnSPl0uDmv7SP-lJHXBXgRVI1n5iAu5E65_KJwj9r-4MRA9yiAsdreDXlSkrM7BdZS8qI6bLO1od62udh0rURbWYsHhw3z7oVPwDCN7ASMFP9DCIpL9OESKFM7qT2A2cn5MRiIf40_0nEqWarW1X_SxTLVrrKWK8jYaXb96Usuz0dIIYHWeh7cM/s2100/_22A1641-Kiing-Eider-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId2cVLnSPl0uDmv7SP-lJHXBXgRVI1n5iAu5E65_KJwj9r-4MRA9yiAsdreDXlSkrM7BdZS8qI6bLO1od62udh0rURbWYsHhw3z7oVPwDCN7ASMFP9DCIpL9OESKFM7qT2A2cn5MRiIf40_0nEqWarW1X_SxTLVrrKWK8jYaXb96Usuz0dIIYHWeh7cM/s320/_22A1641-Kiing-Eider-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfVZIukYg-dwmpgw7VUONJYz2WMbx4XQggQuGCy7a3nOpoKEDMtAFPaqeAGWw1zsOZQkFKz-cJuz6kLXRUfiItfvhjoi2gS0IXQfqsaDnit87HibEliSj9q7K3ea7y9xSNp2zjPOW82LdWD99IrTmEEzVqE8yVu8nriM_kiKrepn7nUlkcYosFgwpBH4/s2100/_22A1639-king-eider-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfVZIukYg-dwmpgw7VUONJYz2WMbx4XQggQuGCy7a3nOpoKEDMtAFPaqeAGWw1zsOZQkFKz-cJuz6kLXRUfiItfvhjoi2gS0IXQfqsaDnit87HibEliSj9q7K3ea7y9xSNp2zjPOW82LdWD99IrTmEEzVqE8yVu8nriM_kiKrepn7nUlkcYosFgwpBH4/s320/_22A1639-king-eider-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBpKJ8TYNphLeFbjhhwrsFqY1cHdVhgtVV0wFtxMITGDaIVYs5jXAmNUZKSC4nqKN9x-GNbQWx8dI7tK16ZOJFDVvhYqGAgbd0lLZVGrXsl9M0jkKrVpndyCNBdP9X6olOkbHYzt1oyu2hJRAeYvMMOl6FKipYAvqXhhMrLNdH0ubdYLVCnHbKND9AUo/s2100/_22A1736-spectacled-eider.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBpKJ8TYNphLeFbjhhwrsFqY1cHdVhgtVV0wFtxMITGDaIVYs5jXAmNUZKSC4nqKN9x-GNbQWx8dI7tK16ZOJFDVvhYqGAgbd0lLZVGrXsl9M0jkKrVpndyCNBdP9X6olOkbHYzt1oyu2hJRAeYvMMOl6FKipYAvqXhhMrLNdH0ubdYLVCnHbKND9AUo/s320/_22A1736-spectacled-eider.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPcg5xrOAqeJyJGjy7BwDcgP5o4n9gnI15z_FrDQu2mmGitDSXKi6iW8kBH2R8YjbO3dycpmHXIHUs7LlHOMjqpNL6GOjhwisEjx-Ui_MmDj_kByYx1_-0TQVFvQS8cmGXuZsiu6OK1golxJSmPkLoIpfftQ1O6aQA8n07h28aTXggVDBuuAREP9343Y/s2100/_22A1703-spectacled-eider-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPcg5xrOAqeJyJGjy7BwDcgP5o4n9gnI15z_FrDQu2mmGitDSXKi6iW8kBH2R8YjbO3dycpmHXIHUs7LlHOMjqpNL6GOjhwisEjx-Ui_MmDj_kByYx1_-0TQVFvQS8cmGXuZsiu6OK1golxJSmPkLoIpfftQ1O6aQA8n07h28aTXggVDBuuAREP9343Y/s320/_22A1703-spectacled-eider-drake.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdWGOqMg5CzSYDAQ90tfXFIFgpKKhOSPss4AFJVWHO54jL3qQCMC9zHGrF8c96tFJ57GiFadPUQHeZBApt9VM4vKBIpxKXciRpro79mBh_lBC4x2KYLP3Mr8aZDuyHzsYe5vnJv_MPBbpijrVGKQrUjJVtpHHNb_jrirXaQuFzb7WQFCUaStmshA7OWI/s2100/_22A1698-Spectacled-Eider.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdWGOqMg5CzSYDAQ90tfXFIFgpKKhOSPss4AFJVWHO54jL3qQCMC9zHGrF8c96tFJ57GiFadPUQHeZBApt9VM4vKBIpxKXciRpro79mBh_lBC4x2KYLP3Mr8aZDuyHzsYe5vnJv_MPBbpijrVGKQrUjJVtpHHNb_jrirXaQuFzb7WQFCUaStmshA7OWI/s320/_22A1698-Spectacled-Eider.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYRpejPt-Eh5KgOcObocdBR0WxAohXSKK9j7pq_osNOWnQPLfJM0sHyHdELaRiwZfSveRbIAVF0ZS4MykGfoCAdEpszhxtvsD07I2vq-mykVHm5wVDZCvvs30q26L6e8ieYZZVfaP_EzoF7Wd99D8s4hkoUvrRiBnvxjEKucu5GOgvtk12oc7PJfVjxI/s2100/_22A1715-spectacled-eider-drake-head.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYRpejPt-Eh5KgOcObocdBR0WxAohXSKK9j7pq_osNOWnQPLfJM0sHyHdELaRiwZfSveRbIAVF0ZS4MykGfoCAdEpszhxtvsD07I2vq-mykVHm5wVDZCvvs30q26L6e8ieYZZVfaP_EzoF7Wd99D8s4hkoUvrRiBnvxjEKucu5GOgvtk12oc7PJfVjxI/s320/_22A1715-spectacled-eider-drake-head.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0ND1Vu6wDdOarff6BRdEJ1TenWXC1txou4XcNd6jOqRpXyGdBvD1GDt3Qh5viwOfpg8N5B2iS3Jd-1fdBbef5llAkwVJjNiut0QUxjYD1_enUybkyG6XcQ6pRTCzP_MNox3lVyC6_kkxNBj6TyAJiMXx_JMUUbU2MYReY1kWpSAIakNKNNzSzbEQcf4/s2100/_22A1746-spectacled-eider-hen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0ND1Vu6wDdOarff6BRdEJ1TenWXC1txou4XcNd6jOqRpXyGdBvD1GDt3Qh5viwOfpg8N5B2iS3Jd-1fdBbef5llAkwVJjNiut0QUxjYD1_enUybkyG6XcQ6pRTCzP_MNox3lVyC6_kkxNBj6TyAJiMXx_JMUUbU2MYReY1kWpSAIakNKNNzSzbEQcf4/s320/_22A1746-spectacled-eider-hen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHgb_zeDKyKhdHq2YvQfIn_SjCQh3sfx8BFHiHaWJvDexjnHyNBCkPxKLPGxDCFMvI2XIQPQesgFvI7x_8-1ni9nqID_WFRWKIg4ea9NEj37YG726yfLh38CGyLbFihEUzY6yPzAY0_NGkSSdiDwfM0feWnJJtC794TZ90VrjICQzSP9ilKxYTiYeKso/s2100/_22A1644-Steller's-Eider-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHgb_zeDKyKhdHq2YvQfIn_SjCQh3sfx8BFHiHaWJvDexjnHyNBCkPxKLPGxDCFMvI2XIQPQesgFvI7x_8-1ni9nqID_WFRWKIg4ea9NEj37YG726yfLh38CGyLbFihEUzY6yPzAY0_NGkSSdiDwfM0feWnJJtC794TZ90VrjICQzSP9ilKxYTiYeKso/s320/_22A1644-Steller's-Eider-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWyPI_6MCbydGXNIJQolXVNaxXgBSQRPXJgjPDuElJwYKVlxkPCgdtYtwsOs31DRhUU9hXxlwDVnpABKXuY6gJ9_iXkT6Y-UJ7GAH6W74uLL8xNAzJF7kSd9_SW8I_SlU6nKsNNkzdHb-Fw6yoqlmoHQeVbxFULyQTzJtugMqz8UTJ40miATP0T18eI8/s2100/_22A1648-Steller's-Eider,-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWyPI_6MCbydGXNIJQolXVNaxXgBSQRPXJgjPDuElJwYKVlxkPCgdtYtwsOs31DRhUU9hXxlwDVnpABKXuY6gJ9_iXkT6Y-UJ7GAH6W74uLL8xNAzJF7kSd9_SW8I_SlU6nKsNNkzdHb-Fw6yoqlmoHQeVbxFULyQTzJtugMqz8UTJ40miATP0T18eI8/s320/_22A1648-Steller's-Eider,-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1i1DYH6qVsWOBCzJjh4i-IDGOM_Su39-CQq0k7v9PS6YKQdc914sIRQqVz0xKVYKOqWcppvSIIxDVG0zow0jYEf1O4Hqgl4-zP9_GPiVA1lOeV3SkASAhkfbBm6E1y9mIB4rwNHloGg9dLXJhVztV4Z-lJ3rGb9UzZYCyx8fgL8xwJ9wVoIRws2caiE/s2100/_22A1667-Steller's-Eider-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1i1DYH6qVsWOBCzJjh4i-IDGOM_Su39-CQq0k7v9PS6YKQdc914sIRQqVz0xKVYKOqWcppvSIIxDVG0zow0jYEf1O4Hqgl4-zP9_GPiVA1lOeV3SkASAhkfbBm6E1y9mIB4rwNHloGg9dLXJhVztV4Z-lJ3rGb9UzZYCyx8fgL8xwJ9wVoIRws2caiE/s320/_22A1667-Steller's-Eider-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDjk9su5c-Zj11OJYxlhXD-z5gNBELTKFKqgqBxr6WqobPnlGY_a7ljqYpvkrCjKEqIO5Wg1nj3PET1fvA1vfhEHx1UUte_2U2qWMFG0xYYKnvmJpJAjl1ZDbq2K3cFDm4Wu7MxpgqzdMYlIYFp35A7-KQx-QELPeghcRO6ZtDIOR5JYSEMjlb0PLaQ8/s2100/_22A1677-Steller's-Eider-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDjk9su5c-Zj11OJYxlhXD-z5gNBELTKFKqgqBxr6WqobPnlGY_a7ljqYpvkrCjKEqIO5Wg1nj3PET1fvA1vfhEHx1UUte_2U2qWMFG0xYYKnvmJpJAjl1ZDbq2K3cFDm4Wu7MxpgqzdMYlIYFp35A7-KQx-QELPeghcRO6ZtDIOR5JYSEMjlb0PLaQ8/s320/_22A1677-Steller's-Eider-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb3Eb4YhH4B-nKLmuYSkh2kZNAescoTHT1N41xCSTwPMFgU-gI-OnG-JSevGrpZf_0PwrlOQ-FetM_UgCFljPLfTEtZ-XdWka_V-sexrUXXa-dueiZFNKiDhWaL1aKhER1YQQq-4JwEumt7qGuk0cni2ozc-i6yyYgj6FapU_nQPhk_3D5POgKye3Sv8/s2100/_22A1682-Steller's-Eider-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb3Eb4YhH4B-nKLmuYSkh2kZNAescoTHT1N41xCSTwPMFgU-gI-OnG-JSevGrpZf_0PwrlOQ-FetM_UgCFljPLfTEtZ-XdWka_V-sexrUXXa-dueiZFNKiDhWaL1aKhER1YQQq-4JwEumt7qGuk0cni2ozc-i6yyYgj6FapU_nQPhk_3D5POgKye3Sv8/s320/_22A1682-Steller's-Eider-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU129v_o-aCQDbPArOC2HO5If6xLibPnedPcZYECOcyXkl7-ZQY12Uzry7SCcFd6XQ93W0vqVRs5qsJHZ7BJApuqCC-vDPPn8vwbsG0wu4FV-I3EOY7zqK1X7tk4NK5zmGCQ9mRgyUqcDlALAJl_B-yvaOL7l5e_VEJ-1_DmjczJ_sJYOUxmvFzbQjbE/s2100/_22A1654-Steller's-Eider-hen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU129v_o-aCQDbPArOC2HO5If6xLibPnedPcZYECOcyXkl7-ZQY12Uzry7SCcFd6XQ93W0vqVRs5qsJHZ7BJApuqCC-vDPPn8vwbsG0wu4FV-I3EOY7zqK1X7tk4NK5zmGCQ9mRgyUqcDlALAJl_B-yvaOL7l5e_VEJ-1_DmjczJ_sJYOUxmvFzbQjbE/s320/_22A1654-Steller's-Eider-hen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCBTS8Tsrkg3qQQQbv_Fkzhh4feUgZW2rYJTUhhXdhuIJf2BVg_QfdvoRxg0ILuueohE1O3GDjGdyExi5UH4S1H2d-qEPcxDZQBDV5dxXNGIC5P-qYIFg5LIXJ_Kyb80y5usPCAJnJznrhGa5_5tI2pAHCk0F4C8LpjJpon9DOBRpHGtQi8cq0fvXX4I/s2100/_22A1728-smew.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCBTS8Tsrkg3qQQQbv_Fkzhh4feUgZW2rYJTUhhXdhuIJf2BVg_QfdvoRxg0ILuueohE1O3GDjGdyExi5UH4S1H2d-qEPcxDZQBDV5dxXNGIC5P-qYIFg5LIXJ_Kyb80y5usPCAJnJznrhGa5_5tI2pAHCk0F4C8LpjJpon9DOBRpHGtQi8cq0fvXX4I/s320/_22A1728-smew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZyWgjK3PGNRHWbbu12r2GsvI8NpXb9yYBod5PzNuH0jths4jpoEwTEWB3aVkT_Pksn-mcvm1Yr_T2X2u_po4JGwWpvbk5qVTL2qAu_psx-iVLB6Oetlx7rg6dccuwonpdnfhPQTxohzXdvBg3pZZbJRhzneJl9VxnUWdsVwrNKGn5hFFBiXDDsnRDNQ/s2100/_22A1696-smew-hen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZyWgjK3PGNRHWbbu12r2GsvI8NpXb9yYBod5PzNuH0jths4jpoEwTEWB3aVkT_Pksn-mcvm1Yr_T2X2u_po4JGwWpvbk5qVTL2qAu_psx-iVLB6Oetlx7rg6dccuwonpdnfhPQTxohzXdvBg3pZZbJRhzneJl9VxnUWdsVwrNKGn5hFFBiXDDsnRDNQ/s320/_22A1696-smew-hen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88sDXp0L6I8skWYs1Ea2_KkvLnjXFXNzNwvyG09ij6NSy5_BNA83PwriH-VWYmRMK8uBj6vmsOB9KUD33sGa8YaZEO73doluYj245GQa_0aOGRL8eyJM90qRRokDlrEHS45zDzRPaD0sMiUfJLxOf9UyaRIgWHkiVRyodkOEtKYqx6akFPqlsRkpQpiQ/s2100/_22A1685-Horned-Puffin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88sDXp0L6I8skWYs1Ea2_KkvLnjXFXNzNwvyG09ij6NSy5_BNA83PwriH-VWYmRMK8uBj6vmsOB9KUD33sGa8YaZEO73doluYj245GQa_0aOGRL8eyJM90qRRokDlrEHS45zDzRPaD0sMiUfJLxOf9UyaRIgWHkiVRyodkOEtKYqx6akFPqlsRkpQpiQ/s320/_22A1685-Horned-Puffin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-37523043919404071472024-02-18T12:25:00.001-09:002024-02-18T12:25:23.270-09:00 Saturday, February 17, 2024 Swans, and Merlin<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 8:33 am, sunset 5:53 pm for a total day length of 9 hours and 20 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 23 seconds longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">After three spring-like sunny days with booming surf and t-shirted beach goers playing frisbee, the clouds snuck in overnight bearing light rain, temps from 24-36, and a north wind. More cold rain is in the forecast until Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The TRUMPETER SWAN family with two cygnets returned to the north end of the Lagoon. The youngsters were more concerned than their complacent parents, even when the snowblower rumbled past on the boardwalk. Two other adult Trumpeter Swans cautiously walked on the ice at the south end and then eased into the water by the culvert. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">At the tidelands, a very wary Trumpeter Swan, about a quarter mile out on the flats, took off when it saw me. I added #51 to my list when a RAVEN flew overhead, chased (or followed by) a MERLIN. It happened too fast for me to both check with my binocs and take a photo. Beautiful raptor!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwilOaKGgdhp7an6LD-6C9VXYfV51111lf_JAbHuSEhcqaV_NWPn_BLV72uHaQ9w1eIPcICSfalOuvJTVXk9Kuf31OTb3zqApvkDUSLI9XvMwxRS7tv3_jy-wylYcNGdjlhljYZGYwV2doWrmMsIXKhMl7YchsUDLCdwluzrhZ8eMFLxkzs00LIQ1ubEM/s2100/_22A0946-greater-scaup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwilOaKGgdhp7an6LD-6C9VXYfV51111lf_JAbHuSEhcqaV_NWPn_BLV72uHaQ9w1eIPcICSfalOuvJTVXk9Kuf31OTb3zqApvkDUSLI9XvMwxRS7tv3_jy-wylYcNGdjlhljYZGYwV2doWrmMsIXKhMl7YchsUDLCdwluzrhZ8eMFLxkzs00LIQ1ubEM/s320/_22A0946-greater-scaup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQgTR9nTGhPIb3KhWXe-cgQpDE3Ew1QsEZSGR9maxBabj3feg0gfYkaGh_AaFmS2kyuLE5pz9wByhOHQyEtudtz_Iz4JKG4HM1MdL3TD0S8w9MKKP4QJRIcSGOgAplbizyvSFjvHr35Wrb8YTVrRnZE8lONG3i9jYeLpaLBk01zTFrro9H1_KC7Q7plo/s2100/_22A0949-Leather-Star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQgTR9nTGhPIb3KhWXe-cgQpDE3Ew1QsEZSGR9maxBabj3feg0gfYkaGh_AaFmS2kyuLE5pz9wByhOHQyEtudtz_Iz4JKG4HM1MdL3TD0S8w9MKKP4QJRIcSGOgAplbizyvSFjvHr35Wrb8YTVrRnZE8lONG3i9jYeLpaLBk01zTFrro9H1_KC7Q7plo/s320/_22A0949-Leather-Star.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSJ0URC03WrKPM0d4ndosHtYaAE6BP3Y3b0ljymUx-Erk-L0k3JZW6t8GgoZg0lvR9NcqDApdo4B1VNqicnLGZCFJRT93SaUmHtXtlshAB-eFmT2axxDOPbRHoEFPKIG9BLJJGBcG2gc1R_-xdHGxMup2YzpS0q0M5JV0VJrLnBSYgJ3CJ-_ptjPo_DE/s2100/_22A0956-Leather-star-underwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSJ0URC03WrKPM0d4ndosHtYaAE6BP3Y3b0ljymUx-Erk-L0k3JZW6t8GgoZg0lvR9NcqDApdo4B1VNqicnLGZCFJRT93SaUmHtXtlshAB-eFmT2axxDOPbRHoEFPKIG9BLJJGBcG2gc1R_-xdHGxMup2YzpS0q0M5JV0VJrLnBSYgJ3CJ-_ptjPo_DE/s320/_22A0956-Leather-star-underwater.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqi7Xy13BtMBknRrAimFLuD9k0BWZIM2RSB7L-MmUe2LYbayt-o5d1ObnRRD0SUQMCdxEheb31qhUqCORvGLnCcWPWN6bXi7HaZw2WBhHc0iTS8i7JbGQugZryVo-yjsZHKop6-Huzyn5J4nIi4MVkfpX6DT7z32PpjvBti6u0gPVDWN_B0734P7r_A8/s2100/_22A0994-red-rock-crab-top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqi7Xy13BtMBknRrAimFLuD9k0BWZIM2RSB7L-MmUe2LYbayt-o5d1ObnRRD0SUQMCdxEheb31qhUqCORvGLnCcWPWN6bXi7HaZw2WBhHc0iTS8i7JbGQugZryVo-yjsZHKop6-Huzyn5J4nIi4MVkfpX6DT7z32PpjvBti6u0gPVDWN_B0734P7r_A8/s320/_22A0994-red-rock-crab-top.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWmdofyVyiFMIIT3pBlVriFFZ30ZeRS5fbgrXXqzBa7X8Q-tU3CfuV5gDtOmtcjqYrt7lOEpG99Jk9-FrVFBETU3SJegy6N-u3eKP7bGMuEBVYF5F6epuYsJzt2ckvXOFCjeXHkGuiQ37hnx2qlvR3Q7dCfMCBv7OGfz8rtySFlNdTWydhazrSR7kcLI/s2100/_22A1004-red-rock-crab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWmdofyVyiFMIIT3pBlVriFFZ30ZeRS5fbgrXXqzBa7X8Q-tU3CfuV5gDtOmtcjqYrt7lOEpG99Jk9-FrVFBETU3SJegy6N-u3eKP7bGMuEBVYF5F6epuYsJzt2ckvXOFCjeXHkGuiQ37hnx2qlvR3Q7dCfMCBv7OGfz8rtySFlNdTWydhazrSR7kcLI/s320/_22A1004-red-rock-crab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYZm3-4Y9xwyZzRlG3nYtmPqhuo55D2c_FOigEffyWH1uTFbcb96tMNbJ60rlp4lIPujswOIcKxAY5j09WQCD2BMoC3JQVN8PXBa2_9Yeq8zw0I_zSS4cIi1bUMercn-f5bf1nt1Qti-_UVFXKfoRCNDwcEcUR1S_uRIAcjUYBcTMSJfNX0cwlPcSflI/s2100/_22A1034-glacier-and-winter-shadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYZm3-4Y9xwyZzRlG3nYtmPqhuo55D2c_FOigEffyWH1uTFbcb96tMNbJ60rlp4lIPujswOIcKxAY5j09WQCD2BMoC3JQVN8PXBa2_9Yeq8zw0I_zSS4cIi1bUMercn-f5bf1nt1Qti-_UVFXKfoRCNDwcEcUR1S_uRIAcjUYBcTMSJfNX0cwlPcSflI/s320/_22A1034-glacier-and-winter-shadows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDufpMnvqqjo5-BPypbUuL0YM8h9O4f_EYurapqvy65UAWY6QkCYIYX2o40f8igcPDxzIuXPXXsySQTdfE_F64HPeSIVTB8Eokn8_M9a69-pbKOHabkn_tqAfQa-QQeU7iRhnDO0Yxs2PGHaA5c95hDk5ySmOc0rCBMaGtAGkUUNQdG9phfvZrggRiVpk/s2100/_22A1039-7-trumpeter-swans-3-cygnets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDufpMnvqqjo5-BPypbUuL0YM8h9O4f_EYurapqvy65UAWY6QkCYIYX2o40f8igcPDxzIuXPXXsySQTdfE_F64HPeSIVTB8Eokn8_M9a69-pbKOHabkn_tqAfQa-QQeU7iRhnDO0Yxs2PGHaA5c95hDk5ySmOc0rCBMaGtAGkUUNQdG9phfvZrggRiVpk/s320/_22A1039-7-trumpeter-swans-3-cygnets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hnSOaW2iFHVOr-xO8w6L9fXuVOs24saOM35gdgImjK2ZZjtIU3DFNvkljcEzCC2kcLIN_CPDnbYP08S9_XoWnlqSE32IqwfN6ekJrGQvvvUQKs17Ll8wvznUuQ0zFUmebnUWi_3HNXulw7xQkdhGFtZ6k7qSriwjL_eMTH_Tbdm9XfOz9zPQJo8N8Nc/s2100/_22A1062-surf's-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hnSOaW2iFHVOr-xO8w6L9fXuVOs24saOM35gdgImjK2ZZjtIU3DFNvkljcEzCC2kcLIN_CPDnbYP08S9_XoWnlqSE32IqwfN6ekJrGQvvvUQKs17Ll8wvznUuQ0zFUmebnUWi_3HNXulw7xQkdhGFtZ6k7qSriwjL_eMTH_Tbdm9XfOz9zPQJo8N8Nc/s320/_22A1062-surf's-up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_UdS4axieXBSIyXrHoZFF9dBkx9I-tHrvNk7fPPyLE1TEz-41zr_Vyl5uayf-1FNnbd5caxYZiiaHoLMYmBWNCihTF169tmyqvxRUoJfvm9w_KAugBlKYreBEOrQlha7DELdrMHA3llV2Zi7ig4EVtUzV6fYtmzV2oCFDmhY0cQtwX3k3OyW3B8IUVY/s2100/_22A1068-surf-splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_UdS4axieXBSIyXrHoZFF9dBkx9I-tHrvNk7fPPyLE1TEz-41zr_Vyl5uayf-1FNnbd5caxYZiiaHoLMYmBWNCihTF169tmyqvxRUoJfvm9w_KAugBlKYreBEOrQlha7DELdrMHA3llV2Zi7ig4EVtUzV6fYtmzV2oCFDmhY0cQtwX3k3OyW3B8IUVY/s320/_22A1068-surf-splash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lXBxLqzFWHvHF7wVR7xguBQT5E_sM8hh7ASIT0yKNIdSfiFscutTlKb_EwTfrV162Ve1IgDudajNLxDWeW1g0u4_lNyMxMCZMz1-46mHuAHjgwhu0hLrpawC_2X6Jx0nWFHHCtoL4vXap2yKLZGb208Oyi8MML72Z6i0cBcOZdFywQUjDciASClqkJo/s2100/_22A1113-green-wave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lXBxLqzFWHvHF7wVR7xguBQT5E_sM8hh7ASIT0yKNIdSfiFscutTlKb_EwTfrV162Ve1IgDudajNLxDWeW1g0u4_lNyMxMCZMz1-46mHuAHjgwhu0hLrpawC_2X6Jx0nWFHHCtoL4vXap2yKLZGb208Oyi8MML72Z6i0cBcOZdFywQUjDciASClqkJo/s320/_22A1113-green-wave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m9nrAPOCojdU3sbEoaCcN_VL8daikfR0YGslrYBnvHot9bK7Sqk-AoMvb18Sk4c3VBYnDg5I4C5jHqZssxUzD4rCLLCHvyC93xjt9OY_1lFgGDeSTV-XRSf08d5805xlV35Rab0hJSo2gjjqMkds26NLfVFEnpixlxBR2KBZAEUG5W3Dd9dOQErnFyI/s2100/_22A1189-surf-and-mts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m9nrAPOCojdU3sbEoaCcN_VL8daikfR0YGslrYBnvHot9bK7Sqk-AoMvb18Sk4c3VBYnDg5I4C5jHqZssxUzD4rCLLCHvyC93xjt9OY_1lFgGDeSTV-XRSf08d5805xlV35Rab0hJSo2gjjqMkds26NLfVFEnpixlxBR2KBZAEUG5W3Dd9dOQErnFyI/s320/_22A1189-surf-and-mts.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyHJqLYIv1qLYE4ywDDajnEfDDrQvkRT2ugGrfYTuOAKwtWPLnu15qPOQ3PqzPAwGLHrpIzq7AsUJY6oKAV2Y5k0eR8DoJmmEPJsYSQ1-W_VFhXtgmjK7B92gHmk3iUTY_JsRkIx4OKG7OyDahK3tmq9XB-X7ReOehTkJs33PbUDsMsyqfFYoAkPTtzU/s2100/_22A1239-red-crossbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyHJqLYIv1qLYE4ywDDajnEfDDrQvkRT2ugGrfYTuOAKwtWPLnu15qPOQ3PqzPAwGLHrpIzq7AsUJY6oKAV2Y5k0eR8DoJmmEPJsYSQ1-W_VFhXtgmjK7B92gHmk3iUTY_JsRkIx4OKG7OyDahK3tmq9XB-X7ReOehTkJs33PbUDsMsyqfFYoAkPTtzU/s320/_22A1239-red-crossbill.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9WbIxUdb5rKAjyAKpw4B7tUSsCFUmhu0AzCDt8EyRuGmDaEyO_hGoezjGuSmai_7uY5QZ9uXAkDIlKTD1r-k3GsIJkLhi9Z2LOFCX1YdHNCG3HU397mWtYALIIWdOauwtwoaS62W0ralwaHZNw172quSm6vx3JoA7ghQqsjOQvWcX0_pCidMXLbzURI/s2100/_22A1553-trumpeter-swans-on-ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9WbIxUdb5rKAjyAKpw4B7tUSsCFUmhu0AzCDt8EyRuGmDaEyO_hGoezjGuSmai_7uY5QZ9uXAkDIlKTD1r-k3GsIJkLhi9Z2LOFCX1YdHNCG3HU397mWtYALIIWdOauwtwoaS62W0ralwaHZNw172quSm6vx3JoA7ghQqsjOQvWcX0_pCidMXLbzURI/s320/_22A1553-trumpeter-swans-on-ice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvONhVcYzLbDcYBDnj0d3EwJUeTd8qSGzADd_6B7LXCz7D4TidCJJnYDd_c2qqMS7GRa5DqZn2lYsTv67_pfIcme3qdnR9SGmO-LqB83VOa15aj3TMG0FbifgQVlybu9WaBXXntaTU9bvqCKGaAouAYsW6r6H5CYZMqgCS2AUfv9oOL5kZEeotZpoEJQ/s2100/_22A1576-Trumpeter-swans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvONhVcYzLbDcYBDnj0d3EwJUeTd8qSGzADd_6B7LXCz7D4TidCJJnYDd_c2qqMS7GRa5DqZn2lYsTv67_pfIcme3qdnR9SGmO-LqB83VOa15aj3TMG0FbifgQVlybu9WaBXXntaTU9bvqCKGaAouAYsW6r6H5CYZMqgCS2AUfv9oOL5kZEeotZpoEJQ/s320/_22A1576-Trumpeter-swans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEsFoQqPfh82H-5kINkr5QFI8QqchsMOJEirgZZEbF2XPEYlhOS2jRFD03G6Uuf8bjz_MVQMtJ-nMMWKmSDlqMmFMhMq-KEwhy3qndOzGEjdY2aqQjR1ku9s5dU0fBdwRWmmVfneuwy4e3n4BktK-bgDVoKjHaMv08ZQmOmDUOU6TofiqvvkrPb2PDdE/s2100/_22A1591-cygnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEsFoQqPfh82H-5kINkr5QFI8QqchsMOJEirgZZEbF2XPEYlhOS2jRFD03G6Uuf8bjz_MVQMtJ-nMMWKmSDlqMmFMhMq-KEwhy3qndOzGEjdY2aqQjR1ku9s5dU0fBdwRWmmVfneuwy4e3n4BktK-bgDVoKjHaMv08ZQmOmDUOU6TofiqvvkrPb2PDdE/s320/_22A1591-cygnet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUUeltIKLyf6BSVJlUVQRnqO-_JADX7H18lCDSV59bxx2wXGEwPTa0wlI85ZSbjPISEn7c1T-WM2rcOZs25N8sX1mn7pd8BBkdkuvEwlO06xiWuFcEE2bBC78TXKoIBuvllp53U3nzImdCpHn5MlyGOxbLJKADD6bswCtSUuETXCaJn8_XYZ9xD046fo/s2100/_22A1607-trumpeter-swan-cygnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUUeltIKLyf6BSVJlUVQRnqO-_JADX7H18lCDSV59bxx2wXGEwPTa0wlI85ZSbjPISEn7c1T-WM2rcOZs25N8sX1mn7pd8BBkdkuvEwlO06xiWuFcEE2bBC78TXKoIBuvllp53U3nzImdCpHn5MlyGOxbLJKADD6bswCtSUuETXCaJn8_XYZ9xD046fo/s320/_22A1607-trumpeter-swan-cygnet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw-qVM51PnrFQz8cSzKfq2ozUL8PfekuGokP_agfi1j2awFka0cIMOT9fMGpccK4PkA4oxeeOSKhyphenhyphencfEn-7klhiJFDVd0xIHo_6-mFhKUDBDWmWcHAUmpPifUAJi7H1A5INU3qLJk7uoaP66Yvn8wT5UNBhKyrG5GIUYDI8an1kmYHb2d2T1mNQ327nA/s2100/_22A1627-trumpeter-swan-family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw-qVM51PnrFQz8cSzKfq2ozUL8PfekuGokP_agfi1j2awFka0cIMOT9fMGpccK4PkA4oxeeOSKhyphenhyphencfEn-7klhiJFDVd0xIHo_6-mFhKUDBDWmWcHAUmpPifUAJi7H1A5INU3qLJk7uoaP66Yvn8wT5UNBhKyrG5GIUYDI8an1kmYHb2d2T1mNQ327nA/s320/_22A1627-trumpeter-swan-family.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-38378727339955078832024-02-11T22:38:00.004-09:002024-02-12T06:05:33.042-09:00Sunday February 4 - Sunday February 11, 2024 Squall Birding and a Sitka Black-tailed Deer!<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Birding this past week slowed down as the temperatures rose into the 20s and then 30s, bringing snow, then sleet, rain, and squalls. Seeking new species for my January 31-February bird list provided incentive to get outside and get wet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last Sunday, I found a single PIGEON GUILLEMOT in the SMIC boat basin, and a DIPPER at Afognak Pond. Far out at the edge of the low tide at Afognak Beach I at last found 36 ROCKSANDPIPERS and a DUNLIN feeding among a flock of Short-billed Gulls (previously counted.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Monday, in a snowstorm, I added a PACIFIC LOON south of the harbor Uplands. On sunny Tuesday, I enjoyed watching a BALD EAGLE dining at the bird café along Lowell Point Road, though the entre did not enjoy being invited to lunch. A Greater Scaup and Yellow-billed Loon paddled around by Scheffler Creek, and one Great Blue Heron roosted on the blue coal loader platform.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Varied Thrushes seem almost abundant this winter at feeders and at the beach. I photographed a brilliant male foraging at Lowell Point Beach on Wednesday. The two Long-tailed Ducks and Common Loon were still there, along with the usual Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Mergansers, and Pelagic Cormorants.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It really warmed up by Friday resulting in snow and rain squalls. As previously reported, I found two more species: Rusty Blackbirds and Robins. Saturday’s weather was much worse with continual, hard squalls all the dark day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today let up and alternated heavy snowfall like a shaken snow globe with clear intervals. I scored a RED-NECKED GREBE at the SMIC boat basin with a raft of Surf Scoters. I was watching beautiful male RED CROSSBILLS at Ava’s when Robin C called. He reported seeing a Trumpeter Swan family with two cyngets at the Lagoon yesterday and a big surprise today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I immediately left and drove to the Lagoon just in time to see my first ever SITKA BLACK-TAILED DEER in Seward. She was feeding on partially exposed vegetation along the shore. It’s amazing that deer are in Seward. After occasional reports over the years, at least two have recently been documented from Lowell Point to Tonsina Point, and one or two in town. In some photos, they look like yard ornaments. Crazy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's my list of 50 species since January 31, which does not include several species seen earlier:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rusty Blackbird<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bufflehead<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brambling<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Black-capped Chickadee<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chestnut-backed Chickadee<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pelagic Cormorant<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Red Crossbill<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">White-winged Crossbill<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">American Crow<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Harlequin Duck<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Long-tailed Duck<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dunlin<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bald Eagle<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gadwall<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Barrow’s Goldeneye<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Common Goldeneye<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Horned Grebe<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Red-necked Grebe<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pine Grosbeak<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pigeon Guillemot<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Glaucous-winged Gull<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Short-billed Gull<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Great Blue Heron<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steller’s Jay<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon, and Slate-colored<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Common Loon<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pacific Loon<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yellow-billed Loon<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Black-billed Magpie<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mallard<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Common Merganser<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Red-breasted Merganser<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marbled Murrelet<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Red-breasted Nuthatch<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rock Pigeon<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Common Raven<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Common Redpoll<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">American Robin<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rock Sandpiper<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greater Scaup<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Surf Scoter<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">White-winged Scoter<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pine Siskin<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fox Sparrow<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Song Sparrow<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">White-crowned Sparrow<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Trumpeter Swan<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Varied Thrush<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Downy Woodpecker<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hairy Woodpecker<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Qnxctxt403PMOGZh8DzcICtdv2ypkACPgYM1x8u6gG2_8FtfBTmfo7mn31HIfK8D5MNEOPT6ttQ3ZEU0vFlC38rLJ6jUKo6Sju7ZhoGJsj1CBbWHlg_uG1-7IGFsq-Hxb6feHhZAIEPndb2XKkF5UHp-PZqLEm9TDWcd09ibPlEtPg1U0FSxKfUOpY4/s2100/_22A0242-dipper-on-ice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Qnxctxt403PMOGZh8DzcICtdv2ypkACPgYM1x8u6gG2_8FtfBTmfo7mn31HIfK8D5MNEOPT6ttQ3ZEU0vFlC38rLJ6jUKo6Sju7ZhoGJsj1CBbWHlg_uG1-7IGFsq-Hxb6feHhZAIEPndb2XKkF5UHp-PZqLEm9TDWcd09ibPlEtPg1U0FSxKfUOpY4/s320/_22A0242-dipper-on-ice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb9pabPZHQLHK-iR107zd_1JvQEIfUgcWjctG5pk6SVDBSkCe2Kyz0Wz9mg8NXcGpiBTStEBCyp6JOEbR6s_PRCaO2T5Z-uI2z11KmPWt1CGvCpJ_qLipYaOVA9qxEkWZXx8hyTVZE2uIes_3t0wje4e3GWujz6EwMB9iEn0_7Gz-xfCx-in6IKult74/s2100/_22A0298-Dunlin-and-Rock-Sandpipers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb9pabPZHQLHK-iR107zd_1JvQEIfUgcWjctG5pk6SVDBSkCe2Kyz0Wz9mg8NXcGpiBTStEBCyp6JOEbR6s_PRCaO2T5Z-uI2z11KmPWt1CGvCpJ_qLipYaOVA9qxEkWZXx8hyTVZE2uIes_3t0wje4e3GWujz6EwMB9iEn0_7Gz-xfCx-in6IKult74/s320/_22A0298-Dunlin-and-Rock-Sandpipers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HCJ2Fv-smOfYJ-9qY9r1nIxmCGhkl1BLEWLJ2lH5aPOEXd6Z5e100I7SHt0vFZcwvqPjI0BSpr24DadH7dbH6vuBHIG4g0kUkDyT1O-sP8dXVzpYrkJ7fCJzWmONnsgEdfVPtPvxLrE4agsVKacy5VSQb4nShaFJYt7ROT5pdsFDYeuw62HxBQFURPc/s2100/_22A0322-rock-sandpipers-1-dunlin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HCJ2Fv-smOfYJ-9qY9r1nIxmCGhkl1BLEWLJ2lH5aPOEXd6Z5e100I7SHt0vFZcwvqPjI0BSpr24DadH7dbH6vuBHIG4g0kUkDyT1O-sP8dXVzpYrkJ7fCJzWmONnsgEdfVPtPvxLrE4agsVKacy5VSQb4nShaFJYt7ROT5pdsFDYeuw62HxBQFURPc/s320/_22A0322-rock-sandpipers-1-dunlin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae7haoiLr1KOHTNKWy4khglrHo_z9n2StTfWvOFSNJRjE5Zl26_i8rVoc1WzjAD3bMuuL5G_yPVHUFY0uLkPiw_Uz1m0NmZXW6RiqSY8D7LtiXGO9UWwbJ0ckGqnX7KIeUxd7pNRMOU0TbwZ3P1RDIa7ZHwDnQqCgV2Q2f8vWImAyLHInYYBj856CQZE/s2100/_22A0395-moose-in-snowstorm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae7haoiLr1KOHTNKWy4khglrHo_z9n2StTfWvOFSNJRjE5Zl26_i8rVoc1WzjAD3bMuuL5G_yPVHUFY0uLkPiw_Uz1m0NmZXW6RiqSY8D7LtiXGO9UWwbJ0ckGqnX7KIeUxd7pNRMOU0TbwZ3P1RDIa7ZHwDnQqCgV2Q2f8vWImAyLHInYYBj856CQZE/s320/_22A0395-moose-in-snowstorm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WRgGa_FI9YlhraSmSmmIvKZ8NCkcoXSTGWU6Ui9pzjrP_1SGxXL1gL3-yWlB4ZlHCD2zYC-y11ssDnVYUMLgIaVCSVPYuTRhDIMFh2aPRfLAYDTNNq7gI6AK8KBVgfJpMUuKEjsqA8MWWv7GK0tZeSdnkCCIEHhe_meUc8NX_tDH9Q2zCz-GwybMzRk/s2100/_22A0420-momma-moose-eating.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WRgGa_FI9YlhraSmSmmIvKZ8NCkcoXSTGWU6Ui9pzjrP_1SGxXL1gL3-yWlB4ZlHCD2zYC-y11ssDnVYUMLgIaVCSVPYuTRhDIMFh2aPRfLAYDTNNq7gI6AK8KBVgfJpMUuKEjsqA8MWWv7GK0tZeSdnkCCIEHhe_meUc8NX_tDH9Q2zCz-GwybMzRk/s320/_22A0420-momma-moose-eating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1B-utEUbRl0tcMQuc_DCeBurHZTT8ehFVA2LqIwIzfUYGuSYmEtMh24Czow4t0kOtkmXN-tCBLnmJRaTurhEd5wyBPRC_3MvCi-ffv-I4T-eB1fiXsLZYlqXs1YyJgoFtVE99rSkSsBAPAYp0oCX-rt1gtKvhUEl0cC3Ctvk7kYp1Z3q_3R7S1ov5G0/s2100/_22A0498-bald-eagle-dining.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1B-utEUbRl0tcMQuc_DCeBurHZTT8ehFVA2LqIwIzfUYGuSYmEtMh24Czow4t0kOtkmXN-tCBLnmJRaTurhEd5wyBPRC_3MvCi-ffv-I4T-eB1fiXsLZYlqXs1YyJgoFtVE99rSkSsBAPAYp0oCX-rt1gtKvhUEl0cC3Ctvk7kYp1Z3q_3R7S1ov5G0/s320/_22A0498-bald-eagle-dining.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KE35pG1MGO4hMPsOx_nkK9VqttMjuC5nKWpJABqpxO8ELBzOX7asHnxcy2fcOXrOeYkZSWiKFcmsYg6XHzK224eF4sRemt9BxHmZsr_sBCYceWnO60OVR2wrgJWfvqoGTdSxwyZGDkpEJ-Sj4-llj-CSLyEVmGbXpeWwUcb5zRKv-jrOWQ_TTEgtVRg/s2100/_22A0528-bald-eagle-at-bird-cafe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KE35pG1MGO4hMPsOx_nkK9VqttMjuC5nKWpJABqpxO8ELBzOX7asHnxcy2fcOXrOeYkZSWiKFcmsYg6XHzK224eF4sRemt9BxHmZsr_sBCYceWnO60OVR2wrgJWfvqoGTdSxwyZGDkpEJ-Sj4-llj-CSLyEVmGbXpeWwUcb5zRKv-jrOWQ_TTEgtVRg/s320/_22A0528-bald-eagle-at-bird-cafe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlb4LyWVr9mjm5P-DYhFDRoV1QfAm_NrjeungMYHXM2tX3JKj3h686PQRUgEfGb8nce0lvvU4BHp02Ysj7w-sHyUlVlkGwjSA-ok9WDbyQ35eTE9E05JUOkQ-9oXPJvxfyemZHeOkm_DGQEwADusfbP8Fxi86izndd8rhyphenhyphenyZOVPei6zj4WwytKWHB-AWU/s2100/_22A0594-bald-eagle-at-bird-cafe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlb4LyWVr9mjm5P-DYhFDRoV1QfAm_NrjeungMYHXM2tX3JKj3h686PQRUgEfGb8nce0lvvU4BHp02Ysj7w-sHyUlVlkGwjSA-ok9WDbyQ35eTE9E05JUOkQ-9oXPJvxfyemZHeOkm_DGQEwADusfbP8Fxi86izndd8rhyphenhyphenyZOVPei6zj4WwytKWHB-AWU/s320/_22A0594-bald-eagle-at-bird-cafe.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL_BFlV6w4KzwRLrKBXMDMMKVFMc3YcVfouAk06EZ0oP8o-lnT1CELnXabXJnsW3zmoDyy2mXSLLbsf9k00xVd5vpprx5C5J-ZIXgLRuIbfTbEDoECyvPQkoNkSmUepKWXXRJm0DiiBhkPhEvJ1xDMO2zCmpk8t8p-QWDPcw3Mmck2Mld1ghA8Y44DYk/s2100/_22A0727-varied-thrush-at-beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL_BFlV6w4KzwRLrKBXMDMMKVFMc3YcVfouAk06EZ0oP8o-lnT1CELnXabXJnsW3zmoDyy2mXSLLbsf9k00xVd5vpprx5C5J-ZIXgLRuIbfTbEDoECyvPQkoNkSmUepKWXXRJm0DiiBhkPhEvJ1xDMO2zCmpk8t8p-QWDPcw3Mmck2Mld1ghA8Y44DYk/s320/_22A0727-varied-thrush-at-beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLCoyfzNohfEz483yYcOTbjODlFk0cveanzmEFhpKxPIMT_CTlEXcVEhNujo7XFBklKVva6ZKR7SY0ZWT6cn95oowuyccfqTMJXANocdV6L476ASQJKZ6N6MihxJ9sHTQpxmXkUsOeyFl4avUC5er0VfAvXkvW8sPYuFgmwIJdc2mhMdD1sxWT98zEb4/s2100/_22A0743-long-tailed-ducks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLCoyfzNohfEz483yYcOTbjODlFk0cveanzmEFhpKxPIMT_CTlEXcVEhNujo7XFBklKVva6ZKR7SY0ZWT6cn95oowuyccfqTMJXANocdV6L476ASQJKZ6N6MihxJ9sHTQpxmXkUsOeyFl4avUC5er0VfAvXkvW8sPYuFgmwIJdc2mhMdD1sxWT98zEb4/s320/_22A0743-long-tailed-ducks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXHloE5HjDB-dU6oAGJrm3fwVF8ofdwrL6DNKVnBdpABRRtXAnabi7eRvrLiJHQEDhqUjiePFRO24EKN8WQh3QSBMa-eOWpOl5X_8FdT2ahd3MNBKS0JmgNjnHZnfiN3pfYBa-L8L9ZpwlNqgeTrq_xGRG76z-5gWEc04QPAhHs1G5tKTGDksZdJ1ujw/s2100/_22A0758-snowstorm-on-the-way.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXHloE5HjDB-dU6oAGJrm3fwVF8ofdwrL6DNKVnBdpABRRtXAnabi7eRvrLiJHQEDhqUjiePFRO24EKN8WQh3QSBMa-eOWpOl5X_8FdT2ahd3MNBKS0JmgNjnHZnfiN3pfYBa-L8L9ZpwlNqgeTrq_xGRG76z-5gWEc04QPAhHs1G5tKTGDksZdJ1ujw/s320/_22A0758-snowstorm-on-the-way.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpJI1x69EYGSRwum1jluMlwwa1wFb59fZx4A11PitCD4dAR07k09xOpbGI78bpxoXqLxNgzybYVedtPPVhkUANqgFBUS7rdlj0VFsY1nrEKtJSdNEyzNhVrWEIYo3tl_r074GpkzgvNWrXsMjiT9FFELdE4bKO87qSQwHFJMd1k3Oml2vu6mRsWydylY/s2100/_22A0771-Sikuliaq-at-drydock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpJI1x69EYGSRwum1jluMlwwa1wFb59fZx4A11PitCD4dAR07k09xOpbGI78bpxoXqLxNgzybYVedtPPVhkUANqgFBUS7rdlj0VFsY1nrEKtJSdNEyzNhVrWEIYo3tl_r074GpkzgvNWrXsMjiT9FFELdE4bKO87qSQwHFJMd1k3Oml2vu6mRsWydylY/s320/_22A0771-Sikuliaq-at-drydock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDrLfiAEgRouyNIFxngPOOgh1WW3zPSKNGI47m2xJpEiIaCbUdeGbHBEsm-cQ6vhwO-cpT-2UI2KRqldq8TesAguG48jGoK0kZds-sWmrf7y2D68chQC0RJZUjjqivORTbJy47cqQc8mMHK5osv_VOk_-JU0rhw6_-urM6RxUwY9IrKxlPp2e5ONsbcM/s2100/_22A0781-bald-eagle-drying-wings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDrLfiAEgRouyNIFxngPOOgh1WW3zPSKNGI47m2xJpEiIaCbUdeGbHBEsm-cQ6vhwO-cpT-2UI2KRqldq8TesAguG48jGoK0kZds-sWmrf7y2D68chQC0RJZUjjqivORTbJy47cqQc8mMHK5osv_VOk_-JU0rhw6_-urM6RxUwY9IrKxlPp2e5ONsbcM/s320/_22A0781-bald-eagle-drying-wings.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDbkLoYOehauJhpFgJtIks-IU0oH6jyWopbTlZfDFD-iFqSU-UJmp5tH4bYTB9eibnTV7lbGwnrKCQZddteWfuYEhgu6bC27LnxeJxPqT3-vksqiHk2c0M1WkkfZd0GT2losSZZ_9xgXV-jPCAtzn87-J72OMxYjkv0gIrs-6g7loiJaf1WJ7vmG6QlI/s2100/_22A0832-common-redpoll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDbkLoYOehauJhpFgJtIks-IU0oH6jyWopbTlZfDFD-iFqSU-UJmp5tH4bYTB9eibnTV7lbGwnrKCQZddteWfuYEhgu6bC27LnxeJxPqT3-vksqiHk2c0M1WkkfZd0GT2losSZZ_9xgXV-jPCAtzn87-J72OMxYjkv0gIrs-6g7loiJaf1WJ7vmG6QlI/s320/_22A0832-common-redpoll.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJihcMq2w2ZzSOXIDM6RJzQmxT2wCtvPGqUwyCZUiDTGECJQBH5OrkGqx4Xgs0t9tY4I8p-TPoiqFQrprSdzZhApbEhq4e0OvDO-BAYHiSAfkgVPpzib_qVdwj8HMr-vQz1f_mi04JV45vwuaD3S2OzBIqWJKtfwDVjnb9SF62HmrAOnrlHqIPJUe_Dk/s2100/_22A0849-sitka-black-tailed-deer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJihcMq2w2ZzSOXIDM6RJzQmxT2wCtvPGqUwyCZUiDTGECJQBH5OrkGqx4Xgs0t9tY4I8p-TPoiqFQrprSdzZhApbEhq4e0OvDO-BAYHiSAfkgVPpzib_qVdwj8HMr-vQz1f_mi04JV45vwuaD3S2OzBIqWJKtfwDVjnb9SF62HmrAOnrlHqIPJUe_Dk/s320/_22A0849-sitka-black-tailed-deer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TgT_vd_v_2YWE51uZchjA4VOPW8xDOetgQpAz7yZHEq9PfgITKeSCMU07Y0ws4UuI7mGcNG2-dbFYdHE2-ViCg4wazlSkblSfiwCaIoq6qnPZYJzj1AE5MrTPRGy-UoACuMJ1hZaO5-RbbhjNrVVYMzw8B5YB3FInnvT9s0iNS765BMEyDeFnB89AnQ/s2100/_22A0868-Sitka-black-tailed-deer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TgT_vd_v_2YWE51uZchjA4VOPW8xDOetgQpAz7yZHEq9PfgITKeSCMU07Y0ws4UuI7mGcNG2-dbFYdHE2-ViCg4wazlSkblSfiwCaIoq6qnPZYJzj1AE5MrTPRGy-UoACuMJ1hZaO5-RbbhjNrVVYMzw8B5YB3FInnvT9s0iNS765BMEyDeFnB89AnQ/s320/_22A0868-Sitka-black-tailed-deer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-481881390776183072024-02-09T18:25:00.003-09:002024-02-12T09:53:41.440-09:00 Friday, February 9, 2024 Rusty Blackbirds, and Robins<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 8:54 am, sunset 5:32 pm for a total day length of 8 hours and 37 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 15 seconds longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Fickle February turned up the thermostat to 35º today and let the burdened clouds vacillate between snow, sn’rain, and rain. More mixed showers are in the forecast until Wednesday. The National Weather Service issued an avalanche warning for the Kenai Mountains and also roofs (!) due to recent heavy snowfall, strong winds, and unstable snow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">This dreary day perked up considerably when I heard the creaking and whistling of at least seven RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at a feeder hotspot on Second and Madison. They rummaged through the soggy snow, striding from one spot to the next, gleaning fallen birdseed while a few others serenaded from hidden perches in the trees. Hopping around with these rock stars were at least three VARIED THRUSHES, glowing like bright round pumpkins. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A very short time later, I found another eight Rusty Blackbirds at a feeder on First Ave. At least 15 in all. Plus, another Varied Thrush and the usual PINE SISKIN and COMMON REDPOLL birdfeeder vacuums, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES. Two ROBINS cautiously watched from the alders. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in -4.5pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I’m so glad these and all the other birds made it through the cold snap. Now they have to survive the cold winter rain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in -4.5pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in -4.5pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in -4.5pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in -4.5pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in -4.5pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in -4.5pt 0in 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8XMVpFrMMGxrJe_uCw-wRWOUmFLjEnZW9ZIR3iJu5w02RkoOdBf1PthzWrNQ9an-a66T3uLem5IC61ShjkqmepxU8ZIiy2GINEyhliAI9cs_dir6lw67wRyf5WgaA4OqRp5Sslv-Eqsh1aGJJ41cX0aZbRl6q9DtMWIeiKQ6brkFGFK1XFEaE6yzwsY/s2100/_22A0111-sea-smoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8XMVpFrMMGxrJe_uCw-wRWOUmFLjEnZW9ZIR3iJu5w02RkoOdBf1PthzWrNQ9an-a66T3uLem5IC61ShjkqmepxU8ZIiy2GINEyhliAI9cs_dir6lw67wRyf5WgaA4OqRp5Sslv-Eqsh1aGJJ41cX0aZbRl6q9DtMWIeiKQ6brkFGFK1XFEaE6yzwsY/s320/_22A0111-sea-smoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTO2Z1DMwSv58AEy7z62PDvxPz24oLlkK9QbRjB42tjBI4q7Of_53BE8g5-ictlDyfOZSYY17rq4a0bYGRJ_m2g-nlzp0JGoHQig9Dw4yv_BAEyssUmXENxjN4w6HqkyjyGSQFR2Pv1Rcph_S_i4VzYUJXWpMQY34RW5YEF2E-mkcr54V64Hu5KR50Qc/s2100/_22A0113.-pinnacle-rock-sea-smokepsd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTO2Z1DMwSv58AEy7z62PDvxPz24oLlkK9QbRjB42tjBI4q7Of_53BE8g5-ictlDyfOZSYY17rq4a0bYGRJ_m2g-nlzp0JGoHQig9Dw4yv_BAEyssUmXENxjN4w6HqkyjyGSQFR2Pv1Rcph_S_i4VzYUJXWpMQY34RW5YEF2E-mkcr54V64Hu5KR50Qc/s320/_22A0113.-pinnacle-rock-sea-smokepsd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJZkz7sgjS5bKmm9xVsp2Qa1_eZScaqkV3pHWfIDc91lsSMmLXfY_uKuo2eF1Y8Zc-wjLuY83Ws-0fNBTFoZGu3QRm6ZmYChe6YPDGha6CobyGFe9iFTaJtj3lLqyIbLUWihtpvS4I7Zo8BK-eUeKtbRwcgrTNIpYM4C936rpXLr6vzsToJTIUeAFkBg/s2100/_22A0169-Marbled-Murrelet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJZkz7sgjS5bKmm9xVsp2Qa1_eZScaqkV3pHWfIDc91lsSMmLXfY_uKuo2eF1Y8Zc-wjLuY83Ws-0fNBTFoZGu3QRm6ZmYChe6YPDGha6CobyGFe9iFTaJtj3lLqyIbLUWihtpvS4I7Zo8BK-eUeKtbRwcgrTNIpYM4C936rpXLr6vzsToJTIUeAFkBg/s320/_22A0169-Marbled-Murrelet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7_bf1OzKoa3PYBgNGmy00XiB864zGiw6c9iOmZU-vvjhE5BC-gHOrr-qEWsuW1SduS6tCmDyrPOQHzhnVAqNbf0iZFURGIQwL9x05kQz4qs5gTy87eZN_zWHbjm-kt3QGyFIAtMbjL7-RTSsZ4kUwzG7rTVaQOMW8SuWQ_2K9au6bndvrPks9dkA2rM/s2100/_22A0178-white-winged-scoter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7_bf1OzKoa3PYBgNGmy00XiB864zGiw6c9iOmZU-vvjhE5BC-gHOrr-qEWsuW1SduS6tCmDyrPOQHzhnVAqNbf0iZFURGIQwL9x05kQz4qs5gTy87eZN_zWHbjm-kt3QGyFIAtMbjL7-RTSsZ4kUwzG7rTVaQOMW8SuWQ_2K9au6bndvrPks9dkA2rM/s320/_22A0178-white-winged-scoter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-64950462417087349112024-02-02T22:40:00.012-09:002024-02-04T19:19:00.405-09:00Friday, February 2, 2024 Last sunny day<p><span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Seward, Alaska</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span>Clear, cold, and windy continued today with a low of minus four at 8 am and a high of plus four at 2:30 pm. The north wind still packed a punch with gusts to 27 mph. The forecast </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">calls for temperatures rising from minus 4 to plus 19 by tomorrow evening and a chance of snow. The cold snap is over, hopefully.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS flocked to Lowell Point beach this morning, a colorful bouquet of tropical colors. I noticed some used their pink tongues to pick up invisible-to-me items; maybe licking ice? Getting grit or small tidbits in the wrack? With such a specialized scissorbill, a tongue is an important tool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER hen popped up near Lowell Point Road. Unfortunately, the heat waves from the car distorted the images and I didn’t want to get out. A small avalanche partially blocked the road and I was glad to get past it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Across the bay at Afognak Beach, I searched for TRUMPETER SWANS and found two adults far out in the north wind near an intertidal stream in the tidelands. An adult BALD EAGLE perched regally in a favorite spruce snag at the Point. A female BUFFLEHEAD took refuge in Afognak Pond with a napping drake MALLARD. Almost the whole beach was icy and slippery so after a while I gave up and drove to Fourth of July Beach.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The wind whipped around the shipyard, but 4 degrees almost felt warm, relatively. A raft of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES huddled in the lee of the breakwater. Four HARLEQUIN DUCKS dove just offshore accompanied by a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. Steam boiled and roiled down the bay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">North of the SMIC boat basin I found six SURF SCOTERS and a PELAGIC CORMORANT bobbing the waves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span>The Seward Boat Harbor remained frozen at both ends with open water leads. I enjoyed photographing a small parade of unsuspecting Barrow’s Goldeneyes, a COMMON MERGANSER drake, and a red-eyed HORNED GREBE paddling past the dock <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">below me.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The sun zipped behind the western mountains at 3 pm, casting the town into shadows. I thought the show was over and was on my way home when I spotted a fracas of RAVENS and BALD EAGLES circling around just south of the harbor by Scheffler Creek. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Ten Eagles executed daring reconnaissance missions and then perched in a nearby cottonwood like Christmas ornaments. An immature Eagle, feathers comically askew, approached the crowd of Ravens hop-flying over an offering of food. Two more adults watched from a snow berm as the youngster paused, then made its move, scattering the crowd and scored on some calories. What a show! As the light seeped away, I backed out and drove home.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite the cold and wind, birding these past few days has been a joy, illuminated by that great spotlight sailing low across the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGomdIcEqMLgAyAIpr1pjOWf_tpCTR6ugkQTgSE65PQWXSLefxXgaR-oSiHruJ5c5x3aw2CUaBNf2h58PKF3-stN5-Xe9K1_NbYXYY4qswmvzZ_VLHL2emIxTPqjLqB9ebZGC1s9JeG7EC1C-xSbQvh035jFJ-ECVMhrWQT4rMVdcfqfgzuWblgiMujc/s2100/_22A9713-white-winged-crossbill-red-male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGomdIcEqMLgAyAIpr1pjOWf_tpCTR6ugkQTgSE65PQWXSLefxXgaR-oSiHruJ5c5x3aw2CUaBNf2h58PKF3-stN5-Xe9K1_NbYXYY4qswmvzZ_VLHL2emIxTPqjLqB9ebZGC1s9JeG7EC1C-xSbQvh035jFJ-ECVMhrWQT4rMVdcfqfgzuWblgiMujc/s320/_22A9713-white-winged-crossbill-red-male.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmEUd6KRO9ruRCUhaKeUuN6-7qwOfL5pdUDKvurhbnqhfWucR6nyhP2eq5SE-4lZqqEbdlYzZEN-1Lmx1CpA2CthpLd57nd6-pQUeyJ2DONJoUOl0ZHHrZARaNfoG0VAoRpgJt6RtWMp0NRA_jQ0cmMivN_3xrrHoSSD75oSp2qBOiADSMbr-eU-OjkY/s2100/_22A9724-white-winged-crossbills-and-a-redpoll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmEUd6KRO9ruRCUhaKeUuN6-7qwOfL5pdUDKvurhbnqhfWucR6nyhP2eq5SE-4lZqqEbdlYzZEN-1Lmx1CpA2CthpLd57nd6-pQUeyJ2DONJoUOl0ZHHrZARaNfoG0VAoRpgJt6RtWMp0NRA_jQ0cmMivN_3xrrHoSSD75oSp2qBOiADSMbr-eU-OjkY/s320/_22A9724-white-winged-crossbills-and-a-redpoll.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFJusoXuPWAXguXqmhFTmIDQ2SsTPqC0RYHvS91kkoVCC0qVYYXwqA75ry-sAC4NmFKm7VI1iTRIUhTbq7F_TYMcKxrSvh1IABZ9GTT84OKEtbjg_2jmNlfeWywZSAsf00qmLulxtP9RtyDIy5e_1_eR3kmIS2wBcWDHc17MNPoVYQDQKNV20GhgjXA0/s2100/_22A9727-white-winged-crossbills-males.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFJusoXuPWAXguXqmhFTmIDQ2SsTPqC0RYHvS91kkoVCC0qVYYXwqA75ry-sAC4NmFKm7VI1iTRIUhTbq7F_TYMcKxrSvh1IABZ9GTT84OKEtbjg_2jmNlfeWywZSAsf00qmLulxtP9RtyDIy5e_1_eR3kmIS2wBcWDHc17MNPoVYQDQKNV20GhgjXA0/s320/_22A9727-white-winged-crossbills-males.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbQwf7QGYREsK4sM480-L10tD-rAfcw0EeL6l2vmIFn8JO2haNZOmKwQKD1iP7M_nCWQJ2fp4GKKlGvAVdURXA1ZTlT00huQ4sq9EM29dNYXH8CDlOIvVBiqMUxVzysxKxU2NjPI4uSTxXKYJNGa2F3xQzLyGWbaABNLycqCgCJiwoANejiicp6sthzY/s2100/_22A9735-white-winged-crossbills.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbQwf7QGYREsK4sM480-L10tD-rAfcw0EeL6l2vmIFn8JO2haNZOmKwQKD1iP7M_nCWQJ2fp4GKKlGvAVdURXA1ZTlT00huQ4sq9EM29dNYXH8CDlOIvVBiqMUxVzysxKxU2NjPI4uSTxXKYJNGa2F3xQzLyGWbaABNLycqCgCJiwoANejiicp6sthzY/s320/_22A9735-white-winged-crossbills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunH6bZwukp-9NDpSMxBrNGp983rkeKi1hJTbwaDWmwTkyE3GM8DHDC7OLN6qbklWgiU18V87DfFDg_myMuDzlAjEsv7MkzjkpfalT89uV-oBuhQSi5xJYMyS5zZ4B3ChP5CfO9ciZkLIeQhRyKx2wms5HauZY_l32AyWNDvvfx2XiZYYsoAzWqiFx7UY/s2100/_22A9753-white-winged-crossbills-males.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunH6bZwukp-9NDpSMxBrNGp983rkeKi1hJTbwaDWmwTkyE3GM8DHDC7OLN6qbklWgiU18V87DfFDg_myMuDzlAjEsv7MkzjkpfalT89uV-oBuhQSi5xJYMyS5zZ4B3ChP5CfO9ciZkLIeQhRyKx2wms5HauZY_l32AyWNDvvfx2XiZYYsoAzWqiFx7UY/s320/_22A9753-white-winged-crossbills-males.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBr-oeJEaeo3rA4UgDH86ZC33TlKzyMwwenRPftOwucFrtJdQasIRAHp-AcFJ0TwsSH2AEYTp0YEdmGuy1QMgOyg00WHtWB6TCUGMVq3f98PbhRohyPoxVanWRXDFAxAMGI9Tc9dbD0eW7UKvnf1YBkg6nOhUZ4nnuHNMGVDgJDyDRv0AeZW9R15Tt6MI/s2100/_22A9760-white-winged-crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBr-oeJEaeo3rA4UgDH86ZC33TlKzyMwwenRPftOwucFrtJdQasIRAHp-AcFJ0TwsSH2AEYTp0YEdmGuy1QMgOyg00WHtWB6TCUGMVq3f98PbhRohyPoxVanWRXDFAxAMGI9Tc9dbD0eW7UKvnf1YBkg6nOhUZ4nnuHNMGVDgJDyDRv0AeZW9R15Tt6MI/s320/_22A9760-white-winged-crossbill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnnynm2MrD9f5WryYPFrgha4p8AlzvxTCj71kKkMFpyzgGRSjIoZmDCDx5YbKtsMfczOPC-un3A8CY5b_rWWrYmOM7FKuPI3eFw_74j0mGRPSfagj-vDMPrCXYRv9x7wYKyugeckD5wEcJ5q7kJRZQFw48znVTa0C580dJU17XAvkhYRz5M6Ev0tleoc/s2100/_22A9762-white-winged-crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnnynm2MrD9f5WryYPFrgha4p8AlzvxTCj71kKkMFpyzgGRSjIoZmDCDx5YbKtsMfczOPC-un3A8CY5b_rWWrYmOM7FKuPI3eFw_74j0mGRPSfagj-vDMPrCXYRv9x7wYKyugeckD5wEcJ5q7kJRZQFw48znVTa0C580dJU17XAvkhYRz5M6Ev0tleoc/s320/_22A9762-white-winged-crossbill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R-iq9xTpTy9kvQhft9_BhL16VZS2tcCq5N1s68hp8CkEFnXIERxSa1IZSakmgNdWWZniiseieYpmjsj4Ewr1pL2qGW5GepWZaqwitrCxffj4csrD1ELKSGJnmj4fDKDDh_X0VC5deS6N_Dlcp3vcnQ5LpbNFVLa2pNxLpQayHUNO0m5LrwQTxwiPQRg/s2100/_22A9791-Bald-Eagle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R-iq9xTpTy9kvQhft9_BhL16VZS2tcCq5N1s68hp8CkEFnXIERxSa1IZSakmgNdWWZniiseieYpmjsj4Ewr1pL2qGW5GepWZaqwitrCxffj4csrD1ELKSGJnmj4fDKDDh_X0VC5deS6N_Dlcp3vcnQ5LpbNFVLa2pNxLpQayHUNO0m5LrwQTxwiPQRg/s320/_22A9791-Bald-Eagle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4T2bcEi37ppGlbyCqvRbHO4PEQHYl8G58zO5lm8BM2HBhSpf_e7domcNtDUToa97S_nP4O5RdYU0p0-ZTDP3eHDgodeXTsct8UbgDcXcidy8z544Z4JogxDXTbQZYp159yQRWXUtPiRlo3NP32D7Ia6BWJY4qNZ0up3q5d0hi-du-vP78Rz-AiBHfSM/s2100/_22A9793-Mt-Marathon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4T2bcEi37ppGlbyCqvRbHO4PEQHYl8G58zO5lm8BM2HBhSpf_e7domcNtDUToa97S_nP4O5RdYU0p0-ZTDP3eHDgodeXTsct8UbgDcXcidy8z544Z4JogxDXTbQZYp159yQRWXUtPiRlo3NP32D7Ia6BWJY4qNZ0up3q5d0hi-du-vP78Rz-AiBHfSM/s320/_22A9793-Mt-Marathon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EMlV7xPA3PFfvDRpDJ2jMN_-VuwENyPv8n3gooC_fTyz6CpuzmMcY7351w88Vy76H8kohK_qXXIbDamRLiMeKU9Ydqf9Nd6YjsZSYoHZPUnsy6vWUWmibUaRZOcA3ZYIlPNL2LvCyOqn-L1OZrAf9mtFplZHteth_bizqu89WuUpwHn4FmXlzpoxTXw/s2100/_22A9813-godwin-glacier.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EMlV7xPA3PFfvDRpDJ2jMN_-VuwENyPv8n3gooC_fTyz6CpuzmMcY7351w88Vy76H8kohK_qXXIbDamRLiMeKU9Ydqf9Nd6YjsZSYoHZPUnsy6vWUWmibUaRZOcA3ZYIlPNL2LvCyOqn-L1OZrAf9mtFplZHteth_bizqu89WuUpwHn4FmXlzpoxTXw/s320/_22A9813-godwin-glacier.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIRVzdaZnp_4Xzrn_DoQB2Cf9UPsqK7DvD3ytwM5oNfCLtwwq5Jdo2p19PtaWIURWGXwdWj5B1_cEzRMfHWBPcHyF2s5k9pGYw8rFvDaNKf6kWeMoKGmhEu_H9BzD1l4EboqfQRSnHgRLCb5Pz4E28Lkjcj5Vfsz5-WrEITxzDQGMSgJCvgRANxARBkQ/s2100/_22A9847-Barrow's-Goldeneye-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIRVzdaZnp_4Xzrn_DoQB2Cf9UPsqK7DvD3ytwM5oNfCLtwwq5Jdo2p19PtaWIURWGXwdWj5B1_cEzRMfHWBPcHyF2s5k9pGYw8rFvDaNKf6kWeMoKGmhEu_H9BzD1l4EboqfQRSnHgRLCb5Pz4E28Lkjcj5Vfsz5-WrEITxzDQGMSgJCvgRANxARBkQ/s320/_22A9847-Barrow's-Goldeneye-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5QlWeznxDXLvM54SCI4682ReatlR7t4tKsUB9PCw46L35lU7B4GDFwToxdgwVAAaLhANDQW1FroarW5f557fD0CHaO_ayHukBYfYRjzJlEQ8ZAJlL-s8kkDNjNtuqqgqd3hvTL3WZ_0cQQIT8uYPeD0VHTmfSVkUkuP0-sCTFqupcMOiFCU_Zh21w3o/s2100/_22A9881-Barrow's-Goldeneye-pair.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5QlWeznxDXLvM54SCI4682ReatlR7t4tKsUB9PCw46L35lU7B4GDFwToxdgwVAAaLhANDQW1FroarW5f557fD0CHaO_ayHukBYfYRjzJlEQ8ZAJlL-s8kkDNjNtuqqgqd3hvTL3WZ_0cQQIT8uYPeD0VHTmfSVkUkuP0-sCTFqupcMOiFCU_Zh21w3o/s320/_22A9881-Barrow's-Goldeneye-pair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnp03lk2AqVaYSKuQpCO2Y9DdcMVxBgnHMyUzGRspxlZQYzJm96NjZVJDmocQoeHkb8DJ4E_POLA2krgmJtL-q9PwEMdLKM3TWe8TH1md-9AfiaGlgd9JlMyaD-SVgTiUP-oNqkqo5YSuJE80fsePf83DU0gSG6puMHvQuJ1wLhneLjpXEt_gjrD6RJM/s2100/_22A9901-Barrow's-Goldeneye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnp03lk2AqVaYSKuQpCO2Y9DdcMVxBgnHMyUzGRspxlZQYzJm96NjZVJDmocQoeHkb8DJ4E_POLA2krgmJtL-q9PwEMdLKM3TWe8TH1md-9AfiaGlgd9JlMyaD-SVgTiUP-oNqkqo5YSuJE80fsePf83DU0gSG6puMHvQuJ1wLhneLjpXEt_gjrD6RJM/s320/_22A9901-Barrow's-Goldeneye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLY50zfaCcojE38MRCIpEUzjnS_2bUFXZQazvv60MkuBOKO-l5Xp4IxXaRTgkgwZFNbyaKYdg5Ta-_1ZJNaKD5f5k6Js0kgy-ldaqy8nlQAvvlls65BP8FUPFI_zfajipO7gMbcbU3A7bs7-yomI7nDllt9qD0_uJA3rEClz51LiObIUcrtfUd3XUm6c/s2100/_22A9925-Barrow's-Goldeneyes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLY50zfaCcojE38MRCIpEUzjnS_2bUFXZQazvv60MkuBOKO-l5Xp4IxXaRTgkgwZFNbyaKYdg5Ta-_1ZJNaKD5f5k6Js0kgy-ldaqy8nlQAvvlls65BP8FUPFI_zfajipO7gMbcbU3A7bs7-yomI7nDllt9qD0_uJA3rEClz51LiObIUcrtfUd3XUm6c/s320/_22A9925-Barrow's-Goldeneyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSNF7CvnIA-9gyF_oTC58p5h6Rimc1Od1Y1n09rvByykEse60EKzr7-GhIkGcEq66NOZTvRTxaOAhiYPH67xTw00qdVofAA2g9_YEQ0f9oWdR1JQaeG0uRrzRXMR7gLP8LvH74YjXr19ZA9iYy7sGbbEIz_9BbpFAZz4Mg2NtQawUpewA9crEj85Hcc4/s2100/_22A9943-2-Commono-Merganser-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSNF7CvnIA-9gyF_oTC58p5h6Rimc1Od1Y1n09rvByykEse60EKzr7-GhIkGcEq66NOZTvRTxaOAhiYPH67xTw00qdVofAA2g9_YEQ0f9oWdR1JQaeG0uRrzRXMR7gLP8LvH74YjXr19ZA9iYy7sGbbEIz_9BbpFAZz4Mg2NtQawUpewA9crEj85Hcc4/s320/_22A9943-2-Commono-Merganser-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknZbkSxVAJQxfhfXtpns92sp4rwFpXGcaO7t6m9GwIBTJ9kzrRlRCS4kb0z0hKVJNeHaukub_g11rW828NEJrjkC_SQzoaLM68N2xIDUFh2oDx5o9ddOl5q3lbBKZ8-t_FtzxxIPRwEFk4kWB5pzXN-03YYMx_dKmOmKrxa56jARomGK03UuijIlLPHQ/s2100/_22A9960-Horned-Grebe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknZbkSxVAJQxfhfXtpns92sp4rwFpXGcaO7t6m9GwIBTJ9kzrRlRCS4kb0z0hKVJNeHaukub_g11rW828NEJrjkC_SQzoaLM68N2xIDUFh2oDx5o9ddOl5q3lbBKZ8-t_FtzxxIPRwEFk4kWB5pzXN-03YYMx_dKmOmKrxa56jARomGK03UuijIlLPHQ/s320/_22A9960-Horned-Grebe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry0uRLIzch770jPpKJoOgXnPoqQPHEMBWx4Qs2UauoJ6YiLtd06v0-vFExCYAn8ebPxDxo6kmJ_1hT80JC3D5ryDUdJGzycftdQnSQOzTY5fjgZyYhiHP3TG2CeI75zNec8LMq0KPQMJgmN1Vyht9lIqs2ia3JGElQp6gbbw4tCHAA62AC4V0VXrXOBs/s2100/_22A9971-common-merganser-blue-water-5x7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry0uRLIzch770jPpKJoOgXnPoqQPHEMBWx4Qs2UauoJ6YiLtd06v0-vFExCYAn8ebPxDxo6kmJ_1hT80JC3D5ryDUdJGzycftdQnSQOzTY5fjgZyYhiHP3TG2CeI75zNec8LMq0KPQMJgmN1Vyht9lIqs2ia3JGElQp6gbbw4tCHAA62AC4V0VXrXOBs/s320/_22A9971-common-merganser-blue-water-5x7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNTs5cNaV0XQR1VG0fLcjH3HiznzYD2kRksSnH_SoVODURp1n6gO1f645u0fen1MUIoscDJYiFtfiwizTnflerMN9TJmI58IuCXncRFLOeoamWfk1xn81k826a9JnzeiPcjhJK0zvm7bVaEUM0ydmaw9bQDbVRkSnN4eFNPSON2YhnvDDLFfhIxftj4g/s2100/_22A0007-incoming.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNTs5cNaV0XQR1VG0fLcjH3HiznzYD2kRksSnH_SoVODURp1n6gO1f645u0fen1MUIoscDJYiFtfiwizTnflerMN9TJmI58IuCXncRFLOeoamWfk1xn81k826a9JnzeiPcjhJK0zvm7bVaEUM0ydmaw9bQDbVRkSnN4eFNPSON2YhnvDDLFfhIxftj4g/s2100/_22A0007-incoming.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNTs5cNaV0XQR1VG0fLcjH3HiznzYD2kRksSnH_SoVODURp1n6gO1f645u0fen1MUIoscDJYiFtfiwizTnflerMN9TJmI58IuCXncRFLOeoamWfk1xn81k826a9JnzeiPcjhJK0zvm7bVaEUM0ydmaw9bQDbVRkSnN4eFNPSON2YhnvDDLFfhIxftj4g/s2100/_22A0007-incoming.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uqg0LcSic65dZJoROf701XaiakL3_eKLMZBdooF-ESYN3F7AHj8tPviLyBs2Je_coaVDDZ-kSQu9Q8X8DGUKsQrebmKnTpL6QnAfr_4Edi4WMlV_Rhyphenhyphenq3w630qrWuAhOLFWKZjWUEpZyTIhn13_zmgD60jp6eF8I_A2Jc0SYUxaOpupmzxmAuZqww5g/s2100/_22A0080-bad-hair-day-bald-eagle-immature.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uqg0LcSic65dZJoROf701XaiakL3_eKLMZBdooF-ESYN3F7AHj8tPviLyBs2Je_coaVDDZ-kSQu9Q8X8DGUKsQrebmKnTpL6QnAfr_4Edi4WMlV_Rhyphenhyphenq3w630qrWuAhOLFWKZjWUEpZyTIhn13_zmgD60jp6eF8I_A2Jc0SYUxaOpupmzxmAuZqww5g/s320/_22A0080-bad-hair-day-bald-eagle-immature.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsU3f19YUclN2C37Igz-0FIFza3H7F8rPpInt9YkhBNaaIZe81vV_0BzxHiJNr2d7fEYzOoKmj8ncF2UEy6XBWNErKikc8oOUEHDgy59zwLCTE-iKOPZQrTcdLrDu3VCeQN7IiCd9w3VGSeMZOB80QNRWqhIQo1dSROBWaxneJpwWisPOWmmB6qxLJOc/s2100/_22A0082-bad-hair-day-bald-eagle-immature.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsU3f19YUclN2C37Igz-0FIFza3H7F8rPpInt9YkhBNaaIZe81vV_0BzxHiJNr2d7fEYzOoKmj8ncF2UEy6XBWNErKikc8oOUEHDgy59zwLCTE-iKOPZQrTcdLrDu3VCeQN7IiCd9w3VGSeMZOB80QNRWqhIQo1dSROBWaxneJpwWisPOWmmB6qxLJOc/s320/_22A0082-bad-hair-day-bald-eagle-immature.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNStUKKkq4Zp1sVfaY2cxumHlEIzhLND_AkLA_-uRoFhp6qm1QKXI_DqtJHCTlPH2rl6vE5DRTPhMfLWXd-0vrYiKHs54usQuMtC-3ndAjVwMYQX0X3SbgJkzg2J4KCmwPFsnUR_-vdQHPtGr0CMB63EiYD3klq5JPOCTl0bcRO2k20_8_T5Yj9fdhxuQ/s2100/_22A9998-ready-for-takeoff.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNStUKKkq4Zp1sVfaY2cxumHlEIzhLND_AkLA_-uRoFhp6qm1QKXI_DqtJHCTlPH2rl6vE5DRTPhMfLWXd-0vrYiKHs54usQuMtC-3ndAjVwMYQX0X3SbgJkzg2J4KCmwPFsnUR_-vdQHPtGr0CMB63EiYD3klq5JPOCTl0bcRO2k20_8_T5Yj9fdhxuQ/s320/_22A9998-ready-for-takeoff.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNTs5cNaV0XQR1VG0fLcjH3HiznzYD2kRksSnH_SoVODURp1n6gO1f645u0fen1MUIoscDJYiFtfiwizTnflerMN9TJmI58IuCXncRFLOeoamWfk1xn81k826a9JnzeiPcjhJK0zvm7bVaEUM0ydmaw9bQDbVRkSnN4eFNPSON2YhnvDDLFfhIxftj4g/s320/_22A0007-incoming.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAzQImDFJNs6SbeD5do5Yvgmg3T5407652wwGVZjUpgD8e07Ps6RNWGQNu4Bo4AHRVu9Rj43azzSVZ9cR2pxW3YS2E7J1h0cldDnxYyb5f-di0RcWUll0kbsLIwBzAUK8He6EjUB7wcupPVaFHp1_0_rpbC1gQQ4KEYha3o4Mau68Z8qSPcQ9uhlXPAU/s2100/_22A0021-bald-eagle-immature.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAzQImDFJNs6SbeD5do5Yvgmg3T5407652wwGVZjUpgD8e07Ps6RNWGQNu4Bo4AHRVu9Rj43azzSVZ9cR2pxW3YS2E7J1h0cldDnxYyb5f-di0RcWUll0kbsLIwBzAUK8He6EjUB7wcupPVaFHp1_0_rpbC1gQQ4KEYha3o4Mau68Z8qSPcQ9uhlXPAU/s320/_22A0021-bald-eagle-immature.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqTaLhEl3BaruQozY23wGSPnojXMX2rrgsvpgQwf9jYjXO59inRqFyCvTK97Ac9VeFZcZaEk6OHtQao19gX3-7X8qZc3qRIiL71yt4KeWKlegINiUh5-V7ifCCGgbDTgh_ztyOlTkiaPsYWY8uMmdMSOOxqh8rT193Q6jp1hyphenhyphenMaNOMkb46jvSBdaqE9Y/s2100/_22A0085-bald-eagle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqTaLhEl3BaruQozY23wGSPnojXMX2rrgsvpgQwf9jYjXO59inRqFyCvTK97Ac9VeFZcZaEk6OHtQao19gX3-7X8qZc3qRIiL71yt4KeWKlegINiUh5-V7ifCCGgbDTgh_ztyOlTkiaPsYWY8uMmdMSOOxqh8rT193Q6jp1hyphenhyphenMaNOMkb46jvSBdaqE9Y/s320/_22A0085-bald-eagle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf1vgvJTOlmSYPcet_sLCKzqc3jivJPv1zCtzImApDW10R9OnAnqZ9d7iLNryL86VD8MYOn6HcWEP15gltDtjvvuN9qJFP9Iqo_S8c0gmEzPlw9oAnmrL-ATxosCstRIyaROYYKqXLiN0F1EnPOi-IfKVjBHGVaajhGgHOfk_6yGYwV-4UypyTf3n2MI/s2100/_22A9986-six-bald-eagles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf1vgvJTOlmSYPcet_sLCKzqc3jivJPv1zCtzImApDW10R9OnAnqZ9d7iLNryL86VD8MYOn6HcWEP15gltDtjvvuN9qJFP9Iqo_S8c0gmEzPlw9oAnmrL-ATxosCstRIyaROYYKqXLiN0F1EnPOi-IfKVjBHGVaajhGgHOfk_6yGYwV-4UypyTf3n2MI/s320/_22A9986-six-bald-eagles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-89497375638298425192024-02-01T22:25:00.008-09:002024-02-03T10:47:27.429-09:00Thursday, February 1, 2024 More cold, more wind, more birds<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunny, but colder, and windier today with a low of minus 2, and a high of 5. A howling north wind at 20-30 mph flung streamers of snow off the mountains and flattened the steam from the bay before it could rise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I chopped up a block of sunflower seed suet and spread it below my two sunflower seed feeders. It’s easier for the two VARIED THRUSHES and FOX SPARROW than the suet feeder cage. They got some and then a STELLER’S JAY (very efficient gobbler) polished it off quickly. I also spread some sand for grit and it either blew away or the birds ate it all up too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">At Lowell Point Beach parking lot, RED CROSSBILLS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, (including juveniles), COMMON REDPOLLS, and PINE SISKINS fluttered from one spruce bough to the next, grabbing the tiny seeds as fast as they could. I found more Crossbills and Common Redpolls eating sand? at the beach. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A SHORT-BILLED GULL daintily picked at a few fish carcasses, mostly just bones, at the tideline. A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL briefly harassed it but soon left. A RAVEN cautiously circled overhead, wanting it, but not with the paparazzi present. The best way to scatter Ravens is to point a lens at them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">One of the RED-BREASTED MERGANSER hens patrolling the edge found some of the fish bones and tossed them down. It was perilous so close to the shore; she hammered through the surf like a pro.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Far out, I watched the pair of LONG-TAILED DUCKS paddle along, never far from each other. A very distant COMMON LOON preened and finally stretched. The head and nape seemed unusually dark, almost black. That is a puzzle. I wish it had been closer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Dozens of MALLARDS rested in a shallow nook below Lowell Point Road, not really out of the wind, but in somewhat calmer water. Over by the Uplands, a handsome male GADWALL flew in towards shore and landed. Both BARROW’S and COMMON GOLDENEYES paddled offshore.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Robin C reported a BRAMBLING by Two Lakes Park. Though the feeder was in deep shadows, I was able to photograph it, and got a glimpse of a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW among the Siskins, Juncos, and Redpolls.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I visited Ava’s again, hoping for another chance to photograph the banded Red Crossbill, but none appeared. A beautiful Steller’s Jay cleaned out the remains of the peanut butter in the log feeder; such efficient guzzlers! I added a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and a pair of BALD EAGLES flying overhead to my list. The little birds buzzed back and forth between the trees, feeders, and snow, busily stocking up for the long, cold winter night.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZc162QzoloIvcWrsg_qD6LWLJ3-okaGRmkdxein-gaNvVwQ1EqxBXNN_TGFasOXJioMdXA6styTEt5UGeLp67gSJ_sVkntio3F1B9sm4Wmw4XCmrR0IQMi4NNtTtwsBN82NPcfngRsUaXtgkapQeSZfRB1g-ujkVEsGiUaaYVKkZs0K1m0mypXEkv2Fg/s2100/_22A9087-varied-thrush-male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZc162QzoloIvcWrsg_qD6LWLJ3-okaGRmkdxein-gaNvVwQ1EqxBXNN_TGFasOXJioMdXA6styTEt5UGeLp67gSJ_sVkntio3F1B9sm4Wmw4XCmrR0IQMi4NNtTtwsBN82NPcfngRsUaXtgkapQeSZfRB1g-ujkVEsGiUaaYVKkZs0K1m0mypXEkv2Fg/s320/_22A9087-varied-thrush-male.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn_XBH3O2a3uHokxl03T0IvL24hJyFV7M0KqgeR2sWXLbXdFLvtlJdHGSbTSw_tGY7fJ90OlyuiXrp6ETbSZVVBznNRKSCb5gjfjBF1J1f9_5b2UNbcdbjpwz5Vnt7ZdMkzsd38E5RC6GzZDU-7_hkCPQIRt0hCMNE6cOAEVS8JU1eBd9aikg2BzjifU/s2100/_22A9090-Fox-Sparrow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn_XBH3O2a3uHokxl03T0IvL24hJyFV7M0KqgeR2sWXLbXdFLvtlJdHGSbTSw_tGY7fJ90OlyuiXrp6ETbSZVVBznNRKSCb5gjfjBF1J1f9_5b2UNbcdbjpwz5Vnt7ZdMkzsd38E5RC6GzZDU-7_hkCPQIRt0hCMNE6cOAEVS8JU1eBd9aikg2BzjifU/s320/_22A9090-Fox-Sparrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLir-feDKMlimxvHCdH2vs8F2TCaoX8EFh-WEV0X4ufm4rTKc0ctNbaOzvB1b9itMqkA0uLAG6oqHNrQRP3kjjT1l5WH7C3CF7UF8dMB-1HJzsUaKCXTQoA80d9fhFzPSiYQXxadZrMdj6V9Vu5KatB_3GnQGyOdgCQKB_15lx7RpdaoMDDpuxh7Tbbt4/s2100/_22A9116-Steller's-Jay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLir-feDKMlimxvHCdH2vs8F2TCaoX8EFh-WEV0X4ufm4rTKc0ctNbaOzvB1b9itMqkA0uLAG6oqHNrQRP3kjjT1l5WH7C3CF7UF8dMB-1HJzsUaKCXTQoA80d9fhFzPSiYQXxadZrMdj6V9Vu5KatB_3GnQGyOdgCQKB_15lx7RpdaoMDDpuxh7Tbbt4/s320/_22A9116-Steller's-Jay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAS3rw1az5zVQnNJ_eclYq9j-QVzNWnn9fV9RHyl5q-fhjD9V39Q7q62oPnQAHBINN_74NHf4rANB2Aaki1baKHYTmN7OSPxRFLlz3GiH0cE9D7TGbCFrB4-O7LtojsshpuBXCuXRdWvDeSYQS2oJBfbQMeTvQiO_HJh6Z_ZnrVTvWyLohjEnU7sn3Sk4/s2100/_22A9124-frozen-waterfall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAS3rw1az5zVQnNJ_eclYq9j-QVzNWnn9fV9RHyl5q-fhjD9V39Q7q62oPnQAHBINN_74NHf4rANB2Aaki1baKHYTmN7OSPxRFLlz3GiH0cE9D7TGbCFrB4-O7LtojsshpuBXCuXRdWvDeSYQS2oJBfbQMeTvQiO_HJh6Z_ZnrVTvWyLohjEnU7sn3Sk4/s320/_22A9124-frozen-waterfall.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Xhke2iP8z21dZFY0ysyvqVMW6pLx48S3I9cqhQE0OaFajk032pb6Oegs8BkmHXnRGeeUnUpdcxx7bEgt0JsyscyJnPtTuIVdaS3sdIUbEHdhIGtnyv2RMDfulJ9y7u_FA6mfQKvD4izp0PMe5coKY4yRZRFBdNJUTpBCIr0elsy4w3Ra0MmWgnlQtVk/s2100/_22A9146-streaming-mountains.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Xhke2iP8z21dZFY0ysyvqVMW6pLx48S3I9cqhQE0OaFajk032pb6Oegs8BkmHXnRGeeUnUpdcxx7bEgt0JsyscyJnPtTuIVdaS3sdIUbEHdhIGtnyv2RMDfulJ9y7u_FA6mfQKvD4izp0PMe5coKY4yRZRFBdNJUTpBCIr0elsy4w3Ra0MmWgnlQtVk/s320/_22A9146-streaming-mountains.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnCxZnImwz7sz9OOOEZqD6q0FdfciV22o5jJFw8lW2W8G2peDI58FJ5jeJx_FvLCAiznslKS5uw-Vvrt0o0kG6PyBdbceW18muOQ5Y8Bcd-HfpCn9uWJF6e9NanE2FHFgF3WRVZlzWBeEjg4vjF8NsEaIHtacO1kml7ML0yb-8j3GX8YFxtSHwoy5I0c/s2100/_22A9161-white-winged-crossbills,-juv-and-adult.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnCxZnImwz7sz9OOOEZqD6q0FdfciV22o5jJFw8lW2W8G2peDI58FJ5jeJx_FvLCAiznslKS5uw-Vvrt0o0kG6PyBdbceW18muOQ5Y8Bcd-HfpCn9uWJF6e9NanE2FHFgF3WRVZlzWBeEjg4vjF8NsEaIHtacO1kml7ML0yb-8j3GX8YFxtSHwoy5I0c/s320/_22A9161-white-winged-crossbills,-juv-and-adult.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxlQlHCKQ6UWiuAetaI0b5eSYyfXx9-aNh8tOGl1LwGoE2s1emCR9rZcAUU_Hb5pnHMuNDHuXMxoHg5onIgTAn4Fh3crqCHEmDqI-OswjSE6xooBrGZPIDhIOvnUmunqhN1Iqidemk500bo9pVOaE1tFJLg80RiEz6aK-BArqYv9CoMjvhkn-oChk5vA/s2100/_22A9175-sea-icicles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxlQlHCKQ6UWiuAetaI0b5eSYyfXx9-aNh8tOGl1LwGoE2s1emCR9rZcAUU_Hb5pnHMuNDHuXMxoHg5onIgTAn4Fh3crqCHEmDqI-OswjSE6xooBrGZPIDhIOvnUmunqhN1Iqidemk500bo9pVOaE1tFJLg80RiEz6aK-BArqYv9CoMjvhkn-oChk5vA/s320/_22A9175-sea-icicles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXbrW2o2Mi5K1u_KoIRGUMe7pysKFIHeSHdY6cXXqyFmiDgIYkCq-pwRzwgN9lb6HwO2PkTha6Z7XxASmnx_7_8460qqwM88Q5HGbRMzC_NZQHfN3VNlArAPDloNgEs0v8dV86VktdS9bQfTasVcL4zd3ChBoS8aywfsVV6lbXXczr7tTa0oWAr_Epfg/s2100/_22A9242-red-crossbills,-two-juveniles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXbrW2o2Mi5K1u_KoIRGUMe7pysKFIHeSHdY6cXXqyFmiDgIYkCq-pwRzwgN9lb6HwO2PkTha6Z7XxASmnx_7_8460qqwM88Q5HGbRMzC_NZQHfN3VNlArAPDloNgEs0v8dV86VktdS9bQfTasVcL4zd3ChBoS8aywfsVV6lbXXczr7tTa0oWAr_Epfg/s320/_22A9242-red-crossbills,-two-juveniles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOz4tIMZMLy-Xn5p-CUTqMGOYgKLm5WTHvkeq9Ni3aLoso9CCw4C55drJFR2vj5w4fPU1SV0I0qsbRrDHTfQW8frwfkPilsKclZw8ZNjXG_SMNnpiGOfbK5XDeeWNyVXqGx0z7oWfP8O2hSvotSGJyH6ZtMntC7VRGX34OhnPqkCMnFqaVqgh8gaL9gbo/s2100/_22A9254-short-billed-gull.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOz4tIMZMLy-Xn5p-CUTqMGOYgKLm5WTHvkeq9Ni3aLoso9CCw4C55drJFR2vj5w4fPU1SV0I0qsbRrDHTfQW8frwfkPilsKclZw8ZNjXG_SMNnpiGOfbK5XDeeWNyVXqGx0z7oWfP8O2hSvotSGJyH6ZtMntC7VRGX34OhnPqkCMnFqaVqgh8gaL9gbo/s320/_22A9254-short-billed-gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdQy6wTKekaPXq7dCxKG8imeHupXOQ9ta0MZ8Lp59I053cojpyZaK8Il0PL3HlQ_OiLRZj4qmDns3s-Qhl4-A27tAIgAVphXHYar_KWjdGl07LzWrwKHq0GyNEuklw8Hyu7x9hM_lnUQhYKob2ZQ4eGZoiHsx2qqKSV4K9FLRbd84dzdl7goYlc11dyc/s2100/_22A9341-short-billed-gull.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdQy6wTKekaPXq7dCxKG8imeHupXOQ9ta0MZ8Lp59I053cojpyZaK8Il0PL3HlQ_OiLRZj4qmDns3s-Qhl4-A27tAIgAVphXHYar_KWjdGl07LzWrwKHq0GyNEuklw8Hyu7x9hM_lnUQhYKob2ZQ4eGZoiHsx2qqKSV4K9FLRbd84dzdl7goYlc11dyc/s320/_22A9341-short-billed-gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6F3l2kgzPgnvxSojpVl2gA9UmYmEqwHdXzHjOsR869AufDUJgnYMhg_BHCVCv3k-AqMHj2Gxy_wOvTM3apnOPGr2XkjPuDnZY8A2zTmcOzkOtS0Gr01WXbcQo5Ch6QIPpJcxBitJx9-1O2QNlwG4BWtla4YO9LEYZH8RRye4kGVnERiZXGQi8hoQZyw/s2100/_22A9346-red-breasted-merganser-through-surf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6F3l2kgzPgnvxSojpVl2gA9UmYmEqwHdXzHjOsR869AufDUJgnYMhg_BHCVCv3k-AqMHj2Gxy_wOvTM3apnOPGr2XkjPuDnZY8A2zTmcOzkOtS0Gr01WXbcQo5Ch6QIPpJcxBitJx9-1O2QNlwG4BWtla4YO9LEYZH8RRye4kGVnERiZXGQi8hoQZyw/s320/_22A9346-red-breasted-merganser-through-surf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYomOtj3_r16l2JN7mkh7ter-RBvlngww3RDUE6rmTSt9GD57RwkHqEHSW17Gfk6-6vo7zI2OlrgWswHhLyY5GdxjTjQ_ZWWz-RXPuklbSpSzQiDktzr22b8vhZV63NoZW7F3GS3NZOheNoPBed2enxKCenPKx3VuCM5hWEgKoehPgjGy2WK0aCJlde0w/s2100/_22A9414-common-loon-stretching.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYomOtj3_r16l2JN7mkh7ter-RBvlngww3RDUE6rmTSt9GD57RwkHqEHSW17Gfk6-6vo7zI2OlrgWswHhLyY5GdxjTjQ_ZWWz-RXPuklbSpSzQiDktzr22b8vhZV63NoZW7F3GS3NZOheNoPBed2enxKCenPKx3VuCM5hWEgKoehPgjGy2WK0aCJlde0w/s320/_22A9414-common-loon-stretching.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oGvQPky6ekaROI_bzx7CnwGdwn0XJ_FLBFjqTVHOIILhnQDGhf9RFI4hxHUVvnDQ8Rdqab1A8-IGCigWYDMNauGkcOInjuO8lRHAA4bz2M4aEfL2MFe1oJufR62qIy_GAJ47mD11-T8IliSVJpP72IQOxBjpab84Qnola2Ace11ldwoVc6rhUle_NUw/s2100/_22A9426-mallards.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oGvQPky6ekaROI_bzx7CnwGdwn0XJ_FLBFjqTVHOIILhnQDGhf9RFI4hxHUVvnDQ8Rdqab1A8-IGCigWYDMNauGkcOInjuO8lRHAA4bz2M4aEfL2MFe1oJufR62qIy_GAJ47mD11-T8IliSVJpP72IQOxBjpab84Qnola2Ace11ldwoVc6rhUle_NUw/s320/_22A9426-mallards.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOaF6n2WvlNV9blE5cpa8KqIeRkIZUt_SIF43Mq3pSZ29cCrva45JBGN5bBqnqEn4paxpAUd2bQBZe7o22LTpxIwusfRXlyE-AFZ-xSogcI94W8jWD3foDzDEHPSH_Ul8YjBD4Psokwdpm4qnGAWlH8-YqE3xrvQu8LBEtu56HQLvlMeUnocpmweG1ao/s2100/_22A9442-gadwall-drake-landing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOaF6n2WvlNV9blE5cpa8KqIeRkIZUt_SIF43Mq3pSZ29cCrva45JBGN5bBqnqEn4paxpAUd2bQBZe7o22LTpxIwusfRXlyE-AFZ-xSogcI94W8jWD3foDzDEHPSH_Ul8YjBD4Psokwdpm4qnGAWlH8-YqE3xrvQu8LBEtu56HQLvlMeUnocpmweG1ao/s320/_22A9442-gadwall-drake-landing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ9gupV66KIcFDb64CHrIDS792lA1qQPjphV8QjCulGvT8EB_PaDwUKLFx-nkUIOgOhyzxjV_W-cA0eBBubxegAQ0kHTk1_CPxEkyDACJlq1nvEpMc4FxpqBYQacMosj1UXL87ih37CrEnZczu0FwrDRcXit5Tlgfbai_VoEcL4awY8EQXIuid8zayWI/s2100/_22A9449-Barrow's-Goldeneyes-pair.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ9gupV66KIcFDb64CHrIDS792lA1qQPjphV8QjCulGvT8EB_PaDwUKLFx-nkUIOgOhyzxjV_W-cA0eBBubxegAQ0kHTk1_CPxEkyDACJlq1nvEpMc4FxpqBYQacMosj1UXL87ih37CrEnZczu0FwrDRcXit5Tlgfbai_VoEcL4awY8EQXIuid8zayWI/s320/_22A9449-Barrow's-Goldeneyes-pair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgnCQaSa75VcS50vK20NayvHDiibwUH24bbvHVGir9uTmQe8FCX3oXPRuYBTV4n9HrU-Vd5ft1X5f5BmJW21tHQCZXd-1VDtaJtREOaIEmApMXCLsucrrGaoFVJ3k9qwjcbEI0Hw-73rKqEzVwbAD-ekp8ulfbcYT5cZxMC309pcFOwbnvkLoakCkIPI/s2100/_22A9504--white-winged-crossbill-and-BRAMBLING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgnCQaSa75VcS50vK20NayvHDiibwUH24bbvHVGir9uTmQe8FCX3oXPRuYBTV4n9HrU-Vd5ft1X5f5BmJW21tHQCZXd-1VDtaJtREOaIEmApMXCLsucrrGaoFVJ3k9qwjcbEI0Hw-73rKqEzVwbAD-ekp8ulfbcYT5cZxMC309pcFOwbnvkLoakCkIPI/s320/_22A9504--white-winged-crossbill-and-BRAMBLING.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesemY3OFPBmD8Wq_lTaBubcGmW5zP5aHF7kTmLWc0w8tBdA_D3RK-WtcLQ7y4zx29Zx9wrDBvZ9UMAEzGdPkb7JNg_HddpC5EGYm9IT9cATsD52ZOKYgqVqjv2tXujyHPCNCsWbPJqbcNwd8Fn25cW2HXQ863k2vCZeVNEV5nDyVN37Y_AKSTa87lLNA/s2100/_22A9552-Steller's-Jay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesemY3OFPBmD8Wq_lTaBubcGmW5zP5aHF7kTmLWc0w8tBdA_D3RK-WtcLQ7y4zx29Zx9wrDBvZ9UMAEzGdPkb7JNg_HddpC5EGYm9IT9cATsD52ZOKYgqVqjv2tXujyHPCNCsWbPJqbcNwd8Fn25cW2HXQ863k2vCZeVNEV5nDyVN37Y_AKSTa87lLNA/s320/_22A9552-Steller's-Jay.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDB979wa4UR5NSoWxDUeAu-9TvLvQUATa6Dzv0RIoNaDRIrHd6p9ir1FXcQFPikvBjH12x_JLt8fS5DqrI9TOTqz8hjdUHiEJwy4jeoxgTRL5bFskKNPcpNF3MDLzwm4xCXFdyFBaJpWJhndc_M8bQM4gSsgTOzQmD9c3v0EVjnNn5H7GmLIr7vOpjZdQ/s2100/_22A9575-Steller's-Jay-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDB979wa4UR5NSoWxDUeAu-9TvLvQUATa6Dzv0RIoNaDRIrHd6p9ir1FXcQFPikvBjH12x_JLt8fS5DqrI9TOTqz8hjdUHiEJwy4jeoxgTRL5bFskKNPcpNF3MDLzwm4xCXFdyFBaJpWJhndc_M8bQM4gSsgTOzQmD9c3v0EVjnNn5H7GmLIr7vOpjZdQ/s320/_22A9575-Steller's-Jay-2.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy23q2bzm6xmmprDHDhvN9eWVSequLvw9HPMqdZ1bZfT0fHB6lp3bsjMzV5v9Qd3HHhUjPTXvfDorCrboK-499LPIv_wcy_ghKuHoU34ycApTjB0QddtsJ3ILGiYp2cVG2GacY5qoYDd_Jt5hTfvmnfe0kYesRVjlNDdUO0P-R5fJ2y6oSVNmH7Lldgng/s2100/_22A9589-Red-breasted-Nuthatch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy23q2bzm6xmmprDHDhvN9eWVSequLvw9HPMqdZ1bZfT0fHB6lp3bsjMzV5v9Qd3HHhUjPTXvfDorCrboK-499LPIv_wcy_ghKuHoU34ycApTjB0QddtsJ3ILGiYp2cVG2GacY5qoYDd_Jt5hTfvmnfe0kYesRVjlNDdUO0P-R5fJ2y6oSVNmH7Lldgng/s320/_22A9589-Red-breasted-Nuthatch.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6xwREfRS3_eV1gi1ZYDQZIuld4V-ZrFfH6md5q4ReOZbhXXW0G5EgN71bxdfx_g3bvs0BSjN4ps1woINXoze0c1B6lXND_-CNmz9ATGvABJfDlFCw25ijjdEn1bNTg7gUG-jjsgS9zsr0S2LtJcSXIfQ8XcyjrNAfG_oK8nG8k9mr5I4YX37HI3cDqg/s2100/_22A9608-Black-capped-Chickadee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6xwREfRS3_eV1gi1ZYDQZIuld4V-ZrFfH6md5q4ReOZbhXXW0G5EgN71bxdfx_g3bvs0BSjN4ps1woINXoze0c1B6lXND_-CNmz9ATGvABJfDlFCw25ijjdEn1bNTg7gUG-jjsgS9zsr0S2LtJcSXIfQ8XcyjrNAfG_oK8nG8k9mr5I4YX37HI3cDqg/s320/_22A9608-Black-capped-Chickadee.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-75144992057140812452024-01-31T22:05:00.004-09:002024-02-01T22:33:43.752-09:00Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Cold but Birdy!<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 9:16 am, sunset 5:08 pm for a total day length of 7 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 57 seconds longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward only received about 5” of light snow after the Sunday night storm. Sunny skies prevailed today with strong NNW wind 10-13 mph and gusts to 31 mph. Continued cold with a low of minus 5 at 8:30 am, “warmed up” to zero at noon and then rolled back down. Colder and clear in the forecast for Thursday and Friday. Beautiful but brrrrrrrrr!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The bay continued to steam, sending ghosts streaming before the wind. Somewhat in the lee, I found a cooperative RED-BREASTED MERGANSER hen feeding along the shoreline at Lowell Point Beach. She seemed to find food by merely snorkeling and rarely dove. The water may have been shallow enough to pluck gunnels or other prey off the submerged beach but I could not determine what she found. When she emerged, water flowed off the waterproof duck like a transparent cloak.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Far offshore, I spied a COMMON LOON. Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS bobbed in the waves near a PELAGIC CORMORANT, almost obscured by the steam. A raft of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES dove near a small group of COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS near shore. A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL attacked a drake Red-Breasted Mergansers, driving him away from the prey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The boat harbor was frozen at both ends, an unusual sight. I found two HORNED GREBES fishing in a small open area, their red eyes gleaming in the sunshine. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Ava’s hotspot was hopping with hungry birds. I found two RED CROSSBILL females cracking open sunflower seeds in the porch trays with COMMON REDPOLLS, PINE SISKINS, and a PINE GROSBEAK. DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS pecked at the peanut butter logs. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and an OREGON JUNCO darted in an out grabbing seeds where they could.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">When I got home and looked at my photos, I realized one of the Red Crossbills sported a silver metal band on its right leg, possibly from 2023. Fun to see! I hope to learn more soon. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Farewell, January 2024. What a dramatic month you were!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birrrrding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Update: Tasha DiMarzio banded that Red Crossbill on August 8, 2023 as a hatch year bird. Tasha was very pleased to know she is alive and looking strong. So cool!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3V23ZN4qBzCbkuoOIVDC36zfNpjZw7x2HuPkS-uByZ-hgZJYVDPzPdhOSyCl4Hhxm0ofytToc6GyHtjCrWIXMj9U4CGThm1jdy8jwz1AY9g-EzXMhHDLcwzgLEgOvSnyxaOQf7zhz6fh6FPyzA_DrxsTPEM3ILo_xVOHaBWjm1w11i9trJxOHpgKwymI/s2100/_22A8609-steaming-bay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3V23ZN4qBzCbkuoOIVDC36zfNpjZw7x2HuPkS-uByZ-hgZJYVDPzPdhOSyCl4Hhxm0ofytToc6GyHtjCrWIXMj9U4CGThm1jdy8jwz1AY9g-EzXMhHDLcwzgLEgOvSnyxaOQf7zhz6fh6FPyzA_DrxsTPEM3ILo_xVOHaBWjm1w11i9trJxOHpgKwymI/s320/_22A8609-steaming-bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfiikB4tBiiVYtkaJTrhYExkaskmS2qXYL-bxXATqFy5654SQ2Lw2_usfAZbBQ5bhgNTkAhSla7y5PiDzw58ik9Y8g9tiCDfwRwSgkdojLTeofbuMDglMvkPBjn2VXyaj45xtY_hRfcJ3nm9qwV-SwVkcnNn97pVsEDY41gpwoh-i-XQafwmlQpQ6mMw/s2100/_22A8614-steaming-bay-at-zero.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfiikB4tBiiVYtkaJTrhYExkaskmS2qXYL-bxXATqFy5654SQ2Lw2_usfAZbBQ5bhgNTkAhSla7y5PiDzw58ik9Y8g9tiCDfwRwSgkdojLTeofbuMDglMvkPBjn2VXyaj45xtY_hRfcJ3nm9qwV-SwVkcnNn97pVsEDY41gpwoh-i-XQafwmlQpQ6mMw/s320/_22A8614-steaming-bay-at-zero.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwOuSz7NSKzqbJRgf0A_FMSeR10Xrrd0dkfpQ04m1rJCt8T7n8aqCnh9DCLnwrJvsn1RxQAtKlNUiKLBK8T4IQXVYR-ZQRWqQay3BD3KqXah_yzzwC6ICQwSOndbUbxCU8KHiuOzK7jgIYnt2DILk7YjlwzkaSbgrnsA5CcwndqcYH07BwWsDdFrc088/s2100/_22A8629-pinnacle-rock-steaming-bay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwOuSz7NSKzqbJRgf0A_FMSeR10Xrrd0dkfpQ04m1rJCt8T7n8aqCnh9DCLnwrJvsn1RxQAtKlNUiKLBK8T4IQXVYR-ZQRWqQay3BD3KqXah_yzzwC6ICQwSOndbUbxCU8KHiuOzK7jgIYnt2DILk7YjlwzkaSbgrnsA5CcwndqcYH07BwWsDdFrc088/s320/_22A8629-pinnacle-rock-steaming-bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLsw6FP4s_8hE2osRQw-3IvijfqO1hA3ujR_ptlnv6V965QaYl5bV6XtgL1FkpXMTWrDGdfq9dw5f58Fqkc2MmuOqMz4I0TDxuDLQu9TUQ7LlcfRtOpPBJYl-Lv6nSG4OD6ijL232LMH3oVmT-7JuYO0wHQz-jFG35q-BiVSlHpflblLqAk9ioD2x0bQ/s2100/_22A8667-red-breasted-merganser-hen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLsw6FP4s_8hE2osRQw-3IvijfqO1hA3ujR_ptlnv6V965QaYl5bV6XtgL1FkpXMTWrDGdfq9dw5f58Fqkc2MmuOqMz4I0TDxuDLQu9TUQ7LlcfRtOpPBJYl-Lv6nSG4OD6ijL232LMH3oVmT-7JuYO0wHQz-jFG35q-BiVSlHpflblLqAk9ioD2x0bQ/s320/_22A8667-red-breasted-merganser-hen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuR5cik2q1vTalD6gZkKFnQKlkAaPw0TO6JEGNbU5a7Gf938PErzCethoPP7RQw5iyGEtCceYQKANXwzZ3JdmnM-i0_RF9ZwwcvmDDLbssVc879jOw-uZayRPdEnaYbXPgCyaSDXD43DlfvihV_O-cDsCUEzq50X7Q8pWZUw6ODlH2PbzIb_MsOBoPdI/s2100/_22A8673-red-breasted-merganser-hen-waterproof.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuR5cik2q1vTalD6gZkKFnQKlkAaPw0TO6JEGNbU5a7Gf938PErzCethoPP7RQw5iyGEtCceYQKANXwzZ3JdmnM-i0_RF9ZwwcvmDDLbssVc879jOw-uZayRPdEnaYbXPgCyaSDXD43DlfvihV_O-cDsCUEzq50X7Q8pWZUw6ODlH2PbzIb_MsOBoPdI/s320/_22A8673-red-breasted-merganser-hen-waterproof.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsxoOUZzf-byEdBTQUIL9gXAl0BE8_D5mJ3McqfQTXx85rtf9yDbIaAGln_zlhJ06SGQ9ZU6pzwt3yQ3yS2a7fnti1PSDspJz_iGmut4b4zQCkdt6chsPULKv9k4nwbOjT4iZMI5wFmcppI-x2gE-P6vlxx6qcqMFeYSEY_7zpRU_WXl_CkpaRpEHNbg/s2100/_22A8692-red-breasted-merganser-hen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsxoOUZzf-byEdBTQUIL9gXAl0BE8_D5mJ3McqfQTXx85rtf9yDbIaAGln_zlhJ06SGQ9ZU6pzwt3yQ3yS2a7fnti1PSDspJz_iGmut4b4zQCkdt6chsPULKv9k4nwbOjT4iZMI5wFmcppI-x2gE-P6vlxx6qcqMFeYSEY_7zpRU_WXl_CkpaRpEHNbg/s320/_22A8692-red-breasted-merganser-hen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJprxQRFpcH242UFWwq7fHHnLSTXhKeW-9BMOWLKoHaoNP1w50VulMpVqiTnTG1tBSDQy-THB67avR_p52UHGZ42YbJKzk7YBBlax4mYFha5fQPIC8-HWka9aI3m6mPgCsuOSJLSlZ8wAbMSW6A4cB2J8AgyvmDEZzEvkuJT9uKmnnmtyhKkxpLNSUQk/s2100/_22A8743-frozen-northern-sea-nettle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJprxQRFpcH242UFWwq7fHHnLSTXhKeW-9BMOWLKoHaoNP1w50VulMpVqiTnTG1tBSDQy-THB67avR_p52UHGZ42YbJKzk7YBBlax4mYFha5fQPIC8-HWka9aI3m6mPgCsuOSJLSlZ8wAbMSW6A4cB2J8AgyvmDEZzEvkuJT9uKmnnmtyhKkxpLNSUQk/s320/_22A8743-frozen-northern-sea-nettle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPNdH1c8qCXudWTNNSoX_wQ1RzHIpqhVU3jEEZZgZu4TWZEn4BzPTNCpqhIumCWBwe3natyjZNkidX774Tnm2AXMsPXTcFdggM8xKPmRWBlj6uQHYBbew6Fy0NOEpE910Uis3TYiaPSSx6SQ9ZXWGkqR8d4idqM7cXsqaaqZOjdBeRLT-dOxqscrM5y4/s2100/_22A8765-sea-spray-icicles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPNdH1c8qCXudWTNNSoX_wQ1RzHIpqhVU3jEEZZgZu4TWZEn4BzPTNCpqhIumCWBwe3natyjZNkidX774Tnm2AXMsPXTcFdggM8xKPmRWBlj6uQHYBbew6Fy0NOEpE910Uis3TYiaPSSx6SQ9ZXWGkqR8d4idqM7cXsqaaqZOjdBeRLT-dOxqscrM5y4/s320/_22A8765-sea-spray-icicles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OrNGVAxdmMsAXRPNRAHTMQ0B4lVvLvuQ_nTWo0_0NsdrdSGLMGOLwp4V-GPtpccdEEqM19ecqEMrO5L_6ioV-IlSaKgC8KqnDd1dh_EqZZKIS1vSPuy7T518vzJfSfykh-ONc4M3LcvmTkWxBBgJ3PuQMS32Sb3TT11xbFmZ1dZuD5pcc_l4CsqiXyM/s2100/_22A8768-Barrow's-Goldeneyes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OrNGVAxdmMsAXRPNRAHTMQ0B4lVvLvuQ_nTWo0_0NsdrdSGLMGOLwp4V-GPtpccdEEqM19ecqEMrO5L_6ioV-IlSaKgC8KqnDd1dh_EqZZKIS1vSPuy7T518vzJfSfykh-ONc4M3LcvmTkWxBBgJ3PuQMS32Sb3TT11xbFmZ1dZuD5pcc_l4CsqiXyM/s320/_22A8768-Barrow's-Goldeneyes.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9nYlpyI73GKuxyvSDmkkgJSQCMEwJoAw8OlmOI5CWKRkatr2xIC68DNtXj5_aIw5ge1bq1lRfPmPpzo0VHGcnbP3ncTmDN5oSSfGwGROg23heJMZ2lDUbQ2F2iXZih3HdWjs5des7GGttKjs04Qz7h7maYLRVEOF5_-qlVUhyphenhyphenupVSu_zrgJp9wX9bys/s2100/_22A8770-red-breasted-merganser-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9nYlpyI73GKuxyvSDmkkgJSQCMEwJoAw8OlmOI5CWKRkatr2xIC68DNtXj5_aIw5ge1bq1lRfPmPpzo0VHGcnbP3ncTmDN5oSSfGwGROg23heJMZ2lDUbQ2F2iXZih3HdWjs5des7GGttKjs04Qz7h7maYLRVEOF5_-qlVUhyphenhyphenupVSu_zrgJp9wX9bys/s320/_22A8770-red-breasted-merganser-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWULShyZiFkl1xBJNSQMWQEjcYA3UsCdPNq2-mcVHKo52mQkobCCTMQ6yXFvdvrZlc23OIRzO4_WuuPJrMIIu6vd37yWxz6hBkx1AgN3nfFXmVYl9v49REy_ihjHa29c-c8njeQI4nTtJ8YWe3niU0TjgHWRqNF-j51nBuMeMsWDN56w2BMgEdpWkH5Q/s2100/_22A8781-Glaucous-winged-gull-harassing-Red-breasted-merganser.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWULShyZiFkl1xBJNSQMWQEjcYA3UsCdPNq2-mcVHKo52mQkobCCTMQ6yXFvdvrZlc23OIRzO4_WuuPJrMIIu6vd37yWxz6hBkx1AgN3nfFXmVYl9v49REy_ihjHa29c-c8njeQI4nTtJ8YWe3niU0TjgHWRqNF-j51nBuMeMsWDN56w2BMgEdpWkH5Q/s320/_22A8781-Glaucous-winged-gull-harassing-Red-breasted-merganser.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDZsKvYjQpaHBaU0eJoiXCHq3-8KgDGwoIQ5NYRddM5kZfD3KkL4MONjptQKj9kL82Hq2_z-JXkGn0KiWJsrD9JIaxljWtEHOK3rDHDZQtxtdY0icFD5LiUe2l5JsQomXzIkV946oFgcan2Vtr-X9ysAOuYzk7vVH5OzlcJV2qmPnYaL8nTpxNQwG3g4/s2100/_22A8854-long-tailed-ducks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDZsKvYjQpaHBaU0eJoiXCHq3-8KgDGwoIQ5NYRddM5kZfD3KkL4MONjptQKj9kL82Hq2_z-JXkGn0KiWJsrD9JIaxljWtEHOK3rDHDZQtxtdY0icFD5LiUe2l5JsQomXzIkV946oFgcan2Vtr-X9ysAOuYzk7vVH5OzlcJV2qmPnYaL8nTpxNQwG3g4/s320/_22A8854-long-tailed-ducks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkqBK4RTyujS_lOyMQn4OAKtkq0xX7ttQxUEt3wbM-0j1F1u-IWiWhn2JAh24UIC2ph1NDL23W_1O9lCD12rYYvV1oiSwTkIJZN4Yiu2VtRys5qfBDOrqxX8jr-3ROtjLUalrtFW0dK5nWA4oR9Jxk-XecbHBIONFjrtZb2sHaORRIdMmcX1dUdYe6Yc/s2100/_22A8894-horned-grebe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkqBK4RTyujS_lOyMQn4OAKtkq0xX7ttQxUEt3wbM-0j1F1u-IWiWhn2JAh24UIC2ph1NDL23W_1O9lCD12rYYvV1oiSwTkIJZN4Yiu2VtRys5qfBDOrqxX8jr-3ROtjLUalrtFW0dK5nWA4oR9Jxk-XecbHBIONFjrtZb2sHaORRIdMmcX1dUdYe6Yc/s320/_22A8894-horned-grebe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEisXqYySIVQ3Gji13lrVamktUnSXOvgcDUfpmLjvkb_Aeu3wRkFoB9z-PXebpf1ZXRipRPIEiHRV7nRQ2v3_qqd21PbbXAwYLfCFQYTb1g0S1XYFpKrdztxLJOljjf-gB4uli5HiHl7nrz4kXfpJxoxLETd_sBD0zL1H6R-kSFWhoZErY1Fdg9dGtmn0/s2100/_22A8896-horned-grebe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEisXqYySIVQ3Gji13lrVamktUnSXOvgcDUfpmLjvkb_Aeu3wRkFoB9z-PXebpf1ZXRipRPIEiHRV7nRQ2v3_qqd21PbbXAwYLfCFQYTb1g0S1XYFpKrdztxLJOljjf-gB4uli5HiHl7nrz4kXfpJxoxLETd_sBD0zL1H6R-kSFWhoZErY1Fdg9dGtmn0/s320/_22A8896-horned-grebe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro3lMjj8ModoxUUO__vjP3l09SXSzHooy51ReYHrbtAbmQvuid2nW_BAVbonsX2vV1AqsJDdVbVo2xharTh9tAJcAJlP4sPCeIc7UYPTNztRWBDbZGfCTRnM3U5r35rhjgpL-Mry9CA26zh0NrUjdeXo_pS7WPr0CnDcXLCjWb-6f82T8BTGq1NiJdFI/s2100/_22A8914-Horned-Grebe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro3lMjj8ModoxUUO__vjP3l09SXSzHooy51ReYHrbtAbmQvuid2nW_BAVbonsX2vV1AqsJDdVbVo2xharTh9tAJcAJlP4sPCeIc7UYPTNztRWBDbZGfCTRnM3U5r35rhjgpL-Mry9CA26zh0NrUjdeXo_pS7WPr0CnDcXLCjWb-6f82T8BTGq1NiJdFI/s320/_22A8914-Horned-Grebe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8thHEYoRpZjUx-wHdDrHuoArjvy2noc1uXAuKzJPdRlwE4De6rswkVZwwE9sa6cd9GhD6t8sK8ruCmmuaWklWuVdD9-dBQu5BnK5rA-FQkje9lAhf4oApYWmehUyMC7mJaYzNXwIVFA6T55vWShxcNwuoWmjNTIeQ-Clmot0y8jyYheCLK7bMgLiKoA/s2100/_22A8922-dark-eyed-junco.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8thHEYoRpZjUx-wHdDrHuoArjvy2noc1uXAuKzJPdRlwE4De6rswkVZwwE9sa6cd9GhD6t8sK8ruCmmuaWklWuVdD9-dBQu5BnK5rA-FQkje9lAhf4oApYWmehUyMC7mJaYzNXwIVFA6T55vWShxcNwuoWmjNTIeQ-Clmot0y8jyYheCLK7bMgLiKoA/s320/_22A8922-dark-eyed-junco.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwah09jaJCC86xO2D1CvmnjRwDEJNQ1EcYx0jq5xU_9CTaWkJm3lBBNVaCU7-YipaIpimW4MDA9tp28smiS-yKmV-lMU76HxyQDFhstgT01aRTIoLYop0o3MYSmzPGn7chwXrSt-9u7UqVD6L35rPZq4t1Eya4hAP3UAyWBl0DRWkdSh2Q0mjqRf8ncg/s2100/_22A8929-hairy-woodpecker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwah09jaJCC86xO2D1CvmnjRwDEJNQ1EcYx0jq5xU_9CTaWkJm3lBBNVaCU7-YipaIpimW4MDA9tp28smiS-yKmV-lMU76HxyQDFhstgT01aRTIoLYop0o3MYSmzPGn7chwXrSt-9u7UqVD6L35rPZq4t1Eya4hAP3UAyWBl0DRWkdSh2Q0mjqRf8ncg/s320/_22A8929-hairy-woodpecker.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaOqQ6G9IvRFkYHEYmvWE9StAnEqarsm5yRf_QDsMatSPp3l820lVZ3rc6pjRhs1xldOYuxuaPwv-s2xI_1GwCOkp_gGyiky3PNbn62-MWCyDJyc4S08mr-qa-O4fzGyTuz29iZJK6IJUbT2iNuI-lD1twnmF28WT2ieR6fcJuxOvFNnq1DGZYBP3sSU/s2100/_22A8934-downy-woodpecker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaOqQ6G9IvRFkYHEYmvWE9StAnEqarsm5yRf_QDsMatSPp3l820lVZ3rc6pjRhs1xldOYuxuaPwv-s2xI_1GwCOkp_gGyiky3PNbn62-MWCyDJyc4S08mr-qa-O4fzGyTuz29iZJK6IJUbT2iNuI-lD1twnmF28WT2ieR6fcJuxOvFNnq1DGZYBP3sSU/s320/_22A8934-downy-woodpecker.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUNCtGlpwf2wo4Y2YlVri68OFG5RBAgH8FJOYRURD7_TdksceMN_IbwBsPyBFScnfh4YQxu8jy2IJ0OlY6uUuLTvrg_mNuVfx4LYxPY4hvP5SVdgI937cHBv7d0wmD-wDUhR-TGZ23JLUBLz8ZJB97bQ0zI7lHq7w0-XuVe7p82mLwYMk35Ty8SQZbnM/s2100/_22A8945-downy-woodpecker-female.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUNCtGlpwf2wo4Y2YlVri68OFG5RBAgH8FJOYRURD7_TdksceMN_IbwBsPyBFScnfh4YQxu8jy2IJ0OlY6uUuLTvrg_mNuVfx4LYxPY4hvP5SVdgI937cHBv7d0wmD-wDUhR-TGZ23JLUBLz8ZJB97bQ0zI7lHq7w0-XuVe7p82mLwYMk35Ty8SQZbnM/s320/_22A8945-downy-woodpecker-female.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibm-iYZaWhTNtkX_FPo9nIigHi1alz3_zeDMJptb7IS-mdfyUM3lYNCKDSBZfVgdHDYuYNWJbBDOH3qLc-bgPlVkbH8v_nZE_U2Rh5GERI04soCumAGnwCNR6L-7rlt_sLsLNWVgL0lNDQciCKV1t8XCCnMNkeVmUIU6zr1F5D_MNpJTSS8Vb-bDCldU/s2100/_22A8947-common-redpoll-scratching.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibm-iYZaWhTNtkX_FPo9nIigHi1alz3_zeDMJptb7IS-mdfyUM3lYNCKDSBZfVgdHDYuYNWJbBDOH3qLc-bgPlVkbH8v_nZE_U2Rh5GERI04soCumAGnwCNR6L-7rlt_sLsLNWVgL0lNDQciCKV1t8XCCnMNkeVmUIU6zr1F5D_MNpJTSS8Vb-bDCldU/s320/_22A8947-common-redpoll-scratching.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Nld3zJlrCiAspCgTBDMpv-VHy3f1hbmvoSev2GxKsVN5vNH23dk7hjjWMG6SNHt7glI0OZs2NTPIMcTEhOuwR9qpngtO2Yd3fDCv-2ZuH8XCPipkKAMzf_px5UU1dEz-MQV51mfqwSINUFMWPBV-LoLLcI-M115UgRK2o-qEtOZeevWijKQ0XlnpFZs/s2100/_22A8962-banded-red-crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Nld3zJlrCiAspCgTBDMpv-VHy3f1hbmvoSev2GxKsVN5vNH23dk7hjjWMG6SNHt7glI0OZs2NTPIMcTEhOuwR9qpngtO2Yd3fDCv-2ZuH8XCPipkKAMzf_px5UU1dEz-MQV51mfqwSINUFMWPBV-LoLLcI-M115UgRK2o-qEtOZeevWijKQ0XlnpFZs/s320/_22A8962-banded-red-crossbill.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfUvNo6mV72TfyUjuwFB50n9S_BwyJ9Op8lEFpk7JeKQaMZPRJI3RxJhI-rAvpEJW-dl5j_ay7gFBSwu4dPT7yAGzANNXeOMtfLQzby-PyEBHMC0P-CIiirYdQTa3cBkjsIX0r8dAHVdw7421f743zRjbyvuXDKQnMZF-pHQJ43Bd_wSdKCIdueQ_Kwk/s2100/_22A8963-banded-red-crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfUvNo6mV72TfyUjuwFB50n9S_BwyJ9Op8lEFpk7JeKQaMZPRJI3RxJhI-rAvpEJW-dl5j_ay7gFBSwu4dPT7yAGzANNXeOMtfLQzby-PyEBHMC0P-CIiirYdQTa3cBkjsIX0r8dAHVdw7421f743zRjbyvuXDKQnMZF-pHQJ43Bd_wSdKCIdueQ_Kwk/s320/_22A8963-banded-red-crossbill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSUhOrhVea3AT4zzEEONLxdvTDa6AZjsR_B7VWATYzUQ_F3qVbVT5hS-2D2A8t1eZ30pvI2Y0yl3xmLu-G2OxInw7aJIDqFS0ln11N-tCYEeOM-xmXYavF82YdyPRoBbBv3FD_jHGnV4qGgCVLeBHu5FVeBjZoSt924KbxwvinIk55fdPzehTnyK8-2c/s2100/_22A8975-banded-red-crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSUhOrhVea3AT4zzEEONLxdvTDa6AZjsR_B7VWATYzUQ_F3qVbVT5hS-2D2A8t1eZ30pvI2Y0yl3xmLu-G2OxInw7aJIDqFS0ln11N-tCYEeOM-xmXYavF82YdyPRoBbBv3FD_jHGnV4qGgCVLeBHu5FVeBjZoSt924KbxwvinIk55fdPzehTnyK8-2c/s320/_22A8975-banded-red-crossbill.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3BypdoWjFlPE5rh6e_ynTjbzLpPdO0pf-VTwtYLrK5cuLJeSvpyWUKnYRZSJIHLwm0BtrH5_wtm15gAmGbwKligUQgeHxf4GWIXaAt0yUff5KE-J-HpeahfUijsKZuhZDSgJfr2RCdXVa3bZux9fr7Gv5KzSq4MnmWFf-i7CBucxxS6NHO3hvM-n6tw/s2100/_22A8985-common-redpoll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3BypdoWjFlPE5rh6e_ynTjbzLpPdO0pf-VTwtYLrK5cuLJeSvpyWUKnYRZSJIHLwm0BtrH5_wtm15gAmGbwKligUQgeHxf4GWIXaAt0yUff5KE-J-HpeahfUijsKZuhZDSgJfr2RCdXVa3bZux9fr7Gv5KzSq4MnmWFf-i7CBucxxS6NHO3hvM-n6tw/s320/_22A8985-common-redpoll.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9iIACEVsEc55X8BQ5nwZChnp40Lxs493mw4kdaLEMnWE-sUb2FRZwgx1ZjT9QsO-v9dollOh1seKsJ1lWSumTaVaaMJNSNwoMPBylbrX60A9a-B-EidZFxEsSxqj1Jp73g11iqmWvRh_vchj36PCAeNbiq3xhVOBe1k3GatJqQFw81zsp40K4FJeTI0/s2100/_22A9007-red-crossbills-and-common-redpoll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9iIACEVsEc55X8BQ5nwZChnp40Lxs493mw4kdaLEMnWE-sUb2FRZwgx1ZjT9QsO-v9dollOh1seKsJ1lWSumTaVaaMJNSNwoMPBylbrX60A9a-B-EidZFxEsSxqj1Jp73g11iqmWvRh_vchj36PCAeNbiq3xhVOBe1k3GatJqQFw81zsp40K4FJeTI0/s320/_22A9007-red-crossbills-and-common-redpoll.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqQBUX6yniW2o6yQ7xiTjZlvBvM3C0aCdCIf0vdkw6cAdHtMpg01kbWvWUwSTPcJknPo5WY7pCKdPRn1MzdqaKD7tZ0CeJu9AuUvZO4xwJVk_krINk7KNpR3p1qtWB3EIKqDAyMZMKQGQkeLI-svCa2Jt_PB1gIo8jWFnqL91DMMN3iydlvy5GIbZB9c/s2100/_22A9028-Oregon-junco.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqQBUX6yniW2o6yQ7xiTjZlvBvM3C0aCdCIf0vdkw6cAdHtMpg01kbWvWUwSTPcJknPo5WY7pCKdPRn1MzdqaKD7tZ0CeJu9AuUvZO4xwJVk_krINk7KNpR3p1qtWB3EIKqDAyMZMKQGQkeLI-svCa2Jt_PB1gIo8jWFnqL91DMMN3iydlvy5GIbZB9c/s320/_22A9028-Oregon-junco.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY5ewymaN-I2nILE8iG3I_v_4j785OA6v_Yq3Mi7XuBxJh6xH5GMkrdkFmXNEEMbpP7tLnRS4jXYeHZIxuCSjVDeWM1P1MJnouza2MkSlQpjKZPj5Z4z9t43wUAezVEKZqviyX-0xiW_yjFiNtNnpzwkYzehlC2IU6ikxD3j5D2kE93AiqbtPR3riVy8/s2100/_22A9035-banded-red-crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY5ewymaN-I2nILE8iG3I_v_4j785OA6v_Yq3Mi7XuBxJh6xH5GMkrdkFmXNEEMbpP7tLnRS4jXYeHZIxuCSjVDeWM1P1MJnouza2MkSlQpjKZPj5Z4z9t43wUAezVEKZqviyX-0xiW_yjFiNtNnpzwkYzehlC2IU6ikxD3j5D2kE93AiqbtPR3riVy8/s320/_22A9035-banded-red-crossbill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-44375707647602283522024-01-28T22:23:00.004-09:002024-01-29T08:46:12.245-09:00 Sunday, January 28, 2024 Tough birds in dramatic weather<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 8:23 am, sunset 5:00 pm for a total day length of 7 hours and 36 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 49 seconds longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Single digit temperatures the past several days froze the waterfall to a trickle trapped inside icicle-clad armor; billows of ghostly gray steam rose and writhed as the frothing bay released its relative warmth; and the north wind raged from 20 to 30 mph.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A stinging, light snow began midday, the start of the winter weather alert for heavy snowfall from the Copper River Valley, western Prince William Sound, Whittier, and Turnagain Pass south to Seward. We’ll see how much snow accumulates by tomorrow. Negative temps, sunshine, and strong winds forecast for mid-week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">At Lowell Point this morning, 100s of COMMON REDPOLLS flew overhead, flock after flock. I’ve never seen so many! Alders attracted them like iron specks to a magnet. They fed ravenously on the tiny seeds waiting in catkins or sprinkled on the snow, then swirled away.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS dove and preened in the wind and snow just offshore of the waterfront. A PELAGIC CORMORANT flew into the teeth of the wind. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">From the shelter of my car, I peered over the Uplands rocks and found dozens of ducks seeking shelter from the wind. Pelted by the stinging snow, they rested, heads tucked under wings. To my surprise, a small raft of 17 GADWALL bobbed in the waves below. A few more expected but snow-speckled COMMON MERGANSERS, BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, MALLARDS, and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS also waited out the storm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Robin C reported a RUSTY BLACKBIRD near AVTEC, and a YELLOW-BILLED LOON in the harbor. Ava reported 4 RED CROSSBILLS at her feeder among the other usual songbirds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Tough birds in dramatic weather!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjZub0qGTgMRD1HRwSf-TOEj_KCjx9W_HV1jZCWc6v2OaA3I-mwTGHaXLYq7kKYD3P2XTUW9R4MOdk1AR_M1GxcMLADxyb-MbdZ3UDsEcZeY4fvnY6N33SRqdIn6UhV2xDa1n5MkNXXLVW7rAtyFhDh17ezJlUYxQXZZcMoyh2SvC2drRm5tHsjpNAx0/s2100/_22A8265-a-winter's-day.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjZub0qGTgMRD1HRwSf-TOEj_KCjx9W_HV1jZCWc6v2OaA3I-mwTGHaXLYq7kKYD3P2XTUW9R4MOdk1AR_M1GxcMLADxyb-MbdZ3UDsEcZeY4fvnY6N33SRqdIn6UhV2xDa1n5MkNXXLVW7rAtyFhDh17ezJlUYxQXZZcMoyh2SvC2drRm5tHsjpNAx0/s320/_22A8265-a-winter's-day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CiQM8QkuWhZgX44Gd36uSORkQ6UO-qVyshFu3PQnqJLF2gW_gBkXpMttf7sTTLdf7QBFRQMatKXTIlMZK9CFbVUWozkTCAWXuY1_7ProX1tyqv-fRwh7iquS6PHOYt1DHlDHgZcPGIVtjkEulrJl4mVjaz7_XSyQSNLtCtJ5_ZhWQszfE5N-9r5-smk/s2100/_22A8277-Pinnacle-Rock-and-steam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CiQM8QkuWhZgX44Gd36uSORkQ6UO-qVyshFu3PQnqJLF2gW_gBkXpMttf7sTTLdf7QBFRQMatKXTIlMZK9CFbVUWozkTCAWXuY1_7ProX1tyqv-fRwh7iquS6PHOYt1DHlDHgZcPGIVtjkEulrJl4mVjaz7_XSyQSNLtCtJ5_ZhWQszfE5N-9r5-smk/s320/_22A8277-Pinnacle-Rock-and-steam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeq1aYrxzyUP04BVYaW0fzfKXutufoKkqENIERWh9zciBcKpcjuX5EsZij9QURzuUafShx4I-tmS5YN-4Gru1X233e7srAfHS9QBMzjRl3fcp-hX9KaU_wpCsMdbTG_xD6QGcSX2szyhOeVAblOZde3a1rzAAk-BWcN_4ajU9dc434cyxVXb3LaP6Lwk/s2100/_22A8284-tiny-sea-star.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeq1aYrxzyUP04BVYaW0fzfKXutufoKkqENIERWh9zciBcKpcjuX5EsZij9QURzuUafShx4I-tmS5YN-4Gru1X233e7srAfHS9QBMzjRl3fcp-hX9KaU_wpCsMdbTG_xD6QGcSX2szyhOeVAblOZde3a1rzAAk-BWcN_4ajU9dc434cyxVXb3LaP6Lwk/s320/_22A8284-tiny-sea-star.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7be_WvXlPSNW-bxMs1sSNoz__OKR5uPROBG-Qhl3hA2n1_-xtEdfh_h94YwfHezWoO_BiNVIyEXycB_OPDQi-4sNZgvd5drQPr8ZgNSJqjLeBNO3IkcHwV11oI6hyphenhyphenHVBJGvg2r-zZ3ZcpOshL5PGAHxtcIfHsV-8p5sUDlns77VHHc3ViF8dLqS4D-sQ/s2100/_22A8288-frozen-waterfall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7be_WvXlPSNW-bxMs1sSNoz__OKR5uPROBG-Qhl3hA2n1_-xtEdfh_h94YwfHezWoO_BiNVIyEXycB_OPDQi-4sNZgvd5drQPr8ZgNSJqjLeBNO3IkcHwV11oI6hyphenhyphenHVBJGvg2r-zZ3ZcpOshL5PGAHxtcIfHsV-8p5sUDlns77VHHc3ViF8dLqS4D-sQ/s320/_22A8288-frozen-waterfall.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeqqc2gnvCosTQTNv0MMF0e1opESxByXF35K-mb1l7wjf1iCoMv1VxfjXrbObVaIV8qgOlAmIiZFayfQPn2WcjcRIBMSs6tCIyCNyZgAv2W0T0fYXnOamcsJlNcC2DrnL-E2ZCBTOcdz7wTpEiLxTM5rEEctuwBLZmVXpi2N7sN63AdbpRZmMoJ3KID0/s2100/_22A8326-Barrow's-Goldeneyes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeqqc2gnvCosTQTNv0MMF0e1opESxByXF35K-mb1l7wjf1iCoMv1VxfjXrbObVaIV8qgOlAmIiZFayfQPn2WcjcRIBMSs6tCIyCNyZgAv2W0T0fYXnOamcsJlNcC2DrnL-E2ZCBTOcdz7wTpEiLxTM5rEEctuwBLZmVXpi2N7sN63AdbpRZmMoJ3KID0/s320/_22A8326-Barrow's-Goldeneyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D-W55T5w3WsuckkRCot2mN-Q0hy105eA81GFAXkJZVwjuOhCOZ_rOPHdPVgMTVmOXEzPQuPGYEfCVJeNxr3-oemylrBLOKxk5jTk_AH5h3hXpAlgZYPJwYEyBnYjisW1gChploKXrjdjeFiEzQtnYYh78WyWkBqFeKc4ve-YYm86bYz-FAkVIMvIMfc/s2100/_22A8364-coal-loader-in-sea-smoke.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D-W55T5w3WsuckkRCot2mN-Q0hy105eA81GFAXkJZVwjuOhCOZ_rOPHdPVgMTVmOXEzPQuPGYEfCVJeNxr3-oemylrBLOKxk5jTk_AH5h3hXpAlgZYPJwYEyBnYjisW1gChploKXrjdjeFiEzQtnYYh78WyWkBqFeKc4ve-YYm86bYz-FAkVIMvIMfc/s320/_22A8364-coal-loader-in-sea-smoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoE9sTHP6IUNS1KT8sKAbcW4idwlFldQb2UMSW7b_hPwSfK1sqKcicPMIbffB1C6X5VKIlQ1XVwGvGFlLWZkOQBr_7ZAq6yv9kwJh7u0FNxPYskmRaz_ufdj8EW4AH5k2MgqJJ-3WAD1-aYnIHccYvq-DtbaLh3PRR0iSVMRn-QWxjG3GTqiob9Gxs2s/s2100/_22A8390-sea-smoke-and-waterfront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoE9sTHP6IUNS1KT8sKAbcW4idwlFldQb2UMSW7b_hPwSfK1sqKcicPMIbffB1C6X5VKIlQ1XVwGvGFlLWZkOQBr_7ZAq6yv9kwJh7u0FNxPYskmRaz_ufdj8EW4AH5k2MgqJJ-3WAD1-aYnIHccYvq-DtbaLh3PRR0iSVMRn-QWxjG3GTqiob9Gxs2s/s320/_22A8390-sea-smoke-and-waterfront.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBATfXr0lwvgVzpEe96lTgBJ2eP27RC88vPZnwlMRLFBtuM4xs9S3byMVw7ixJze61xDLfpvfhdqnQl1NG4v07RPH-8K2W-XSVKsHM-VfF4Ilid97t75lHzjm-I2SHf1V3NmCzWma_RslR-QPF90XNDqMSUtQg05cKmwbL2Yv8A8vjKgVP5nUBkWMujyo/s2100/_22A8393-gadwall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBATfXr0lwvgVzpEe96lTgBJ2eP27RC88vPZnwlMRLFBtuM4xs9S3byMVw7ixJze61xDLfpvfhdqnQl1NG4v07RPH-8K2W-XSVKsHM-VfF4Ilid97t75lHzjm-I2SHf1V3NmCzWma_RslR-QPF90XNDqMSUtQg05cKmwbL2Yv8A8vjKgVP5nUBkWMujyo/s320/_22A8393-gadwall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfWaYQJz6TlPAlFg_ZOuaT-1l0bEkqHfbQwmwhs-C61jXX8jigBMNUTzQelhvUpRPQkYttrXTgc8n6uN_IfnZj48lYS9CkCF2HPIZoac9qWfVVIQ6R3wJK1oBIm2PgYDKw1qfyOff_5j4smwVGmsq4iNusPIu6CSO797AIEBOnzoKZ057ExMQgYzHRPo/s2100/_22A8402-American-Crow-on-ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfWaYQJz6TlPAlFg_ZOuaT-1l0bEkqHfbQwmwhs-C61jXX8jigBMNUTzQelhvUpRPQkYttrXTgc8n6uN_IfnZj48lYS9CkCF2HPIZoac9qWfVVIQ6R3wJK1oBIm2PgYDKw1qfyOff_5j4smwVGmsq4iNusPIu6CSO797AIEBOnzoKZ057ExMQgYzHRPo/s320/_22A8402-American-Crow-on-ice.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP6e5iUB3aRBDxJsUQzlDgQ_IbBzGzIf2eSpwf6ESEflUZRXO7_vU2q6UyeOz-pi6EibJtCNWHotnpMC4ypO5UMJaHnkRhvu74qcHQMWl9q_s4t1TGbXA9QockMKtELnr-dAzlLL1dTI8JkBfWLCv7ejbyuoNvallVisj5DwAjeIXZ5LIOpxl8eVBH0k/s2100/_22A8421-gwgu-first-winter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP6e5iUB3aRBDxJsUQzlDgQ_IbBzGzIf2eSpwf6ESEflUZRXO7_vU2q6UyeOz-pi6EibJtCNWHotnpMC4ypO5UMJaHnkRhvu74qcHQMWl9q_s4t1TGbXA9QockMKtELnr-dAzlLL1dTI8JkBfWLCv7ejbyuoNvallVisj5DwAjeIXZ5LIOpxl8eVBH0k/s320/_22A8421-gwgu-first-winter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ89wegLJ9gCDLtOCy8WoCYc-rPhKsosWokyacDQYXxrliQkN_RYwf8sU4ALzbwiM9evGqBK1PNESohc-xemNntWtyggSbRRXZhOeOT5ToKIQSCPUTZLNzwh3uW1jWGPawkoQEPUX0QUAJGSiZu8DrqkNiXowcrfU81g8XTQol7gHM_btS3qZrHoCAOYg/s2100/_22A8422.-glaucous-winged-gull.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ89wegLJ9gCDLtOCy8WoCYc-rPhKsosWokyacDQYXxrliQkN_RYwf8sU4ALzbwiM9evGqBK1PNESohc-xemNntWtyggSbRRXZhOeOT5ToKIQSCPUTZLNzwh3uW1jWGPawkoQEPUX0QUAJGSiZu8DrqkNiXowcrfU81g8XTQol7gHM_btS3qZrHoCAOYg/s320/_22A8422.-glaucous-winged-gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjK3sC-gQ89RkcZQvuex_cE7Rwp7nx9nbC9xndJ2-eSvmtPF95dwNqOxUe4eh-JKgkT0-0v7INRx-5uppFq7n_-6yVNzREJVV3t1_-CsjpRxzdkM5UeOFiOzCk304dC1gkbUqKJzu50MOj2rlRuF43cK53JF57pe6UYh_bRSURKm3CnM7YuPm_GzRDEE/s2100/_22A8426-common-merganser-in-snow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjK3sC-gQ89RkcZQvuex_cE7Rwp7nx9nbC9xndJ2-eSvmtPF95dwNqOxUe4eh-JKgkT0-0v7INRx-5uppFq7n_-6yVNzREJVV3t1_-CsjpRxzdkM5UeOFiOzCk304dC1gkbUqKJzu50MOj2rlRuF43cK53JF57pe6UYh_bRSURKm3CnM7YuPm_GzRDEE/s320/_22A8426-common-merganser-in-snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAiTYjrrOOo0xz7KkjmXLYPvT5JryDs9PAylgya4lo_v4F5KlIff1bIr4276bjn-bTnsxxw3O9coYRMv_G9Kesu86-GZ_uRDCQECvoSyDPs4B1J93Ro1gJ_Isg8zblBOLU0taVcOjBD0o7DWpnZFoC_uiOwjt0cNh58nlEFALhWgtpdHM_VmywkfQL5g/s2100/_22A8448-Barrow's-Goldeneyes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAiTYjrrOOo0xz7KkjmXLYPvT5JryDs9PAylgya4lo_v4F5KlIff1bIr4276bjn-bTnsxxw3O9coYRMv_G9Kesu86-GZ_uRDCQECvoSyDPs4B1J93Ro1gJ_Isg8zblBOLU0taVcOjBD0o7DWpnZFoC_uiOwjt0cNh58nlEFALhWgtpdHM_VmywkfQL5g/s320/_22A8448-Barrow's-Goldeneyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-30568978070907007012024-01-01T22:09:00.003-09:002024-01-02T20:53:22.761-09:00Monday, January 1, 2024 First Day of the Year Birds<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 10:02 am, sunset 4:02 pm, for a total day length of 5 hours and 59 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 56 seconds longer as we reach the 6-hour milestone with seconds to spare.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">2024 started the new year with a calm, lovely day. The high of 31 at 7:30 am slid to the still comfortable high 20s under mostly cloudy skies with a bit of sunshine. The forecast calls for snow showers, sn’rain, and rain over the next week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">It’s very fun to start a new year's checklist where every bird, no matter how common, counts. I targeted a few today: 24 TRUMPETER SWANS at Afognak Beach including the resident Swan family with their three remaining cygnets. Just as I was leaving, a juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew past and landed in a nearby tree long enough for me to dash out and get some photos. Bonus!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">At the head of the bay I heard, but did not see, SNOW BUNTINGS. Alas, no Killdeer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">At Ava’s Hot Spot, I supplemented my bird feeder list with DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS, and both CHESTNUT-BACKED and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The Brambling proved elusive even at the Hemlock Street hot spot, but I found a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW bonus with lots of other feeder birds. The White-throated Sparrow was not found.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A real treat was the selection from the Harbor Uplands: two GREAT BLUE HERONS perched in the blue coal loader, two PACIFIC LOONS, two COMMON MURRES, MARBLED MURRELETS, and a variety of other seabirds. I heard a Loon yodel an alarm as three adult BALD EAGLES swooped across the water towards the flocks of ducks. Bonus!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I too swooped in to First Lake to find a DIPPER and the RUSTY BLACKBIRD flipping through the leaf debris at the lake inlet. Double Bonus!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">VARIED THRUSHES popped up at feeders all over town, many more than I remember seeing in the winter. PINE SISKIN and COMMON REDPOLLS numbers are up, as well as the continuing WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, high in the spruce tops.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Also found a young bull moose eating willow twigs, sea lions, sea otters, red squirrels, and river otter tracks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">In all, I found 37 bird species, with more to check off, weather permitting. Surely, I will find a Short-billed Gull!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding in the New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Here’s the list:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Trumpeter Swan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Mallard<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Surf Scoter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Bufflehead<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Common Goldeneye<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Barrow’s Goldeneye<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Common Merganser<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Red-breasted Merganser<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Pacific Loon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Horned Grebe<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Pelagic Cormorant<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Great Blue Heron<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Bald Eagle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Northern Goshawk<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Glaucous-winged Gull<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Common Murre<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Marbled Murrelet<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Downy Woodpecker<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Hairy Woodpecker<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Steller’s Jay<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Black-billed Magpie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Northwestern Crow<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Common Raven<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Black-capped Chickadee<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Chestnut-backed Chickadee<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Red-breasted Nuthatch<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">American Dipper<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Varied Thrush<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Fox Sparrow<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">White-crowned Sparrow<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Dark-eyed Junco<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Snow Bunting<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Rusty Blackbird<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Pine Grosbeak<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">White-winged Crossbill<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Common Redpoll<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Pine Siskin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MTg11lp4iBxi20ieq6jIdEguo0ZNCwoO5wNUsCkaHTHwDEMjX2LQrd8EGNlG0E3-xxMibyk73t09DluVr90bjUFRnJ_Ij-q6m8upCJ5s6BrG9-y1PFM0R0acF1zSQY1oqDNURo3wDNn3DaZcUd71GGczbW0v43NlfWHabfvu2VVcQ4pW9SJ7jPKYjd8/s2100/_22A6472-young-bull-moose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MTg11lp4iBxi20ieq6jIdEguo0ZNCwoO5wNUsCkaHTHwDEMjX2LQrd8EGNlG0E3-xxMibyk73t09DluVr90bjUFRnJ_Ij-q6m8upCJ5s6BrG9-y1PFM0R0acF1zSQY1oqDNURo3wDNn3DaZcUd71GGczbW0v43NlfWHabfvu2VVcQ4pW9SJ7jPKYjd8/s320/_22A6472-young-bull-moose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEBwsA3Nc1zjZwIOQEfIV7hzp3jequP4WyGIGfUzyI_wu5i6BPJNar8qJ25QfykhbiJ07lug1EpwiqyWxXqLxk36Val9sh-_HdDrCXEVDCPMuolb8fmHD-JEgqDk17z9m83ck8yJEDhyphenhyphen9SiMZl_Gyk-P9W4h9Aqrm7WeI1EfxaSZBd0S9mzQBBv9ZXUE/s2100/_22A6510-Trumpeter-Swans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEBwsA3Nc1zjZwIOQEfIV7hzp3jequP4WyGIGfUzyI_wu5i6BPJNar8qJ25QfykhbiJ07lug1EpwiqyWxXqLxk36Val9sh-_HdDrCXEVDCPMuolb8fmHD-JEgqDk17z9m83ck8yJEDhyphenhyphen9SiMZl_Gyk-P9W4h9Aqrm7WeI1EfxaSZBd0S9mzQBBv9ZXUE/s320/_22A6510-Trumpeter-Swans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYFEnm4eDV3cn-cZB8RdBsfKPwRDXrsBHlPo_rZ8aykircJyScUe0ty4PgJgNNE19w01l97pCkrW1ghTMNzbD2q_mBT7KzW_vUxOD9bEqrvMF3oXajz5NaH_IwC9LtPp3RiQ7hL1kn6mqdA9mromzCMj_qPtEMhWl2PxvKCzLQ9JnIpIjUiWk5g_OSWo/s2100/_22A6533-juvenile-Northern-Goshawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYFEnm4eDV3cn-cZB8RdBsfKPwRDXrsBHlPo_rZ8aykircJyScUe0ty4PgJgNNE19w01l97pCkrW1ghTMNzbD2q_mBT7KzW_vUxOD9bEqrvMF3oXajz5NaH_IwC9LtPp3RiQ7hL1kn6mqdA9mromzCMj_qPtEMhWl2PxvKCzLQ9JnIpIjUiWk5g_OSWo/s320/_22A6533-juvenile-Northern-Goshawk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72moV3o5w8ZjpL4rsqDiPm1ATNCNjqB16rR2tYkjQotjKIzG7l21pk4JIw1opYy42ntSt8kiXTuIH-IKmsdG0tcgvjcBSqZ4Zzj8WPpH7mh48LjsUdy18YnMhTcl4Fd_ZFoHiknconDoS3CXehTN70tY6LCUpuz_WKBHLV3OrhDr8mVdP-McHt1IrfI4/s2100/_22A6570-swan-family-one-cygnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72moV3o5w8ZjpL4rsqDiPm1ATNCNjqB16rR2tYkjQotjKIzG7l21pk4JIw1opYy42ntSt8kiXTuIH-IKmsdG0tcgvjcBSqZ4Zzj8WPpH7mh48LjsUdy18YnMhTcl4Fd_ZFoHiknconDoS3CXehTN70tY6LCUpuz_WKBHLV3OrhDr8mVdP-McHt1IrfI4/s320/_22A6570-swan-family-one-cygnet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ8fQBmhGFBMCKxLoLV8autFGAUA9HMRte9UI4b9VST7Yo1VZfxzuZdlWnffKeivLeX72YsaDoRO9RMSL78pAoomb1tRUzjz1hLZfxPHZihWY26D9Gc6QOZu94erZ8pOcCW9k_ZYr1Jlut6qglldWArrvOMfG3Rw1141j19tWp-d1SO0olGgLVVOV9ZU/s2100/_22A6608-northern-sea-nettle-jack-frost-etching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ8fQBmhGFBMCKxLoLV8autFGAUA9HMRte9UI4b9VST7Yo1VZfxzuZdlWnffKeivLeX72YsaDoRO9RMSL78pAoomb1tRUzjz1hLZfxPHZihWY26D9Gc6QOZu94erZ8pOcCW9k_ZYr1Jlut6qglldWArrvOMfG3Rw1141j19tWp-d1SO0olGgLVVOV9ZU/s320/_22A6608-northern-sea-nettle-jack-frost-etching.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenG5ZCgRcQ233YVgNYg3t5C27zWNfZSsKXlPii4jOQ_vXvIXmcdc9KtyBdGnEpIf4eQauL-dXQ7r1sCT6_DHfty000KT3lohwFT2qJZhkVvdVHF-GAWQTdiF_ox9TunbzIv17WJAMxkSprCBA_wvqHKU6mLayoc445E46do4Xvs9uw797sJCqgfjqB3k/s2100/_22A6622-bufflehead-drake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenG5ZCgRcQ233YVgNYg3t5C27zWNfZSsKXlPii4jOQ_vXvIXmcdc9KtyBdGnEpIf4eQauL-dXQ7r1sCT6_DHfty000KT3lohwFT2qJZhkVvdVHF-GAWQTdiF_ox9TunbzIv17WJAMxkSprCBA_wvqHKU6mLayoc445E46do4Xvs9uw797sJCqgfjqB3k/s320/_22A6622-bufflehead-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FBBMTnIslyb8PxsQp3zEWsXwWnVmRTHNA3DwUuAbzBeQhAOI_4CnrwMcQF8aSspXNdewukAQn-p6bCKGUI9VC3kCwQVTyJGDbZIrWAHcqUp3OzE7y52SM_P1wlXY6ERSb5LOgg-QfHnyV2H4mBUjmXJKeMfqMlc-GfT_peRmyg3CwDDrwU1Fk34RyzI/s2100/_22A6629-winter-midday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FBBMTnIslyb8PxsQp3zEWsXwWnVmRTHNA3DwUuAbzBeQhAOI_4CnrwMcQF8aSspXNdewukAQn-p6bCKGUI9VC3kCwQVTyJGDbZIrWAHcqUp3OzE7y52SM_P1wlXY6ERSb5LOgg-QfHnyV2H4mBUjmXJKeMfqMlc-GfT_peRmyg3CwDDrwU1Fk34RyzI/s320/_22A6629-winter-midday.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BE7bfWjXjhP-dF_rf_-7cAvOZY0dTDlDSewuh5uLc5DS8LzWEd9ilg2t2yiuQKq_prZc5FQv9brGLrm6687ePZPkNDUYK4lCvfKJbk_gak-P6bBzmaZ6nQxydwY5ECB2iR50-XcDVxWxjJzTHrtOpKpg7o987TuyEVeJo6P-BvyUjJXyQPsArbRZJ5k/s2100/_22A6664-glaucous-winged-gulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BE7bfWjXjhP-dF_rf_-7cAvOZY0dTDlDSewuh5uLc5DS8LzWEd9ilg2t2yiuQKq_prZc5FQv9brGLrm6687ePZPkNDUYK4lCvfKJbk_gak-P6bBzmaZ6nQxydwY5ECB2iR50-XcDVxWxjJzTHrtOpKpg7o987TuyEVeJo6P-BvyUjJXyQPsArbRZJ5k/s320/_22A6664-glaucous-winged-gulls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wS_cAhA3u4gykKS4cKybhxZEDqqAk5rTFdjoC9mcXCBlztcp_Z77VR3y3N5b4Jl9DfwOZM9-xDppwFECoQdtZ2ZVdSkfVGK2AcofWKS8fzSCIk5TQu0c8xaE1798bgAWEzFU7_UWOkNPav95Ouy9Dr6ak0yEkVQ-Qt5jT5qsW4jFXdo09-hsAMxXGEs/s2100/_22A6682-Pacific-Loons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wS_cAhA3u4gykKS4cKybhxZEDqqAk5rTFdjoC9mcXCBlztcp_Z77VR3y3N5b4Jl9DfwOZM9-xDppwFECoQdtZ2ZVdSkfVGK2AcofWKS8fzSCIk5TQu0c8xaE1798bgAWEzFU7_UWOkNPav95Ouy9Dr6ak0yEkVQ-Qt5jT5qsW4jFXdo09-hsAMxXGEs/s320/_22A6682-Pacific-Loons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-20647888013106868602023-12-31T17:04:00.003-09:002023-12-31T17:04:59.655-09:00Saturday, December 30, 2023 Sea Smoke<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fn5LCEiZUDLdZJbtiJ0UmsWlFfoG10XXd7XDTLP3zINjgyTKs01NgKzSln-rVezmsqQPY0iUxOAMF_STMmEd-cjjGHnR6gPbm4GXe1si-6XYZKzcz-CV_3d_VuHT_KDVzow_UYkNyN4Tyu0h9IxD2MxfZKIFZEKcF-KVIzD_uILegEiIXUBXdsnxAZY/s2100/_22A6238-Rurrection-Peaks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fn5LCEiZUDLdZJbtiJ0UmsWlFfoG10XXd7XDTLP3zINjgyTKs01NgKzSln-rVezmsqQPY0iUxOAMF_STMmEd-cjjGHnR6gPbm4GXe1si-6XYZKzcz-CV_3d_VuHT_KDVzow_UYkNyN4Tyu0h9IxD2MxfZKIFZEKcF-KVIzD_uILegEiIXUBXdsnxAZY/s320/_22A6238-Rurrection-Peaks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFLqrvz26IwnLtPQMqeChdBIevsnkxAnsZ0FjTcYodf7DiMt2egOehLaeRNzUoOW64fLfH9AWzM0DwDy-B8KbJ5ALjTZU2zt9ZdLNDoCKppwi7zc5J-8U1nRK2E48zyPQLwtZVppvzAudEHqIyTDZRJ3dpWOe4aHX_SrG7KgcihIP_T6lAUpdfEPyxT0/s2100/_22A6288-sea-smoke.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFLqrvz26IwnLtPQMqeChdBIevsnkxAnsZ0FjTcYodf7DiMt2egOehLaeRNzUoOW64fLfH9AWzM0DwDy-B8KbJ5ALjTZU2zt9ZdLNDoCKppwi7zc5J-8U1nRK2E48zyPQLwtZVppvzAudEHqIyTDZRJ3dpWOe4aHX_SrG7KgcihIP_T6lAUpdfEPyxT0/s320/_22A6288-sea-smoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmolbnI6UdPQXGRxcNrlz2OO-ly-Z_TozllGFadFjTRlk2-bMJYeU-RyEJSGLg9sCSWF0n-Q9ouJozOikiO65T_jHrpKiTxuoKHfDVjqrnnbdbAywvxJeRUUwot6ioNkuoPUjeFHPRLdu2z7911N_JbwVPUxshYvxV9gJyEUBbRGP57_ztdMF3QWbKAI8/s2100/_22A6315-white-winged-crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmolbnI6UdPQXGRxcNrlz2OO-ly-Z_TozllGFadFjTRlk2-bMJYeU-RyEJSGLg9sCSWF0n-Q9ouJozOikiO65T_jHrpKiTxuoKHfDVjqrnnbdbAywvxJeRUUwot6ioNkuoPUjeFHPRLdu2z7911N_JbwVPUxshYvxV9gJyEUBbRGP57_ztdMF3QWbKAI8/s320/_22A6315-white-winged-crossbill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVDyaN2eAIYzPQE4AqnsmCxesGAnSm9CO0KYqV0W_EtjLS6PRdLBWH0YpKjUlIvRg_Wm9chn3qsszR5O03Zqb2g9NKlrXVcXjh3QwpV8p7Dwq8jBuoSohfglefeou9mC3FuhpnqsLYQCtFhWSmB3H8oWX0Ie-cc6Kjwe7ePB0Cv-SIlz72U6mqoPY9q8/s2100/_22A6327-sea-smoke.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVDyaN2eAIYzPQE4AqnsmCxesGAnSm9CO0KYqV0W_EtjLS6PRdLBWH0YpKjUlIvRg_Wm9chn3qsszR5O03Zqb2g9NKlrXVcXjh3QwpV8p7Dwq8jBuoSohfglefeou9mC3FuhpnqsLYQCtFhWSmB3H8oWX0Ie-cc6Kjwe7ePB0Cv-SIlz72U6mqoPY9q8/s320/_22A6327-sea-smoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF975LcE-JT4_ho53ltvyPCNd12wNxgV9vX8DMe3m7evwrKgF4c1oEnQNgwj4DRfpfyJKb4VGHbI8m2c6BKq0wZJUVdbkGVOIWXz0dA9HPclUkO5oNg9ckpUZELxZRn_YWMf1VxnPSG29sfz8fQEm5Vxbhqm4wE66HCq16ehFstz1DhGbhsKmUw4-OOo/s2100/_22A6336-sea-smoke.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF975LcE-JT4_ho53ltvyPCNd12wNxgV9vX8DMe3m7evwrKgF4c1oEnQNgwj4DRfpfyJKb4VGHbI8m2c6BKq0wZJUVdbkGVOIWXz0dA9HPclUkO5oNg9ckpUZELxZRn_YWMf1VxnPSG29sfz8fQEm5Vxbhqm4wE66HCq16ehFstz1DhGbhsKmUw4-OOo/s320/_22A6336-sea-smoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclbLijq2KTeNjse2yP8J0uL7LrfBm-uZEzL9rWwqvWye24erUTFTXIdGUWBc7tFX3g1S7-p8G40slINi9umEVhu3-h38TS3uFyM-JOtiWql1BONbA24UXXbv0t7LnnVlaHdMBH9wZEzzr_BmWqpGhErSqkCSp9RBcC-eDOdLsj7Kc4C9WtileDcL8MiE/s2100/_22A6338-sea-smoke.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclbLijq2KTeNjse2yP8J0uL7LrfBm-uZEzL9rWwqvWye24erUTFTXIdGUWBc7tFX3g1S7-p8G40slINi9umEVhu3-h38TS3uFyM-JOtiWql1BONbA24UXXbv0t7LnnVlaHdMBH9wZEzzr_BmWqpGhErSqkCSp9RBcC-eDOdLsj7Kc4C9WtileDcL8MiE/s320/_22A6338-sea-smoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1uAEn7n9dqS8KDEP1kNouF8fsaJB6hch1ZxJ2rGe8ZVKYfypb7ZCA5P_OUi3NJFCaqOBBUHXw1Fhag2sB9r49bkO1QG24ut2K6sMVzQzFm1V65TTVPjIMGH1xiGW9JlGVxYz9yQu9jqxeQJ1tKnSV8eo50hzbnJLgeV5QstJFEgPkZ1LQfGxkqRfjv0/s2100/_22A6349-Founders-Monument.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1uAEn7n9dqS8KDEP1kNouF8fsaJB6hch1ZxJ2rGe8ZVKYfypb7ZCA5P_OUi3NJFCaqOBBUHXw1Fhag2sB9r49bkO1QG24ut2K6sMVzQzFm1V65TTVPjIMGH1xiGW9JlGVxYz9yQu9jqxeQJ1tKnSV8eo50hzbnJLgeV5QstJFEgPkZ1LQfGxkqRfjv0/s320/_22A6349-Founders-Monument.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-88832109297627499022023-12-28T21:51:00.003-09:002023-12-28T21:57:06.884-09:00 Thursday, December 28, 2023 inspiring Varied Thrushes and winter weather<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 9:05 am, sunset 3:57 pm, for a total day length of 5 hours and 49 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 15 seconds longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">After two days of clouds, sea smoke, and </span><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;">heavy</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> snow, Venus reappeared in the morning sky, heralding bright sunshine all the short day. Daytime temperatures hovered around 15 with strong NNW winds 15-25 mph creating ground blizzards. Wind chill minus 1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">VARIED THRUSHES forgot to migrate this fall. Three at the hospital heated sidewalk, three at my feeder, more at Ava’s, several at Two Lakes Park, three at Lowell Point Beach making an honest living at the wrack line; some are even trying to sing in this bitter cold. Very inspiring!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Also inspiring, the octogenarian bicyclist blowing down Lowell Point Road then riding back to town in the teeth of the wind, and the black Lab who found it a fine day for a swim in the bay and a roll in the snow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birrr<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">rding!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA-NF8nxHWwArFqB_juian0i-gCpiI1J4I2kqrEafG1kdmjjfcqtLAcG5MmwDvay0EkFHsk-S0zT5x7isbqdvqUDXlF5EmnSMwHZz8lxcpPFEpZVm0p4f0NjKvFwMWVihwwyrktlmKoB9aQlYXn2y9Gyk8VnFnNm2q5RAxrd4jCuRQjr3S9tBhBySibI/s2100/022A5917-cold-varied-thrush.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA-NF8nxHWwArFqB_juian0i-gCpiI1J4I2kqrEafG1kdmjjfcqtLAcG5MmwDvay0EkFHsk-S0zT5x7isbqdvqUDXlF5EmnSMwHZz8lxcpPFEpZVm0p4f0NjKvFwMWVihwwyrktlmKoB9aQlYXn2y9Gyk8VnFnNm2q5RAxrd4jCuRQjr3S9tBhBySibI/s320/022A5917-cold-varied-thrush.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSyS67QmMaAPawRogRuT06I3CHtO1F8heF3VbmKrL3wElH1KmgoXvI2tXDayWFxbjKAShEW2Sdht9EK0HRiJMAYx9-xwlbWW2Ss2lC70bNkwiQV_BJNhnAPZeHWw8NMF3Nu7915wAm7Q-AYhx3Fr1Oip7aaPwIWXIUfRFxomKZc0kKAXCoF7buOlgj8o/s2100/_22A5880-steaming-bay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSyS67QmMaAPawRogRuT06I3CHtO1F8heF3VbmKrL3wElH1KmgoXvI2tXDayWFxbjKAShEW2Sdht9EK0HRiJMAYx9-xwlbWW2Ss2lC70bNkwiQV_BJNhnAPZeHWw8NMF3Nu7915wAm7Q-AYhx3Fr1Oip7aaPwIWXIUfRFxomKZc0kKAXCoF7buOlgj8o/s320/_22A5880-steaming-bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRisT7db-KlIQum7_W6AEVPZH_KT25jOI32U68WsKLWlODXnZrSZNq3myqY8tSMQR1KfYTT6AvxAL0XYU8jypNGoocfOIErh1Pl5Sz4WADR0ZzlE8fibKwkxtnLaTko55esJtOyZMCFXOQJcjhOB_dN0KHwaFCT7WGEjdiXItbHUgAUokAw6er7f1759s/s2100/_22A5890-steaming-bay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRisT7db-KlIQum7_W6AEVPZH_KT25jOI32U68WsKLWlODXnZrSZNq3myqY8tSMQR1KfYTT6AvxAL0XYU8jypNGoocfOIErh1Pl5Sz4WADR0ZzlE8fibKwkxtnLaTko55esJtOyZMCFXOQJcjhOB_dN0KHwaFCT7WGEjdiXItbHUgAUokAw6er7f1759s/s320/_22A5890-steaming-bay.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRdGZa-53NR5VPoNXrqdVBHDDtkvejfdcBnndHTQBPcL2w1a8VQcx5FViP7iABG0VEilKZuwdpQpTBDs_O-M4jKorpFAkbRZ1ixooUBDl4uvsQ3Sz4os8KxOAP5uHU5ne06UFSQcfRp69ZQZtyk4z2_BLkEGCalO_uosv2gRAT9IemAysKx-sApBJSQ8/s2100/_22A5899-Rusty-Blackbird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRdGZa-53NR5VPoNXrqdVBHDDtkvejfdcBnndHTQBPcL2w1a8VQcx5FViP7iABG0VEilKZuwdpQpTBDs_O-M4jKorpFAkbRZ1ixooUBDl4uvsQ3Sz4os8KxOAP5uHU5ne06UFSQcfRp69ZQZtyk4z2_BLkEGCalO_uosv2gRAT9IemAysKx-sApBJSQ8/s320/_22A5899-Rusty-Blackbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWigg6tWqjS5PjhiXMosUdtUHaAryxLEUBpCZKZKkuT4yxQ78rkVEA47tuOEdFzVjw5WYLMmTMP9fHuN_1aN_dlHEPNThquBEYYgDvseSwCnjYp-OVYCmwB6bT6BmuguKPsgmej6HJqCTF5S4yfWDuy3Ua0mnmCVty2nZouERPN5fMiAofH6XGHh9DFc8/s2100/_22A5909-Powdered-forest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWigg6tWqjS5PjhiXMosUdtUHaAryxLEUBpCZKZKkuT4yxQ78rkVEA47tuOEdFzVjw5WYLMmTMP9fHuN_1aN_dlHEPNThquBEYYgDvseSwCnjYp-OVYCmwB6bT6BmuguKPsgmej6HJqCTF5S4yfWDuy3Ua0mnmCVty2nZouERPN5fMiAofH6XGHh9DFc8/s320/_22A5909-Powdered-forest.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_tbLusSGYkKXK3UdMNdNs-TMAyx1K6YIXSe0-3fDhTrKmJvFYBuahCAebCjBfQwZuOyVNjC9xxe71Og4_5yF0VncmuzY3gfQpGgVlu1qzO5U69FwSUdIPk7o1EgGBep7aKSoEtRxBLJE7KflEPXlXuGvl2lA7J8Qjd4T3rdO-Hyz4WZ94DSHypdSElQ/s2100/_22A5950-street-snow-removal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_tbLusSGYkKXK3UdMNdNs-TMAyx1K6YIXSe0-3fDhTrKmJvFYBuahCAebCjBfQwZuOyVNjC9xxe71Og4_5yF0VncmuzY3gfQpGgVlu1qzO5U69FwSUdIPk7o1EgGBep7aKSoEtRxBLJE7KflEPXlXuGvl2lA7J8Qjd4T3rdO-Hyz4WZ94DSHypdSElQ/s320/_22A5950-street-snow-removal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWW235KYm4_nGuq-QMS4rP1MBnvR5b46LuwL3Gy9lbtZjb_JAc07LgYc9dWU-e9nAJAdJT9AgCt3RXCdzbOiR1QoKLaIiuZf0AElVwQT13kj4AnUlJ7bzWnxNvpp694nwOSoku-Y0ejZronVzMPloExXYNF-PllZOrEscUs43K06Mdxv844cfgoycQu0/s2100/_22A5972-waterfront-sea-smoke-color.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWW235KYm4_nGuq-QMS4rP1MBnvR5b46LuwL3Gy9lbtZjb_JAc07LgYc9dWU-e9nAJAdJT9AgCt3RXCdzbOiR1QoKLaIiuZf0AElVwQT13kj4AnUlJ7bzWnxNvpp694nwOSoku-Y0ejZronVzMPloExXYNF-PllZOrEscUs43K06Mdxv844cfgoycQu0/s320/_22A5972-waterfront-sea-smoke-color.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxE0RmVOvr9888lT42SsEkwhyphenhyphenUvuw72rWcWmerTN3IEuLYJ5jt6WjvhT1m1CHhg6Rcf2JsgJXjXDfs6vcYpsd0MiP5aK7lKv8nIYGFc7SiumGC6QP-xwxmDFa3iKtsXCu6ZGaBKGUBIqOXtv_74P3i1RztatKFVBIj17IDsQqklwBMGiXh_J1ASVQpd8w/s2100/_22A5989-Mt-Marathon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxE0RmVOvr9888lT42SsEkwhyphenhyphenUvuw72rWcWmerTN3IEuLYJ5jt6WjvhT1m1CHhg6Rcf2JsgJXjXDfs6vcYpsd0MiP5aK7lKv8nIYGFc7SiumGC6QP-xwxmDFa3iKtsXCu6ZGaBKGUBIqOXtv_74P3i1RztatKFVBIj17IDsQqklwBMGiXh_J1ASVQpd8w/s320/_22A5989-Mt-Marathon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio804beiJEy_lScSAQ6ieUFbewyoEPGX-SByA286y9A3LoEK5gvz8RUKbpwpjFGuZQjOB7FUIupkIBeAPhFQn7kiaCfQRnOiKQQQOaNCUf0g420w0PewLkx-3BY7h1-J9Bmlq1dY1G3UllMEizcQXXuE9cJ2lr3h3bFWdYW1d-KhaAtQLw4haeFXISWxc/s2100/_22A6008-Lowell-waterfall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio804beiJEy_lScSAQ6ieUFbewyoEPGX-SByA286y9A3LoEK5gvz8RUKbpwpjFGuZQjOB7FUIupkIBeAPhFQn7kiaCfQRnOiKQQQOaNCUf0g420w0PewLkx-3BY7h1-J9Bmlq1dY1G3UllMEizcQXXuE9cJ2lr3h3bFWdYW1d-KhaAtQLw4haeFXISWxc/s320/_22A6008-Lowell-waterfall.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUj9iW7gihTMaQp2jSqFxOHTlUReLt_JF7S65dr5JFSozRkLgsygsa15vTKd8wS6m4jkzfwLangjnb48H7H4MsyhC9o4Z6Dm3q6hyphenhyphengmdyL6RkAZFhPYP7UYPF9TcqCyyk-Qkh0mPhCdG3ezOrB-HgamtmVMlIbpTzPYmLWA0zTDf1Tsm9S7js5DbNInA/s2100/_22A6012-Lowell-Creek-waterfall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUj9iW7gihTMaQp2jSqFxOHTlUReLt_JF7S65dr5JFSozRkLgsygsa15vTKd8wS6m4jkzfwLangjnb48H7H4MsyhC9o4Z6Dm3q6hyphenhyphengmdyL6RkAZFhPYP7UYPF9TcqCyyk-Qkh0mPhCdG3ezOrB-HgamtmVMlIbpTzPYmLWA0zTDf1Tsm9S7js5DbNInA/s320/_22A6012-Lowell-Creek-waterfall.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9EFWw1S6HB_KheHkvP_DUyVR3Uz6IMwc991a3ELYfYoeR1P_R7NVFdvfBiA1vvfHhi9_sEjWPn68bKEXeozXyxT5GUFI-4vGErJ4R_uUSfx1xbcqcnu8Re0-m1dHtv-w6X9Je_N-le4t1Gj-I_B0dCE5FeEpQM5RwSbk-3i0BBS8rUj0LHkk-psdJYo/s2100/_22A6038-blowing-snow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9EFWw1S6HB_KheHkvP_DUyVR3Uz6IMwc991a3ELYfYoeR1P_R7NVFdvfBiA1vvfHhi9_sEjWPn68bKEXeozXyxT5GUFI-4vGErJ4R_uUSfx1xbcqcnu8Re0-m1dHtv-w6X9Je_N-le4t1Gj-I_B0dCE5FeEpQM5RwSbk-3i0BBS8rUj0LHkk-psdJYo/s320/_22A6038-blowing-snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EI3JG82Z00eNKtu5rwdYzn87hMJbSFExjklJs9Tpcuilm9kFd_zXlsC5lyepuPUMClTMkIoklIcPtYdziw18nE9zkYZ8_gItptsSbX5aKgeCxdg-MMCUEoQuuhMyZyDOMWEUxcOB4JSZ56hNo-gAiu3CLpX7gcrjEBipSdEov3BD03MULhv-FU68Moo/s2100/_22A6047-George-Lowell-Point-Road.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EI3JG82Z00eNKtu5rwdYzn87hMJbSFExjklJs9Tpcuilm9kFd_zXlsC5lyepuPUMClTMkIoklIcPtYdziw18nE9zkYZ8_gItptsSbX5aKgeCxdg-MMCUEoQuuhMyZyDOMWEUxcOB4JSZ56hNo-gAiu3CLpX7gcrjEBipSdEov3BD03MULhv-FU68Moo/s320/_22A6047-George-Lowell-Point-Road.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCqxytVQWeHh61iOpZYrihLMQwcnCUnJVjWVN72vakqnGWGLvGQ17WJa_OTWGwZyBSgva4OoJgygvzmo7w5YtVOmXcTdJdTyAlBaj24FmmU11WJPlPxb1QXXQuPQuuvd-_12naZuHnFvv3h7W1RdiN-F6rLWRK4py15UR0Yho42S03ipbU2o1illztdI/s2100/_22A6080-nice-day-for-a-swim!.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCqxytVQWeHh61iOpZYrihLMQwcnCUnJVjWVN72vakqnGWGLvGQ17WJa_OTWGwZyBSgva4OoJgygvzmo7w5YtVOmXcTdJdTyAlBaj24FmmU11WJPlPxb1QXXQuPQuuvd-_12naZuHnFvv3h7W1RdiN-F6rLWRK4py15UR0Yho42S03ipbU2o1illztdI/s320/_22A6080-nice-day-for-a-swim!.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi2vadpwKAV_p83zmQflntYSfKgHrHVj8NHIun12qbZpDsZvBCFMEovsfKwwE6Gr_jsw3xEWQ5KhXUN2DJGCGOcBPl9y0C6yx6G5EddxNUXuo56WlEekAlkChIcZPkRP4cteNMxgoDnXn4mlfWnHAwtXbgXRW4Va2HndLN8c8Kp7oqX8ZVSIOMpmED3U/s2100/_22A6086-surf-and-snow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi2vadpwKAV_p83zmQflntYSfKgHrHVj8NHIun12qbZpDsZvBCFMEovsfKwwE6Gr_jsw3xEWQ5KhXUN2DJGCGOcBPl9y0C6yx6G5EddxNUXuo56WlEekAlkChIcZPkRP4cteNMxgoDnXn4mlfWnHAwtXbgXRW4Va2HndLN8c8Kp7oqX8ZVSIOMpmED3U/s320/_22A6086-surf-and-snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYvzqgO8bWmKCbkwBOpvkFFc96oTT5hgubdesEBMiRFTUU3ZseJvGv3vKy6AU24NDVP6znhDzehrBOK_KqlEulhHoTCpDyRFjuodQmDZDWNWMB03qLY-d4UPa8Hn1Y1CYPIPYySW2tMNIvR3P9Ir0YMLvx1DgjUSnJURqOPRPq9n4sD-8HisRGeZFH38/s2100/_22A6100-Varied-Thrush-at-beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYvzqgO8bWmKCbkwBOpvkFFc96oTT5hgubdesEBMiRFTUU3ZseJvGv3vKy6AU24NDVP6znhDzehrBOK_KqlEulhHoTCpDyRFjuodQmDZDWNWMB03qLY-d4UPa8Hn1Y1CYPIPYySW2tMNIvR3P9Ir0YMLvx1DgjUSnJURqOPRPq9n4sD-8HisRGeZFH38/s320/_22A6100-Varied-Thrush-at-beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu37bkfZAhyphenhyphenDMnVqIkImnolNZSshr6m46L9uE8oFITuPpKJ6ZV8ly3nHzET4Fg4cUrwYkTBmrSVnTDxGMHcGLUjEgx8nPCUOtJ6D1g_MDzjbBlMpaAjR0tY1Cer8PWBtsSlfyNxm9nNEnFt3LqLJzYQMAaKSCiSFi08aV81flRgGQjs0BgTTko8AY4c0/s2100/_22A6116-Varied-Thrush-at-beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu37bkfZAhyphenhyphenDMnVqIkImnolNZSshr6m46L9uE8oFITuPpKJ6ZV8ly3nHzET4Fg4cUrwYkTBmrSVnTDxGMHcGLUjEgx8nPCUOtJ6D1g_MDzjbBlMpaAjR0tY1Cer8PWBtsSlfyNxm9nNEnFt3LqLJzYQMAaKSCiSFi08aV81flRgGQjs0BgTTko8AY4c0/s320/_22A6116-Varied-Thrush-at-beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-20512059588880641872023-12-25T22:05:00.005-09:002023-12-29T09:35:27.389-09:00 Monday, December 25, 2023 Christmas Day Special!<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 10:03 am, sunset 3:54 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be 43 seconds longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunny skies but UV Index still stuck at zero; serious north wind 12 mph with gusts to 27 mph; overnight high of 14 at midnight, hovered around 7 midday, then dropped to 4 at 9 pm; wind chill minus 12. In summary, a very bright, cold, windy, and beautiful birdy Christmas day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">On this fifth day of the Seward Count Week, I again searched in vain for the Townsend’s Solitaire at Lowell Point Beach State Recreation Site. Though the high tide limited access to the beach, the trip was worth it to see colorful holiday decorations dancing in the wind, an annual tradition for a local family. I heard WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, saw PINE SISKINS and COMMON REDPOLLS, STELLER’S JAYS, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, and a VARIED THRUSH.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Two Lakes Park was already in the shadows though it was only 12:30 pm. A VARIED THRUSH perched in the parking lot, a great start! I found two AMERICAN DIPPERS territorially feeding in separate sections of the inlet creek at First Lake, and another in the outlet creek of Second Lake. Diving and splashing in the freezing water as if it were summer. Brrr! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">At Second Lake, two BALD EAGLES basked in the sunshine high in a spruce, protected from the wind. Everything below endured cold shade and a chilly breeze including an elusive PACIFIC WREN that darted past into the gloom and disappeared. I haven’t seen a Wren in a long time! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Not ready to remain in the town shadows, I drove back into the sunshine to Ava’s Hot Spot off Nash Road. What a good choice! I enjoyed watching a bouquet of beautiful birds as they hungrily feasted on sunflower seeds, peanut butter, and suet. Their colors glowed in the low sunlight: red and olive-green PINE GROSBEAKS, a brilliant blue STELLER’S JAY, raspberry-breasted COMMON REDPOLLS, and red-capped male HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKERS. Plus PINE SISKINS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, AND DARK-EYED JUNCOS. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Suddenly, the BRAMBLING flew in and watched the show from a tangle of branches. He really glowed! It was exciting when he finally perched in the clear and posed for a few seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Then I heard the familiar honking of TRUMPETER SWANS and bolted out of the car to watch the parents with one cygnet flying low over the trees, circling over Salmon Creek. Great yard bird, Ava!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I reluctantly left around 2:30 pm and headed home, back into the shadows. An hour later, I raced down to the waterfront to catch the almost full moon rising over Tiehacker and 6182' Hearth as alpenglow tinged the snowy mountains pink then lavender, and deep purple as the sun set. What a spectacular finale to this Christmas Day Special!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birrrrding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Reporter <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bobpojagFUhSvQbjudnTOyqE79R68PlNxvJiOhVng-KdlAmWJAX_DXv-bJ1CqHjTkodcYMdKVgm38U45fhIJZeS4GVffe8IsHgJC7bNoMliTeiW2K8HVzroiPSay8Fdsv-8cvHdUMH97496n7qNq7sC1-KsVMDVb556qK3qqDAdocpnwmlbaNNVnB30/s2100/_22A5423-LPSRS-Christmas-tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bobpojagFUhSvQbjudnTOyqE79R68PlNxvJiOhVng-KdlAmWJAX_DXv-bJ1CqHjTkodcYMdKVgm38U45fhIJZeS4GVffe8IsHgJC7bNoMliTeiW2K8HVzroiPSay8Fdsv-8cvHdUMH97496n7qNq7sC1-KsVMDVb556qK3qqDAdocpnwmlbaNNVnB30/s320/_22A5423-LPSRS-Christmas-tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDhNJGGYDaq-E2PA8Jfz26Gx5_mFcNxWh8cAeZ6Jm6siIe3N8we-HA1BQ87nfXKNdorPLV3buxGWoCiG-SluUYYc_AYAav_ik7St54vTm80m2mopl_RKex4bWN-rjSl7FXQ31K6Djv5QWHCcxmPzIU0Bc5Buwb4-BOouPrurmbWgMrZHvdBUN7xlc-_o/s2100/_22A5448-Dipper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDhNJGGYDaq-E2PA8Jfz26Gx5_mFcNxWh8cAeZ6Jm6siIe3N8we-HA1BQ87nfXKNdorPLV3buxGWoCiG-SluUYYc_AYAav_ik7St54vTm80m2mopl_RKex4bWN-rjSl7FXQ31K6Djv5QWHCcxmPzIU0Bc5Buwb4-BOouPrurmbWgMrZHvdBUN7xlc-_o/s320/_22A5448-Dipper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxjvgoZ57ZddD7XqCBUiuPsDe17zQ1nVFpcaLndvytv2hQ_nabftBe19oXBgXSrXQMEjHQE3V2mehndM4LTV4O1Dl7Pg4boHFqQcpy1pBjrqYMwLBDPDyL0vfwu_vfmkh410l9qBuSo2mCpIA09E2JDaqI1bpddxKGjua9mcWR0lSoL8kKf39SeXwvWg/s2100/_22A5468-bald-eagles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxjvgoZ57ZddD7XqCBUiuPsDe17zQ1nVFpcaLndvytv2hQ_nabftBe19oXBgXSrXQMEjHQE3V2mehndM4LTV4O1Dl7Pg4boHFqQcpy1pBjrqYMwLBDPDyL0vfwu_vfmkh410l9qBuSo2mCpIA09E2JDaqI1bpddxKGjua9mcWR0lSoL8kKf39SeXwvWg/s320/_22A5468-bald-eagles.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgkL_aAFVdyuyv0xj8DDBDofMd5EC06cjiQK38DLDk24NBkQWSZ-1MQuSLjKLzbjiWZQ_qBx5gVEltHIfUWtnF4qyUF70tDWtWiKGYR8fCsVkEbcMsPoIHPz5n5AkQ4o0etR_FaQ6RDhd-TjsyUoiTxHSQgH3wP7MKDddKWZhtnGvKXnvGDQv9qsQhXw/s2100/_22A5522-pine-grosbeak-male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgkL_aAFVdyuyv0xj8DDBDofMd5EC06cjiQK38DLDk24NBkQWSZ-1MQuSLjKLzbjiWZQ_qBx5gVEltHIfUWtnF4qyUF70tDWtWiKGYR8fCsVkEbcMsPoIHPz5n5AkQ4o0etR_FaQ6RDhd-TjsyUoiTxHSQgH3wP7MKDddKWZhtnGvKXnvGDQv9qsQhXw/s320/_22A5522-pine-grosbeak-male.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkwycl6kP2YEKOU4DG-q41SeCeO7cUs9PFvqMGABJ4WmMO1cHMWydrGaacy8HywpWH7h8TCVv2jGadWfItKSOHJ_UQ4465kpmQJe7h2PFqx2du1HLoXOI_8ufEOiet-hN3Sq6_6rTaBOhUqKM3aiJjas9wwc32nKLUaErEqVgzUw-RgWZmKhwsVuyIcw/s2100/_22A5538-steller's-jay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkwycl6kP2YEKOU4DG-q41SeCeO7cUs9PFvqMGABJ4WmMO1cHMWydrGaacy8HywpWH7h8TCVv2jGadWfItKSOHJ_UQ4465kpmQJe7h2PFqx2du1HLoXOI_8ufEOiet-hN3Sq6_6rTaBOhUqKM3aiJjas9wwc32nKLUaErEqVgzUw-RgWZmKhwsVuyIcw/s320/_22A5538-steller's-jay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmbA8Fk3K6g7oBOO5tpqmjsRv9jFXYf4kFDqxGmc8Tf5LkEkCIJj9LC9lpMjYpdiMimIYET_RZT7FAtzNvkPE2NDJ4eEkxcLEoa81P4W-m30uJnAAPqqyBM8XTR04UJDesxkrZp9oKRDZAjOE3ENZDqiM0BSJmWJBBITNoXWBADF-u2WVAfL4-WV5tBk/s2100/_22A5539-Steller's-Jay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmbA8Fk3K6g7oBOO5tpqmjsRv9jFXYf4kFDqxGmc8Tf5LkEkCIJj9LC9lpMjYpdiMimIYET_RZT7FAtzNvkPE2NDJ4eEkxcLEoa81P4W-m30uJnAAPqqyBM8XTR04UJDesxkrZp9oKRDZAjOE3ENZDqiM0BSJmWJBBITNoXWBADF-u2WVAfL4-WV5tBk/s320/_22A5539-Steller's-Jay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRm-zHUylzMog4f_kiSfGa6X08D8JC4JqKNZK_0i_C-iJC9q0I0zbCQVaDguWkLJaNAf3u1yF2jpq2yMR4XQ7BG3KGvCQxpCz9Vflk3TrVCUcTERniXYCbFghGvtgZzuqnysVjMDWWszWoQnouwu5Pw5ckZXcDfR7Yp33dbcKNoJQBaVdothMJpKEGsNQ/s2100/_22A5616-Brambling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRm-zHUylzMog4f_kiSfGa6X08D8JC4JqKNZK_0i_C-iJC9q0I0zbCQVaDguWkLJaNAf3u1yF2jpq2yMR4XQ7BG3KGvCQxpCz9Vflk3TrVCUcTERniXYCbFghGvtgZzuqnysVjMDWWszWoQnouwu5Pw5ckZXcDfR7Yp33dbcKNoJQBaVdothMJpKEGsNQ/s320/_22A5616-Brambling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8eDXmlgDZste-hFUAzD7P-Tquj_YiOXqHpOi21gY9HLeYgfkUOJzQVg1AJx_7-jHu63VTYmtaiUS02VJvu2Txao1u-j6G9R6cnXmdqpG4yLPaPyQAEDK_x-ocJEKvyPukEpai7l1DQt0GmyLY6MSsV-dblUu0XRxCaxNlYOLTranPAUvYLGzd0KFFO8/s2100/_22A5649-Pine-Grosbeaks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8eDXmlgDZste-hFUAzD7P-Tquj_YiOXqHpOi21gY9HLeYgfkUOJzQVg1AJx_7-jHu63VTYmtaiUS02VJvu2Txao1u-j6G9R6cnXmdqpG4yLPaPyQAEDK_x-ocJEKvyPukEpai7l1DQt0GmyLY6MSsV-dblUu0XRxCaxNlYOLTranPAUvYLGzd0KFFO8/s320/_22A5649-Pine-Grosbeaks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLUi3A6NzxZNtlCvaqc5OBrU6fEIkEavby-FN_RIB7yGWsJMImmEhdvYQeuCuTL6CRxJJjovygVcWL_SEV2cry2BKGbq3RGTZVVo4Alhy68_0nGjvAomFiL0AsokwYh4L855teNABdgyxIics-8MfH8eUlvJfk3MQ3CKnC-LfbvN5huVodF3t0yC8hWk/s2100/_22A5665-Common-Redpoll.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLUi3A6NzxZNtlCvaqc5OBrU6fEIkEavby-FN_RIB7yGWsJMImmEhdvYQeuCuTL6CRxJJjovygVcWL_SEV2cry2BKGbq3RGTZVVo4Alhy68_0nGjvAomFiL0AsokwYh4L855teNABdgyxIics-8MfH8eUlvJfk3MQ3CKnC-LfbvN5huVodF3t0yC8hWk/s320/_22A5665-Common-Redpoll.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfOt-KqDRj5d76Ee4EiiDSuTh4jT3id1l2IHku3WuMfrufKXvg3TC-M_79r4hyBdOalJfjWJjkX6v1ti1ZAZ2dGAVoC1Go0irqfVmCaqKxt3k7F4l-m7W_nk7g2gUrNyxUGIEaJ3zoFOh2PcClmdhXCyeZKACzVdqnpNIBnj_KQLRKhwEtT1X3VEVvsw/s2100/_22A5676-Black-capped-Chickadee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfOt-KqDRj5d76Ee4EiiDSuTh4jT3id1l2IHku3WuMfrufKXvg3TC-M_79r4hyBdOalJfjWJjkX6v1ti1ZAZ2dGAVoC1Go0irqfVmCaqKxt3k7F4l-m7W_nk7g2gUrNyxUGIEaJ3zoFOh2PcClmdhXCyeZKACzVdqnpNIBnj_KQLRKhwEtT1X3VEVvsw/s320/_22A5676-Black-capped-Chickadee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlERTyDqWrC-Zg-qsuvbJnjvhyRQJb3mgILETdQSDoyTaeczQQ_IkAb66fsntC_fzafLEdOYcYw_Opo2v_kQjdlPyjfmtHwxsqPJWOj1IvNp2Xgwemf-GS38_Dt8VAsgbazlMPn4_Dl14ECBwnJPkWYgJu9CtHl8mWUP6b0TU7-mrYGuu4IVIwSvNJRE4/s2100/_22A5682-Hairy-Woodpecker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlERTyDqWrC-Zg-qsuvbJnjvhyRQJb3mgILETdQSDoyTaeczQQ_IkAb66fsntC_fzafLEdOYcYw_Opo2v_kQjdlPyjfmtHwxsqPJWOj1IvNp2Xgwemf-GS38_Dt8VAsgbazlMPn4_Dl14ECBwnJPkWYgJu9CtHl8mWUP6b0TU7-mrYGuu4IVIwSvNJRE4/s320/_22A5682-Hairy-Woodpecker.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJwYOOHb6Ab7BRvwdGYWiVBqGaPBmOagY68TXqjU6DbD_hpIlWjQABdQ7eu9pY2gQZsqKLNliXAzAs4A6OdcpbSgXEl8DoAdyEMACpIDiAfZNvxIOI3m9F-f_o7loQ99VjGmqq-6HlYEsMwuqQMp-bmmPWB5v0C0WocbNUXu_DjLgONh5y8Kb3Ho_oqw/s2100/_22A5690-Oregon-Junco.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJwYOOHb6Ab7BRvwdGYWiVBqGaPBmOagY68TXqjU6DbD_hpIlWjQABdQ7eu9pY2gQZsqKLNliXAzAs4A6OdcpbSgXEl8DoAdyEMACpIDiAfZNvxIOI3m9F-f_o7loQ99VjGmqq-6HlYEsMwuqQMp-bmmPWB5v0C0WocbNUXu_DjLgONh5y8Kb3Ho_oqw/s320/_22A5690-Oregon-Junco.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcVMfwuiPVmM0YrXhxTESXomnN-6Yz-8xk4Uhn5izfXmZmz3v4x6KF2vR7NEFBAT1EOsB7roTFW6VRDFDBufPKddQQYOruqlNxGQGaWPE_iFillerMUjMPdgFyN4SgNy9EvPehGRxGtks1uiJIEmFSx-WaR7Ya_zk9jldy4EDq_rwvIkSnEN1XVYIKd0/s2100/_22A5702-Trumpeter-swans-cygnet-and-parents.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcVMfwuiPVmM0YrXhxTESXomnN-6Yz-8xk4Uhn5izfXmZmz3v4x6KF2vR7NEFBAT1EOsB7roTFW6VRDFDBufPKddQQYOruqlNxGQGaWPE_iFillerMUjMPdgFyN4SgNy9EvPehGRxGtks1uiJIEmFSx-WaR7Ya_zk9jldy4EDq_rwvIkSnEN1XVYIKd0/s320/_22A5702-Trumpeter-swans-cygnet-and-parents.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJlfmWDlXo76SYeAp1DwpWAggPaoNuGrGCHOWa6k1v4Ypsk1i2ehmVELkqvGf17P8MrXLj9A2te5rGrXv01iNlEZIjklToRGfQj_GNpNtpiQ4UN7mQUPh8bApgzwyDqO3x0BpHm61mb2GpaO5gcP05iqv9_2BjYMlh0hImHhBL1mQzL5iJe8KJz2wREA/s2100/_22A5705-Pine-Grosbeak.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJlfmWDlXo76SYeAp1DwpWAggPaoNuGrGCHOWa6k1v4Ypsk1i2ehmVELkqvGf17P8MrXLj9A2te5rGrXv01iNlEZIjklToRGfQj_GNpNtpiQ4UN7mQUPh8bApgzwyDqO3x0BpHm61mb2GpaO5gcP05iqv9_2BjYMlh0hImHhBL1mQzL5iJe8KJz2wREA/s320/_22A5705-Pine-Grosbeak.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yfDkyGltwloB_ES595xT3mELXNqTdWtkDK5UlkB8QkQASdlxMZPDlCwxOBfFEZiataJtO0RfdSbe3hFiKUh8uac1xSgf6BlKhcK5k2iE-3P_9NRoU6t_TAyI-WqJRuPybk86ploB3IGgvGM792HHN-BP1W19Etz131nCSAuHxFh7rfYNS7ctmSzAGXg/s2100/_22A5752-Brambling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yfDkyGltwloB_ES595xT3mELXNqTdWtkDK5UlkB8QkQASdlxMZPDlCwxOBfFEZiataJtO0RfdSbe3hFiKUh8uac1xSgf6BlKhcK5k2iE-3P_9NRoU6t_TAyI-WqJRuPybk86ploB3IGgvGM792HHN-BP1W19Etz131nCSAuHxFh7rfYNS7ctmSzAGXg/s320/_22A5752-Brambling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvwDvsKSA21cI01hEtlU9Q0ej0XGi3GEKltLvKNHOtWwyTwVlBbskRnqotGpGdZhEh2PMsl8WXwtYUZTYwxjXW1tb2hZvuAYwORTLnHFSW54OxeJEA5WOSNbCf8-qh3SSTVG2Qn5k3jU4dH-dD6XCJB-2gJgjDkgFutf9gF2c8aM6tu4W0_mHyKHUEpE/s2100/_22A5762-Brambling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvwDvsKSA21cI01hEtlU9Q0ej0XGi3GEKltLvKNHOtWwyTwVlBbskRnqotGpGdZhEh2PMsl8WXwtYUZTYwxjXW1tb2hZvuAYwORTLnHFSW54OxeJEA5WOSNbCf8-qh3SSTVG2Qn5k3jU4dH-dD6XCJB-2gJgjDkgFutf9gF2c8aM6tu4W0_mHyKHUEpE/s320/_22A5762-Brambling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7yITPf5gAtfOBXalRcfmeSisRynmVucHR6B8WVkZ2p7wMGls5LPWOYYsVVhu_h73vs83lcZykfxn7tU4mijoXlO1t9wj7xRH5hXbj4ZB-xLcfFvgO4Bu8lHpRpQTPZtwX4HRUCwOe853aY-HfyN3EjQ6M5j6pUqAj05ceIy8jddifv3hPRBAEf7n_a4/s2100/_22A5770-Oregon-Junco.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7yITPf5gAtfOBXalRcfmeSisRynmVucHR6B8WVkZ2p7wMGls5LPWOYYsVVhu_h73vs83lcZykfxn7tU4mijoXlO1t9wj7xRH5hXbj4ZB-xLcfFvgO4Bu8lHpRpQTPZtwX4HRUCwOe853aY-HfyN3EjQ6M5j6pUqAj05ceIy8jddifv3hPRBAEf7n_a4/s320/_22A5770-Oregon-Junco.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIb_nwId0MQLk19EGT0M7UgtmtTTx-fWWHuYrBcc5wcCOsdOwcAilzuYrFv0ZqYWIdW132VRdNGDD70I3-_R1vnfE3Cgh0Lpx8ICnR0of2sO8ZCVYP0D_gL5976uXOhnrvQ4CppHDtcNeSHbBSaz23a7yEYn19KB3fKyhvryfwHtB4zc6Az7ZzT4aqUc/s2100/_22A5778-Mt-Marathon-streamers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIb_nwId0MQLk19EGT0M7UgtmtTTx-fWWHuYrBcc5wcCOsdOwcAilzuYrFv0ZqYWIdW132VRdNGDD70I3-_R1vnfE3Cgh0Lpx8ICnR0of2sO8ZCVYP0D_gL5976uXOhnrvQ4CppHDtcNeSHbBSaz23a7yEYn19KB3fKyhvryfwHtB4zc6Az7ZzT4aqUc/s320/_22A5778-Mt-Marathon-streamers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvTVZxGg8ECxIoYLF0F1R5b8yJs8SumcVjJUjk3y7bcDz4EPZGpT2HyZX4jtd-hcyvHr-rMGGZeJFqnAFdWfZmW3XT_D2jJwuxmWNuEE71gLjy6OMdcnh4CM6P7cXeWeDaiAgzMnzi0SG2WL_iDwhnWV5Yu152uiix687leLW2EJurlQbF5xGSy_zH8s/s2100/_22A5795-Christmas-moon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvTVZxGg8ECxIoYLF0F1R5b8yJs8SumcVjJUjk3y7bcDz4EPZGpT2HyZX4jtd-hcyvHr-rMGGZeJFqnAFdWfZmW3XT_D2jJwuxmWNuEE71gLjy6OMdcnh4CM6P7cXeWeDaiAgzMnzi0SG2WL_iDwhnWV5Yu152uiix687leLW2EJurlQbF5xGSy_zH8s/s320/_22A5795-Christmas-moon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4sX5zV1sVNVZEv4Z476D9U9baLmOwLv5iED116qQuvRROsRqSc8CvVmjKxCc3bwu6hgyPVzi63B9EyMK0KfLw25Be5RLZkb6krzyNNv7a02x4_ucbdl7Ux-b2PcCJD9bj2Ao804EhJqvK3oOwXHdWerLYoinJeugMGSnNeU-60urCIxLcCljt8P35Sk/s2100/_22A5820-Christmas-moon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4sX5zV1sVNVZEv4Z476D9U9baLmOwLv5iED116qQuvRROsRqSc8CvVmjKxCc3bwu6hgyPVzi63B9EyMK0KfLw25Be5RLZkb6krzyNNv7a02x4_ucbdl7Ux-b2PcCJD9bj2Ao804EhJqvK3oOwXHdWerLYoinJeugMGSnNeU-60urCIxLcCljt8P35Sk/s320/_22A5820-Christmas-moon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtfy9NAb2W5gJz15TtvQQoMVQnt1RyHk-BkA2XUAtpGSJZLbbiDLXsDtU1h0kEz8BydPw118v0MqioC2i3kfT-ZvIn1JBC9ILTTXLgjiFoK3y56XNchtizdaAKMh6gNuLwa1sOibK2dhjoSgBbKgEVe792Q0SoSMTTyLbj2jhPI3KzvZzjp-KVZTbVa8/s2100/_22A5838-Christmas-moon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtfy9NAb2W5gJz15TtvQQoMVQnt1RyHk-BkA2XUAtpGSJZLbbiDLXsDtU1h0kEz8BydPw118v0MqioC2i3kfT-ZvIn1JBC9ILTTXLgjiFoK3y56XNchtizdaAKMh6gNuLwa1sOibK2dhjoSgBbKgEVe792Q0SoSMTTyLbj2jhPI3KzvZzjp-KVZTbVa8/s320/_22A5838-Christmas-moon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-48783319510982118252023-12-23T22:20:00.003-09:002023-12-24T14:15:26.967-09:00 Saturday, December 23, 2023 Seward Christmas Bird Count ramble<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 10:02 am, sunset 3:53 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 50 minutes. Tomorrow will be 20 seconds longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Dark, dark day today with a heavy blue-gray lid, occasional light rain, and mostly calm until the wind shifted from east (calm) to northerly breeze around 1 pm. Temps ranged from 30 to 37º. All in all, much nicer than the bleak forecast. No, Seward didn’t get 18” of snow in the last 24 hours, or 19” today; too warm. The actual snow depth ranged from 0 at the beach to 30”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">No knowing my availability, I free-ranged today when I could. I failed to find the Townsend’s Solitaire at Lowell Point Beach but delighted in refinding a YELLOW-BILLED LOON. Such presence! Two PELAGIC CORMORANTS disputed standing rights to a small bit of Pinnacle Rock protruding above the water; the original homesteader lost. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A single HORNED GREBE paddled and dove near four COMMON GOLDENEYES.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">PINE SISKINS, COMMON REDPOLLS, and a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE fluttered in the spruce and alder trees. A VARIED THRUSH paused in a bare alder. Add two STELLER JAYS and a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE cruising around.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Thanks to birdseed scattered at the edge of the hospital’s heated sidewalk, I found two FOX SPARROWS of the “Red” group, including the one with most of its tail missing. Two VARIED THRUSH, bright as pumpkins, chased each other off, unwilling to share. DARK-EYED JUNCOS fed unconcerned among them, apparently not a threat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A quick check of the inlet creek at First Lake produced a noisy, chucking RUSTY BLACKBIRD, busily flipping over leaves and debris in the creek. No Dipper today for me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The 11.52’ high tide at 10 am took a while to recede. I checked the tidelands around 1 pm, crossing the tracks of a momma moose and her calf, fortunately not seen. Though the pond was mostly frozen, a dozen BUFFLEHEAD and 30 MALLARDS paddled in a small open area. Five SNOW BUNTINGS waited for photos amongst the beach rye grass then took off. Two adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and an immature SHORT-BILLED GULL poked through the emergent wrack line. Many more Gulls were much farther out on exposed mudflats. A RAVEN in a hurry flew past, calling “Kowa!” Unfortunately, I did not refind the Killdeer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Two drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL dabbling along the ebbing tideline with Mallards were a nice surprise. Beyond them in the bay, two adult TRUMPETER SWANS, resembling ice floes, steadily paddled towards the creek. Earlier I watched and heard two adults and one cygnet flying up Resurrection River. An immature BALD EAGLE perched in a spruce watched me slog to the parking lot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Over at the harbor entrance, four WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, six SURF SCOTERS, a Horned Grebe, and a COMMON MERGANSER paddled along under surveillance by two adult Bald Eagles. The coal dipper yielded two GREAT BLUE HERONS, standing quietly. A mob of NORTHWESTERN CROWS, 100? flew past; about 30 dove down to briefly festoon the guy wires nearby and disturb the peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Back home, the usual RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, Dark-eyed Juncos, and a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE feasted on sunflower seeds and suet before the close of this very short winter day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Results from the day are still being compiled, with three more days left for Count Week. I will post the final results when they are available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mQqFkmId6wLhRpwR86MrA5WJkmrIS1BlsPd3gjVFI1J4At1ikozMNCDvswPzqcImc2tIYDjsW6pGpvhzpxE7g0ravvZyCzGqctvB5ORORG2vTIEX7KlSjgCPGwnNs_HkNl4HmsZy1RQeAh7Z_UN1KRRqb9uYT1R9NQ2ESUP5nDAZ6n-ss3SXr386wtQ/s2100/_22A5142-Yellow-billed-Loon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mQqFkmId6wLhRpwR86MrA5WJkmrIS1BlsPd3gjVFI1J4At1ikozMNCDvswPzqcImc2tIYDjsW6pGpvhzpxE7g0ravvZyCzGqctvB5ORORG2vTIEX7KlSjgCPGwnNs_HkNl4HmsZy1RQeAh7Z_UN1KRRqb9uYT1R9NQ2ESUP5nDAZ6n-ss3SXr386wtQ/s320/_22A5142-Yellow-billed-Loon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod39S8gJjDqdQERLE2yQv52RbesWyVvir0hcpy7sZH4_s6ec4Hw8O7ygqSoL0KPIIU4nJZ0fbovyirveNnSs4QO2XxiESbMbcyoZQcZee76MKGLXvNylfHXQog1hqm0JXk8trft7Uoh8UNAKcCoM5V8xycFl8VUnBuyU4HEoGykXE8m3JC4c1PBQz3g4/s2100/_22A5164-Pelagic-Cormorants-Pinnacle-Rock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiod39S8gJjDqdQERLE2yQv52RbesWyVvir0hcpy7sZH4_s6ec4Hw8O7ygqSoL0KPIIU4nJZ0fbovyirveNnSs4QO2XxiESbMbcyoZQcZee76MKGLXvNylfHXQog1hqm0JXk8trft7Uoh8UNAKcCoM5V8xycFl8VUnBuyU4HEoGykXE8m3JC4c1PBQz3g4/s320/_22A5164-Pelagic-Cormorants-Pinnacle-Rock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNp_xEw-W3Pif_wvKLIxL1_VREaH-5pH_K_6kANDHBUHcja4iVtQjpZDkCBiN-lP0A1KCy91uRkb_arHZweIHrPrl2_lfCGchDfN88jvovUubpf9CMPLAHlEeucxIcRcBr7jUzzu_r6QJWEO-uymJ1GXuW3mWITQgKekPb35R5MIIpey9q7YI7K9hnHd4/s2100/_22A5188-fox-sparrow-red-group.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNp_xEw-W3Pif_wvKLIxL1_VREaH-5pH_K_6kANDHBUHcja4iVtQjpZDkCBiN-lP0A1KCy91uRkb_arHZweIHrPrl2_lfCGchDfN88jvovUubpf9CMPLAHlEeucxIcRcBr7jUzzu_r6QJWEO-uymJ1GXuW3mWITQgKekPb35R5MIIpey9q7YI7K9hnHd4/s320/_22A5188-fox-sparrow-red-group.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMyckDxnNavJl2PbVsR1ktth9OEsi3iy2RfXzDw3pn0XT8C0b4OzhVJ2lJlp-_a6chRkTItML1k2jZL-Q5Q6AVacmhpVmVXCbDDwkp3L3HcxfpF-hGjzr2uRCdiILFHIWbGwDjqJeU_h21WUIsMpKc0gYDHAXLNIi3GGjdeSzIY-PwSydRaf_QBxqd44/s2100/_22A5214-varied-thrush,-male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMyckDxnNavJl2PbVsR1ktth9OEsi3iy2RfXzDw3pn0XT8C0b4OzhVJ2lJlp-_a6chRkTItML1k2jZL-Q5Q6AVacmhpVmVXCbDDwkp3L3HcxfpF-hGjzr2uRCdiILFHIWbGwDjqJeU_h21WUIsMpKc0gYDHAXLNIi3GGjdeSzIY-PwSydRaf_QBxqd44/s320/_22A5214-varied-thrush,-male.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRTbuJYSsJw-04O1tJyTBFYg1-4Q5Sxt1ruL6G6Yd76URPrhihH17xyoUausnCKS6SwaJOabbs-y3OeSUtr-rXMP9Fk1-_vACupqyAJrRllHl9c3fe-Swf20bzFeMsK7WCXy6HJQNzrctTDKNfPJMjadPp1DDEDgG79E1jGqEWKvZb8HI0ADCSIha1oQ/s2100/_22A5219-Fox-sparrow,-red-group.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRTbuJYSsJw-04O1tJyTBFYg1-4Q5Sxt1ruL6G6Yd76URPrhihH17xyoUausnCKS6SwaJOabbs-y3OeSUtr-rXMP9Fk1-_vACupqyAJrRllHl9c3fe-Swf20bzFeMsK7WCXy6HJQNzrctTDKNfPJMjadPp1DDEDgG79E1jGqEWKvZb8HI0ADCSIha1oQ/s320/_22A5219-Fox-sparrow,-red-group.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMNyCBZA3M7BExsWqJ9V6ZJ8fg9TkwTYhTTSILhLctsGn-Q0qtVajxmh9Dh4YWxlZI7HICXebYAguZPFmZUnVd4XMqRixlgjZSbxeORhPOYEHlmM80eLglthj49GxBTVVrkFP7OKgzx2k5PaHdWH6xtVLEpMK6bZUMDdFZbDAZLNj9HSfluBY4yEuHKE/s2100/_22A5234-rusty-blackbird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMNyCBZA3M7BExsWqJ9V6ZJ8fg9TkwTYhTTSILhLctsGn-Q0qtVajxmh9Dh4YWxlZI7HICXebYAguZPFmZUnVd4XMqRixlgjZSbxeORhPOYEHlmM80eLglthj49GxBTVVrkFP7OKgzx2k5PaHdWH6xtVLEpMK6bZUMDdFZbDAZLNj9HSfluBY4yEuHKE/s320/_22A5234-rusty-blackbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsJ1_hyh6k-FWZTHNsjhWXTbYk6bVDphfBEvDuB0ppcQYSHrpNafVAE21txcWulHyqmbBV27ZFFDMwdteHmeIn7WxYQYlmIZcanmIbhdibqHmj_BNdqk8laDiPSqpWfzaJq1DguzgrEW6lw_9vur72mk_r_D23-NH0sWfBKYPA1WwwLnII2XoIxQHHKc/s2100/_22A5249-flying-insect.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsJ1_hyh6k-FWZTHNsjhWXTbYk6bVDphfBEvDuB0ppcQYSHrpNafVAE21txcWulHyqmbBV27ZFFDMwdteHmeIn7WxYQYlmIZcanmIbhdibqHmj_BNdqk8laDiPSqpWfzaJq1DguzgrEW6lw_9vur72mk_r_D23-NH0sWfBKYPA1WwwLnII2XoIxQHHKc/s320/_22A5249-flying-insect.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh231gtTpCHenmmsYvKhdvgAjssdyKpzipdQ6u3jUcyo10yK6q0QjfmxltPyoHIl6gpowqCE4t6Aoi3pPuEGMWgp4dc1ZeI5Avbny_W47u7bXe7Q0jCGrjMUVGk3a-Pj4x0_JcfVnEhEfGqLI6fxlRHyVYq-cLtu92BQDpD8hw2jY4LbPuw4B4VNFKICrQ/s2100/_22A5270-snow-buntings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh231gtTpCHenmmsYvKhdvgAjssdyKpzipdQ6u3jUcyo10yK6q0QjfmxltPyoHIl6gpowqCE4t6Aoi3pPuEGMWgp4dc1ZeI5Avbny_W47u7bXe7Q0jCGrjMUVGk3a-Pj4x0_JcfVnEhEfGqLI6fxlRHyVYq-cLtu92BQDpD8hw2jY4LbPuw4B4VNFKICrQ/s320/_22A5270-snow-buntings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbZyXjNV5_RIU3MxyEyOe4EBePTdzMijNWzbZTrCGICJiF2KKVsUzATZk6qmIDzMf0LI330z4JRhZ2ap5FxheyjRmD0q5YQ3roYxHvBIxumJFLrraCwWaX5ZQ_TfPMpdPUQotr5f_pDEdqngUDIygWB_OtyUt_Wrz-2qAZcVtB75-zHE2jYr08_XbZlM/s2100/_22A5276-snow-buntings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbZyXjNV5_RIU3MxyEyOe4EBePTdzMijNWzbZTrCGICJiF2KKVsUzATZk6qmIDzMf0LI330z4JRhZ2ap5FxheyjRmD0q5YQ3roYxHvBIxumJFLrraCwWaX5ZQ_TfPMpdPUQotr5f_pDEdqngUDIygWB_OtyUt_Wrz-2qAZcVtB75-zHE2jYr08_XbZlM/s320/_22A5276-snow-buntings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAaLhmm7isqOIP9l64ivRch4LLqMeokfc7CwxocXSHSSPDkXcVLT8__KtJq4Ioe4tIlapRE6sVI4noh75kLZ8KsXGEXTuvvm7aeM2A-_uA6VbbhiU7zCiQIljA0mBxm49Pbym9FjXj1aj8_SVUKxdvMgqJL1NppGlU1ulRfZlqFhglP1l_-bM5cAEWn8/s2100/_22A5304-glaucous-winged-gull.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAaLhmm7isqOIP9l64ivRch4LLqMeokfc7CwxocXSHSSPDkXcVLT8__KtJq4Ioe4tIlapRE6sVI4noh75kLZ8KsXGEXTuvvm7aeM2A-_uA6VbbhiU7zCiQIljA0mBxm49Pbym9FjXj1aj8_SVUKxdvMgqJL1NppGlU1ulRfZlqFhglP1l_-bM5cAEWn8/s320/_22A5304-glaucous-winged-gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZd0Uh5BPRRWA9Noz6XPSbEFwk6AFxO_moCCk849M7gBBEQGvVrJuj_mr2Gn2ZBT_SASKL51yyd70X__OcBnFPPW1LSM4R_jlW-qHDx-KeqPWAj3KQSt4riP-KfHtYL_GfBSmaPynAKzOE6Wjyq2lZ0iWnwZj3iosC6Fr6i1fkUUem6H82vg3ZkFw3OE/s2100/_22A5305-short-billed-gull-juvenile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZd0Uh5BPRRWA9Noz6XPSbEFwk6AFxO_moCCk849M7gBBEQGvVrJuj_mr2Gn2ZBT_SASKL51yyd70X__OcBnFPPW1LSM4R_jlW-qHDx-KeqPWAj3KQSt4riP-KfHtYL_GfBSmaPynAKzOE6Wjyq2lZ0iWnwZj3iosC6Fr6i1fkUUem6H82vg3ZkFw3OE/s320/_22A5305-short-billed-gull-juvenile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT1qcPSx-MPVO6833F_Cvvv8f0g8FAqc8ucbZHSmhiJGoxX4AzbdAaGM9RqN3ZDNfC2veyL_hV9CMQSsPFtiCQ4lsK8_bJMt5yQ0UeCTcDZnOWi0fAChKJMF8wP42nYEV8W9T3yqRUL_3WFQc9oFX7unr0_VmTBr-yvnY-k7zrixgpRXv67Fv1pj9a7M/s2100/_22A5307-swans-on-Rez-Bay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT1qcPSx-MPVO6833F_Cvvv8f0g8FAqc8ucbZHSmhiJGoxX4AzbdAaGM9RqN3ZDNfC2veyL_hV9CMQSsPFtiCQ4lsK8_bJMt5yQ0UeCTcDZnOWi0fAChKJMF8wP42nYEV8W9T3yqRUL_3WFQc9oFX7unr0_VmTBr-yvnY-k7zrixgpRXv67Fv1pj9a7M/s320/_22A5307-swans-on-Rez-Bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAmzsWbw6Gth34VXQJlPrz1amgEi9kbo8pC7ztPtoEZOD6CbfMub1_0z-zQKenEQOS6nZvTkwmypBcEhkdiXxMRxxin-n5pR3I_GIQtctjNcOZBRHoWIEGpqWUNg01AQhKj1r4Pxg2K3g6DiW0IDcooKi272u90K9HVQDRK_Ot-XgIWJoBMLfkLCdGYU/s2100/_22A5325-moose-track-in-snow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAmzsWbw6Gth34VXQJlPrz1amgEi9kbo8pC7ztPtoEZOD6CbfMub1_0z-zQKenEQOS6nZvTkwmypBcEhkdiXxMRxxin-n5pR3I_GIQtctjNcOZBRHoWIEGpqWUNg01AQhKj1r4Pxg2K3g6DiW0IDcooKi272u90K9HVQDRK_Ot-XgIWJoBMLfkLCdGYU/s320/_22A5325-moose-track-in-snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pEc5z4xItTe-x4rBsCfuQCgz6hZ9LmGHljzTARLwFoqx2yTwnvuMjKUV6xTfEYMeYW736mLMFINxf29NUerZN8Y1P-RkhVWmwVaa3YnP_tr44E-xLLzb3vT5yTjYMuUQUH-aHVnT0_fgB_A2dh51KAo7U2Yw5RB88Ap2D-QpR4WyUhuBw7se9fspVaU/s2100/_22A5333-Bald-eagle-immature.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pEc5z4xItTe-x4rBsCfuQCgz6hZ9LmGHljzTARLwFoqx2yTwnvuMjKUV6xTfEYMeYW736mLMFINxf29NUerZN8Y1P-RkhVWmwVaa3YnP_tr44E-xLLzb3vT5yTjYMuUQUH-aHVnT0_fgB_A2dh51KAo7U2Yw5RB88Ap2D-QpR4WyUhuBw7se9fspVaU/s320/_22A5333-Bald-eagle-immature.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYsrXAfhLE2nkGWKUie4YemxM22S5fGCT9Map3v8lQ6_EyW_jiGeP8h21TS-UdPMktO2E-Dw8sfeFH0JoD3hV5NzzWbysNGF1Yomb2kLNRQnUQvlquQKrJEA-vDpyUPJW2ZQDpCAJaA3e5zjaDdPGcoNOjKPd7DtQeFWwrqfRWLtwaqO54rrpigf56XQ/s2100/_22A5340-two-great-blue-herons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYsrXAfhLE2nkGWKUie4YemxM22S5fGCT9Map3v8lQ6_EyW_jiGeP8h21TS-UdPMktO2E-Dw8sfeFH0JoD3hV5NzzWbysNGF1Yomb2kLNRQnUQvlquQKrJEA-vDpyUPJW2ZQDpCAJaA3e5zjaDdPGcoNOjKPd7DtQeFWwrqfRWLtwaqO54rrpigf56XQ/s320/_22A5340-two-great-blue-herons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCZG7vbEAyoD69kg36dZuMpEIhTqFhxp5aLyAea8RX14IcBWCVrTUDxH_ShxJXD_qf89SDy1SiBGsQAW8jftCOAXMLrHya-15ePoWZR9WieE1E9_FXnud0gVOpOMXywBRBkXz0LKrCnNKw9rZfFYzqCIoDS9v_IFqTO6BsShUZQDuO1sykJlF6t_rE-E/s2100/_22A5345-white-winged-scoters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCZG7vbEAyoD69kg36dZuMpEIhTqFhxp5aLyAea8RX14IcBWCVrTUDxH_ShxJXD_qf89SDy1SiBGsQAW8jftCOAXMLrHya-15ePoWZR9WieE1E9_FXnud0gVOpOMXywBRBkXz0LKrCnNKw9rZfFYzqCIoDS9v_IFqTO6BsShUZQDuO1sykJlF6t_rE-E/s320/_22A5345-white-winged-scoters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-65106697254926258522023-12-16T20:54:00.002-09:002023-12-17T09:45:20.914-09:00 Saturday, December 16, 2023 Killdeer, Cassin’s Finch, Rusty Blackbirds, Fox Sparrow<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 9:58 am, sunset 3:51 pm, for a total day length of 5 hours and 52 minutes. Tomorrow will be 56 seconds shorter. The temperatures rose from 17º at 6 am to 34º by late evening, turning the afternoon snowfall into rain. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">But wonder of wonders! The blue-gray, overcast day was reflection-calm this morning and the high tide waited until mid-afternoon. I found the KILLDEER at the tide flats, poking through the exposed mud as if the recent storms and short, short days of an Alaska winter were of no consequence. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Next stop, the grocery store where incredibly, a CASSIN’S FINCH was reported gleaning gravel bits near the store entrance. I searched without success, but saw it on my way out with my hands full of grocery bags. Of course, it disappeared under the propane tank enclosures after I was ready with my camera. What an unusual and busy spot for a rare finch to choose for a bit of grit (supplemented by some bird seed.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The hot spot at Second and Madison was hopping, literally. An almost tailless red interior FOX SPARROW popped out of the shrubs, then one of two creaking RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, an eye-popping bright VARIED THRUSH, a flock of DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I just missed a Brambling. Almost at the same time, another Brambling was reported in Forest Acres, possibly the same one seen at Ava’s recently, but maybe it’s a third one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Just before dusk, two BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS silently fluttered up and down from power line wires across Jefferson St, perching then hawking exactly like flycatchers. The temperature was above freezing so maybe there were insects flying. They were both very intent, not a berry in sight. Such interesting behavior!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The Seward Audubon Christmas Bird Count is scheduled for Saturday, December 23. Count Week starts on Wednesday, December 20. With luck, these and other fabulous birds will be counted.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgO0kCl7xuAOmwdXfwV7z8EfH9NLCXbgR-gixzKn0KovVz5LweQmEj8IxSqXRmGCn7FnsSy0th7L9FMWDYcz8iZAI8pdh4VoLiTU7Ikaa3wCdc_XyFXjBJMhZ7_tVNbJ_jQvp8Yu1Bnq5mQ3bqcCmnrBYs3ZHP4RJ73SOETN8DIzllsm4oicbXEB0x3xk/s2100/_22A3995-Killdeer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgO0kCl7xuAOmwdXfwV7z8EfH9NLCXbgR-gixzKn0KovVz5LweQmEj8IxSqXRmGCn7FnsSy0th7L9FMWDYcz8iZAI8pdh4VoLiTU7Ikaa3wCdc_XyFXjBJMhZ7_tVNbJ_jQvp8Yu1Bnq5mQ3bqcCmnrBYs3ZHP4RJ73SOETN8DIzllsm4oicbXEB0x3xk/s320/_22A3995-Killdeer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyj-qxqcYGA3Z1WJ3TtnDVg7gUOB1g8pJfCf_yi8pT_OzxIkaX2bsWzG5qhQ6GHOJED_AU_Rjl46zORkN0CyWHJXidDV5vKTXFZGPkDJGsba4-exIc0jKvWFoigmWgPikhUlg9yo6MYNISnUby-sVRHCSoVnnb8NGLrNTY3M6U6wU4maFLy4qw78aSOU/s2100/_22A3998-Killdeer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyj-qxqcYGA3Z1WJ3TtnDVg7gUOB1g8pJfCf_yi8pT_OzxIkaX2bsWzG5qhQ6GHOJED_AU_Rjl46zORkN0CyWHJXidDV5vKTXFZGPkDJGsba4-exIc0jKvWFoigmWgPikhUlg9yo6MYNISnUby-sVRHCSoVnnb8NGLrNTY3M6U6wU4maFLy4qw78aSOU/s320/_22A3998-Killdeer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6QGekcu9SD-_8vSxNtynxgrvw9Yxmm5yz4AYm3tjazvLjT0xoImufOJU1Qa7-iTlx04YoGDr9KirprdbP93Stjs3gGGL5ahkhHGyze-TU8oJgO5QnYaA_jYVzIEeK28G5RdGZFDblNo-Uz1yEbqYFF6w7ctRapEINZ8OE8zeSKM6if08dXDgzqz8O4k/s2100/_22A4054-Cassin's-Finch-hideout.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6QGekcu9SD-_8vSxNtynxgrvw9Yxmm5yz4AYm3tjazvLjT0xoImufOJU1Qa7-iTlx04YoGDr9KirprdbP93Stjs3gGGL5ahkhHGyze-TU8oJgO5QnYaA_jYVzIEeK28G5RdGZFDblNo-Uz1yEbqYFF6w7ctRapEINZ8OE8zeSKM6if08dXDgzqz8O4k/s320/_22A4054-Cassin's-Finch-hideout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgRnww9fCnDux98M14xbLujWTzrXPlelLkoMTMWQsycJhG7bP32YthlTPA5s3AwUCcSiVeyje9zmtHkoeVrlvCQe6ertiybU5gaxv0EM0j5TrMd-D9BgpIEmRuHN6QkSq1CW6iVFqtjkXODEE8xcqotJ2YthPVpWXnE4T2qVV6em35zCbJRPR_Ssn4SE/s2100/_22A4086-Fox-Sparrow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgRnww9fCnDux98M14xbLujWTzrXPlelLkoMTMWQsycJhG7bP32YthlTPA5s3AwUCcSiVeyje9zmtHkoeVrlvCQe6ertiybU5gaxv0EM0j5TrMd-D9BgpIEmRuHN6QkSq1CW6iVFqtjkXODEE8xcqotJ2YthPVpWXnE4T2qVV6em35zCbJRPR_Ssn4SE/s320/_22A4086-Fox-Sparrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3XTj_wlW3jk3Do9ez3TAuyipxeerEuJ29GR3_q0b30cHxm1pEIuQHkViZ0KH3Y226WwFzkpUbCRk6mC6x7V_5rljjjJpikDgFvnmwxrD-SNtMdU8ocTakG_HhZxt5JircvScro1_hrAa_-zrwAwr2uLH5CAhhq4wvjJWLHEjUgTCFZ8r0LWAIqvZ6FU/s2100/_22A4099-rusty-blackbird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3XTj_wlW3jk3Do9ez3TAuyipxeerEuJ29GR3_q0b30cHxm1pEIuQHkViZ0KH3Y226WwFzkpUbCRk6mC6x7V_5rljjjJpikDgFvnmwxrD-SNtMdU8ocTakG_HhZxt5JircvScro1_hrAa_-zrwAwr2uLH5CAhhq4wvjJWLHEjUgTCFZ8r0LWAIqvZ6FU/s320/_22A4099-rusty-blackbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNUkb_KHmM0BSlx9WWWWkb-6GUVktu1fBcMLO17WIW4mgeG9DRJxfmFAQGZJEyArJWD2stsESEUf737NSGHYj3GAs-zmNXR6orcDtmsR6xFzta2lbMrrzMi3alUGPDAhDO9tOTJLCGqTnWGTbRIgR40-64_lmv0nyzuaQHw9cnBv6ZM-5q1QycCpLJDU/s2100/_22A4102-Rusty-Blackbird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNUkb_KHmM0BSlx9WWWWkb-6GUVktu1fBcMLO17WIW4mgeG9DRJxfmFAQGZJEyArJWD2stsESEUf737NSGHYj3GAs-zmNXR6orcDtmsR6xFzta2lbMrrzMi3alUGPDAhDO9tOTJLCGqTnWGTbRIgR40-64_lmv0nyzuaQHw9cnBv6ZM-5q1QycCpLJDU/s320/_22A4102-Rusty-Blackbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s_vvJ2tbzOrwzFi8aaAAapDHzDORO-EI8V8c2FeMEzwHBROnKCpIT0bfWFLuk-2-yTB4WmscsHj7r7R1RnLtudHaPCWUgzUkDH-FnC9ivrbHODm50whcmYmpPw7soolp-P5vEubDQCdlGKKfekvZWMCPmXxJAG9eCuz4ApgVFGSMVBTEYGcBc2apFYc/s2100/_22A4114-Rusty-Blackbird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s_vvJ2tbzOrwzFi8aaAAapDHzDORO-EI8V8c2FeMEzwHBROnKCpIT0bfWFLuk-2-yTB4WmscsHj7r7R1RnLtudHaPCWUgzUkDH-FnC9ivrbHODm50whcmYmpPw7soolp-P5vEubDQCdlGKKfekvZWMCPmXxJAG9eCuz4ApgVFGSMVBTEYGcBc2apFYc/s320/_22A4114-Rusty-Blackbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKvt2eue4BAJwuf-wtAMO3Rd7-XwOM62h_j9bXSPLtvzrp3OGVJyv-ujZJpNC7tPzXkZf54eMxlzCeTNyXBiDrNnSgsNcawB_Ws4QzDyKJcoUdHLMtKOWZyXLc4YRLbfgT4yzKZaAKP57yEM2cQQDXYRZPAV1PxY66iKbYLbYgWv7PdUgb8e2c0M343Y/s2100/_22A4147-varied-thrush-male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKvt2eue4BAJwuf-wtAMO3Rd7-XwOM62h_j9bXSPLtvzrp3OGVJyv-ujZJpNC7tPzXkZf54eMxlzCeTNyXBiDrNnSgsNcawB_Ws4QzDyKJcoUdHLMtKOWZyXLc4YRLbfgT4yzKZaAKP57yEM2cQQDXYRZPAV1PxY66iKbYLbYgWv7PdUgb8e2c0M343Y/s320/_22A4147-varied-thrush-male.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciqU81ig748kGwBk4_3Jlm1MY11WHVTbmlLrclAWGG6r2DByUuKaRnAeKohSyDndCBf0SCbtalNxDEKqSGVI3q5Qtb0gkWkOtdFsegDkIXXm4aQsUwyDsPUuqqoPBslt7DSpOy6Ad2dme-3LSmgcen5JGaYQK4cGf999ozDYk93B89Ca0KstCWG4ft9E/s2100/_22A4160-rusty-blackbird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciqU81ig748kGwBk4_3Jlm1MY11WHVTbmlLrclAWGG6r2DByUuKaRnAeKohSyDndCBf0SCbtalNxDEKqSGVI3q5Qtb0gkWkOtdFsegDkIXXm4aQsUwyDsPUuqqoPBslt7DSpOy6Ad2dme-3LSmgcen5JGaYQK4cGf999ozDYk93B89Ca0KstCWG4ft9E/s320/_22A4160-rusty-blackbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-52247804828123316442023-12-14T21:08:00.004-09:002023-12-15T09:39:04.514-09:00Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Brambling, Townsend’s Solitaire<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 9:54 am, sunset 3:51 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 56 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 28 seconds shorter as we approach the Winter Solstice on December 21.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Finally got a break in the squally weather with mostly clear skies and sunshine; note, UV level still flatlining at zero. High at 7:30 am of 21, dropping to 16 around 11 am. A chilly north wind persisted at 3-8 mph with gusts to 15, lofting shimmers of loose snow, and riling the bay.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">It’s not hard to rise before the sun in winter; I hustled out to the tidelands at 10 am hoping to beat the rising 12.73’ high tide. The hidden sun illuminated the tops of the western mountains with a bluish cast and crisp blue shadows. I watched the dawn creep down as the sun finally peeked over the eastern mountains at a leisurely 10:43 am. Short days, long nights for the birds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I was unsuccessful in my hopes to spot the Killdeer reported last weekend, and refind some Snow Buntings. Instead, I found the usual RAVENS, MALLARDS, SHORT-BILLED GULLS, and two TRUMPETER SWANS feeding in the flooded stream channel, almost obscured by swirling snow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Next, I sought the BRAMBLING, found by Robin C at Ava’s on Sunday and Tuesday. A wonderful variety of hungry birds cycled through her yard and feeders: a single BOHEMIAN WAXWING, PINE GROSBEAKS, RED-WINGED CROSSBILLS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, a SONG SPARROW, DOWNY WOODPECKERS, HAIRY WOODPECKERS, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, and a BALD EAGLE and RAVEN fly-over.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">It was exciting to watch for the Juncos in particular, knowing the Brambling liked their company. They ebbed and flowed like the tide, disappearing under the deck, then up in the trees, or hopped on the snow. Finally, I caught sight of a striking burnt orange and black finch with a yellow bill. Yay! I waited for another long time and was able to get a few photos before a Pine Grosbeak chased him back under the deck. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The sun was already over halfway across the sky. I headed to Lowell Point Beach on the west side of Resurrection Bay, arriving at the 12:45 pm high tide. Lowell Point No-Beach. A handsome drake RED-BREASTED MERGANSER paddled back and forth across the drowned beach where people normally walked, snorkeling and diving. I dodged fingers of seething water reaching into the beach rye grass, down to the end of the beach. Pinnacle Rock was flooded, leaving only a small tip exposed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A bird flushed from the rocks and flew past too fast for me to identify. This was the mystery bird from December 8. I started to trudge back to try to find it when it returned and landed about 10’ away on the tip of some driftwood. A TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE! The sweet thrush just sat there quietly looking at me as I clicked away in perfect light. Wow. Then, off down the beach to another perch. What a gift of its presence!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The sun bid adieu with a flashy little prism in a cloud and threw the beach into shadows at 1 pm, but I wasn’t done yet. I simply drove away from the mountains and back to town for an encore. A BALD EAGLE obliged me, regally staring afar and then down at me from its eagle perch near the harbor. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Around 2 pm, the sun set again. I could have driven to the east side of the bay for yet another moment in the sun, but decided to turn in, well satisfied with a short but spectacular day of winter birding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdqYL4NsaMYB6A9ETs5h8BO1lOlkbDVe3J4NEEftE_weJAEN63BHmdzcGU92twOYH4AH-Qjj2ei7xPZlsRQ3BKAqlmiq5cHlynrEK-28IExVwai7HGFih2supFpu_DjIojI-yt1UJ71Ecxuylb0dsm4qBe_LgOZhQmPeDks_Wm_RU6ev5ObkTB4CPgRo/s2100/_22A3486-Race-Point-at-dawn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdqYL4NsaMYB6A9ETs5h8BO1lOlkbDVe3J4NEEftE_weJAEN63BHmdzcGU92twOYH4AH-Qjj2ei7xPZlsRQ3BKAqlmiq5cHlynrEK-28IExVwai7HGFih2supFpu_DjIojI-yt1UJ71Ecxuylb0dsm4qBe_LgOZhQmPeDks_Wm_RU6ev5ObkTB4CPgRo/s320/_22A3486-Race-Point-at-dawn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM5EzGKnfAABNFVFii-uwlC58pDJB_abg6ivbF8Fy9DwYElsYL7s93iHrvY-G2q50j76l95DlaOz9sqqhZwx1LNUr_n8d1axKKJj5th8xwWjgQ_JSlVERuwk1oPN01dlTtEZluT-gkZBoODp88nBIOohFk8xR-XpVffop6CdWOYne03N0ymtB1JDfavs/s2100/_22A3488-Mt-Marathon-at-dawn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM5EzGKnfAABNFVFii-uwlC58pDJB_abg6ivbF8Fy9DwYElsYL7s93iHrvY-G2q50j76l95DlaOz9sqqhZwx1LNUr_n8d1axKKJj5th8xwWjgQ_JSlVERuwk1oPN01dlTtEZluT-gkZBoODp88nBIOohFk8xR-XpVffop6CdWOYne03N0ymtB1JDfavs/s320/_22A3488-Mt-Marathon-at-dawn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtymxPRVHzmlR_bwoKPuVP6zLMOFkS8cLcqGTA_Hjfd26lKTR8cnRk3GklBTkk6NPTfRlV8o8MVZVQN5RLLUCAysgUdqzrXEXsdDWHZePL1kGSKLvWb50S9cL75u6Xhyphenhyphen3MQwPKoNOqOfR5Vjjw9bMxzKTzjxBGJNtYguoevpqWrfNUFfpvmP4GFHuzjbk/s2100/_22A3496-Mt-Marathon-at-dawn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtymxPRVHzmlR_bwoKPuVP6zLMOFkS8cLcqGTA_Hjfd26lKTR8cnRk3GklBTkk6NPTfRlV8o8MVZVQN5RLLUCAysgUdqzrXEXsdDWHZePL1kGSKLvWb50S9cL75u6Xhyphenhyphen3MQwPKoNOqOfR5Vjjw9bMxzKTzjxBGJNtYguoevpqWrfNUFfpvmP4GFHuzjbk/s320/_22A3496-Mt-Marathon-at-dawn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP7nS-EJfvu4ucWO1sN-Vx8-hflk7s_eJSG_oOUvuBi8WmVdN7H42grBeuc2l6WFg3CEhZBDRKHt4Gpih5Hq5Lse0BQqomcQe6UWIz0iMNc75eDtm65xoWMPRPrPeNS0O3Uy1Asg_Ec65hmPMYAkG8NJX6NghWhe6_-eHIl1zWkykUJPrfW9FQVUT2iI/s2100/_22A3505-dawn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP7nS-EJfvu4ucWO1sN-Vx8-hflk7s_eJSG_oOUvuBi8WmVdN7H42grBeuc2l6WFg3CEhZBDRKHt4Gpih5Hq5Lse0BQqomcQe6UWIz0iMNc75eDtm65xoWMPRPrPeNS0O3Uy1Asg_Ec65hmPMYAkG8NJX6NghWhe6_-eHIl1zWkykUJPrfW9FQVUT2iI/s320/_22A3505-dawn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkdJZH32G5Kpzxl7pg2VSl69t0aO9RTK8CT6NmOWGHtxRtMxZBzXjALnfUm4wN0xQXsokSc4cvaz-_wj4EcQTIv5UiHJZB9Pj46cmqYcdjib9IOe179gIV7ESb4s3svgT7zWCLNDr_bjQc3QFfjTmOhejcjBNYgUxBGR-L3VENLQQWBkZK6YylfT9m_Q/s2100/_22A3564-Downy-Woodpecker%20male.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkdJZH32G5Kpzxl7pg2VSl69t0aO9RTK8CT6NmOWGHtxRtMxZBzXjALnfUm4wN0xQXsokSc4cvaz-_wj4EcQTIv5UiHJZB9Pj46cmqYcdjib9IOe179gIV7ESb4s3svgT7zWCLNDr_bjQc3QFfjTmOhejcjBNYgUxBGR-L3VENLQQWBkZK6YylfT9m_Q/s320/_22A3564-Downy-Woodpecker%20male.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTFJMbJGy6u_zRb7ggdP_WOhnQTIaS_wBiqozkis5Q94Cb9qlU5AddGKGcURgTPJofJAXRO2Ba-DR9dhZliVHj9vA4nM61sfPGRquld4Bzl3uhuLFLmhWxSmtO6C07ayqXLw9V1Axx3jFhrUD434na40rlOZywePvOaFmf_6nbv9Z-htBSMXp0q_fLMg/s2100/_22A3630-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTFJMbJGy6u_zRb7ggdP_WOhnQTIaS_wBiqozkis5Q94Cb9qlU5AddGKGcURgTPJofJAXRO2Ba-DR9dhZliVHj9vA4nM61sfPGRquld4Bzl3uhuLFLmhWxSmtO6C07ayqXLw9V1Axx3jFhrUD434na40rlOZywePvOaFmf_6nbv9Z-htBSMXp0q_fLMg/s320/_22A3630-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmasq_aeOdFN7S8sbhL0ez_pG-Ec8VEP1LvNd7XDHGNTtg3AUlm-5wch1K6zExFQBBcpHBY-DqUsH3TSaWJJqQu3yDfDkhB2qHB4jWbAWkKRcsCxl2YoaXAkIVdV82c0XVr9ZKgSvoojGkHJ44UYGjje1NLMcusfP-KhUGNhbwBjSsnPvAraKpIdgC1P8/s2100/_22A3631-bohemian-waxwing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmasq_aeOdFN7S8sbhL0ez_pG-Ec8VEP1LvNd7XDHGNTtg3AUlm-5wch1K6zExFQBBcpHBY-DqUsH3TSaWJJqQu3yDfDkhB2qHB4jWbAWkKRcsCxl2YoaXAkIVdV82c0XVr9ZKgSvoojGkHJ44UYGjje1NLMcusfP-KhUGNhbwBjSsnPvAraKpIdgC1P8/s320/_22A3631-bohemian-waxwing.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_9AYGUay6opQabTd70H8F7HaRDFVx2bzeKNPndW8SnrPtHnZ7hqte4RZJQ0ihumuTSVSCdj4T2LGOsjOiFWZrTxeATFFJJbnibbdsnwkZtQdMk6YhOvavmURMUZoQcDac9Jf-9rmfR-MZURY5HHy1Cx27GZBLHyUPZ_Bh1thaySp9p4B7ePcBk4q7UQ/s2100/_22A3639-Bohemian-waxwing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_9AYGUay6opQabTd70H8F7HaRDFVx2bzeKNPndW8SnrPtHnZ7hqte4RZJQ0ihumuTSVSCdj4T2LGOsjOiFWZrTxeATFFJJbnibbdsnwkZtQdMk6YhOvavmURMUZoQcDac9Jf-9rmfR-MZURY5HHy1Cx27GZBLHyUPZ_Bh1thaySp9p4B7ePcBk4q7UQ/s320/_22A3639-Bohemian-waxwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyzIhfEgHvmnTD0_y1WilyhtT_ln2yirWJr8hL8UjzKm3JMz6h0XaW3Ie9nSaztP4IBqFJBU57RCSXKTCY9TOiSvh5Mrkj_hLD1G0KWwRhGb3oetVwa5uXAKackMzvMBzsMi2vRgtDu88Htg4Os5wyY6LE3s0xp-_SaB1Oes8nqMlZBlaFYTkgOEaFuM/s2100/_Dark-eyed-Junco.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyzIhfEgHvmnTD0_y1WilyhtT_ln2yirWJr8hL8UjzKm3JMz6h0XaW3Ie9nSaztP4IBqFJBU57RCSXKTCY9TOiSvh5Mrkj_hLD1G0KWwRhGb3oetVwa5uXAKackMzvMBzsMi2vRgtDu88Htg4Os5wyY6LE3s0xp-_SaB1Oes8nqMlZBlaFYTkgOEaFuM/s320/_Dark-eyed-Junco.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_5qdLOhsW09iJ2tKp6cjeqshDpFZYtz6_7jhV8SU_ZTCB3m60gMRK8FlhyphenhyphenKAWUMQyhnsIhTo9boKaSUps5luKgFF_1iO4spTeHE7FtqH6ldPJ43jUG83aTYCaL1qvtYuwoCQa3NWR8SHRGmznIlyD4qTN08cznbuZmJ063rEwmk10jDyCbMZQ2xXL3s/s2100/_22A3664-Brambling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_5qdLOhsW09iJ2tKp6cjeqshDpFZYtz6_7jhV8SU_ZTCB3m60gMRK8FlhyphenhyphenKAWUMQyhnsIhTo9boKaSUps5luKgFF_1iO4spTeHE7FtqH6ldPJ43jUG83aTYCaL1qvtYuwoCQa3NWR8SHRGmznIlyD4qTN08cznbuZmJ063rEwmk10jDyCbMZQ2xXL3s/s320/_22A3664-Brambling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeopZ6OEF_scO1mSWHCJCH45APX2dgDtnfzAzQCnnlcskZ3wS6Shrq4Qg-r73lNPWgg0gfYFfaFIgl54XfHrohTnDjS36J5ErEIFIUiqOTE7qagk3DaqGpk0n_yDquct8202WRkkKYZKYlVvZm6vjqD1WX2TuH2QjsG2PCbZvA6fY80xWdLTuiAtA74Y/s2100/_22A3665-Brambling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeopZ6OEF_scO1mSWHCJCH45APX2dgDtnfzAzQCnnlcskZ3wS6Shrq4Qg-r73lNPWgg0gfYFfaFIgl54XfHrohTnDjS36J5ErEIFIUiqOTE7qagk3DaqGpk0n_yDquct8202WRkkKYZKYlVvZm6vjqD1WX2TuH2QjsG2PCbZvA6fY80xWdLTuiAtA74Y/s320/_22A3665-Brambling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdMi-B6kKv1Wb4VG1YIfrS86lHkTy7oYxTfHmxr6ds8kbK7sf-WIyUqC2tALdxXo88aGL_QXR4ytH1Qo2SQAbCbigYC_hOGOOq6XCfaas6YQ0O1dYQNuyYPNpsko0qdaOHW3wxAXOcHdod5IMDZ3f-mH46Q_zpCPZc7xK9YCLRGyFP5KZ9mNUE0ojEps/s2100/_22A3669-Pine-Grosbeak.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdMi-B6kKv1Wb4VG1YIfrS86lHkTy7oYxTfHmxr6ds8kbK7sf-WIyUqC2tALdxXo88aGL_QXR4ytH1Qo2SQAbCbigYC_hOGOOq6XCfaas6YQ0O1dYQNuyYPNpsko0qdaOHW3wxAXOcHdod5IMDZ3f-mH46Q_zpCPZc7xK9YCLRGyFP5KZ9mNUE0ojEps/s320/_22A3669-Pine-Grosbeak.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ4YmauNpqI8CcRr8gRIn1C7CKM8-SKI9MOJ9f717jyTvD4VNWIvvEi7c6iAsitddDYNHQdToVV0GdA_WrTz6iOIKQ0jphhh76dWmu1d5Nx-8z1dmwIKhR_EQxcicIANrKJluLv6toknXVv3MUUqK5b-T160BgLBSude7yjWQfoeBitDioerEyVcbQ-M/s2100/_22A3678-red-breasted-merganser-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ4YmauNpqI8CcRr8gRIn1C7CKM8-SKI9MOJ9f717jyTvD4VNWIvvEi7c6iAsitddDYNHQdToVV0GdA_WrTz6iOIKQ0jphhh76dWmu1d5Nx-8z1dmwIKhR_EQxcicIANrKJluLv6toknXVv3MUUqK5b-T160BgLBSude7yjWQfoeBitDioerEyVcbQ-M/s320/_22A3678-red-breasted-merganser-drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dk_V2FDF8JA82ov3N0QGSzF9Mns0KnXfTluJkO0-q2sAfTSKMDBWemq0qCuiNwow2f9IALl8InrSpAre7lTOkeq0xpHuQToElHtcaIAIMOlovAkLq6Vgbdba8fIMBb9tcYcE-_Gpr3ABBphVzIbhPwmIJWKEHPChzQzP2cfslOpyZM8MN7u_CmXA3_Y/s2100/_22A3686-Lowell-Point-No-Beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dk_V2FDF8JA82ov3N0QGSzF9Mns0KnXfTluJkO0-q2sAfTSKMDBWemq0qCuiNwow2f9IALl8InrSpAre7lTOkeq0xpHuQToElHtcaIAIMOlovAkLq6Vgbdba8fIMBb9tcYcE-_Gpr3ABBphVzIbhPwmIJWKEHPChzQzP2cfslOpyZM8MN7u_CmXA3_Y/s320/_22A3686-Lowell-Point-No-Beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZ-Wa0TtzNw8a20qvplKtAy0r2dzqFzrjBEFkii5Z82aWGSxBD7qABjVEHE9hx2A1QiAYo-R9WocFVyYxjWLnhvXduI5MPjI7pHoS400i1c3z6fw1Xj0-x3jHuEVkpic_D2lRlWaB1vSFRW24WPGrPjNgeS-3kleVgDucJfTKxD4ZLwLXor6HF6wGoeQ/s2100/_22A3690-pinnacle-rock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZ-Wa0TtzNw8a20qvplKtAy0r2dzqFzrjBEFkii5Z82aWGSxBD7qABjVEHE9hx2A1QiAYo-R9WocFVyYxjWLnhvXduI5MPjI7pHoS400i1c3z6fw1Xj0-x3jHuEVkpic_D2lRlWaB1vSFRW24WPGrPjNgeS-3kleVgDucJfTKxD4ZLwLXor6HF6wGoeQ/s320/_22A3690-pinnacle-rock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KdUd-m2k56GyfGui4j1yruL-39yTvU_KdF1V43VzTTYCjD7CiZrvk_7vUcbTzp9liVi8vjNB8GHkxuG6ABlRy6Nj6BQnwo4arn8YuH-bwaaNZpwkuYeU4NrYe-rphszzWasNPKPORA2GnAqeu_XUvPgOUJTNmgC4qusE1Fgmw_CiudZxc9vLfYQCnGI/s2100/_22A3703-Townsend's-Solitaire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KdUd-m2k56GyfGui4j1yruL-39yTvU_KdF1V43VzTTYCjD7CiZrvk_7vUcbTzp9liVi8vjNB8GHkxuG6ABlRy6Nj6BQnwo4arn8YuH-bwaaNZpwkuYeU4NrYe-rphszzWasNPKPORA2GnAqeu_XUvPgOUJTNmgC4qusE1Fgmw_CiudZxc9vLfYQCnGI/s320/_22A3703-Townsend's-Solitaire.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivkhGGjXqlHPozohoE5m7YfPbluesoCqvblPEML80o2ZNSktrT7KuUjMjpwPCgtW4HTy6gTDOmzaau4gUkTIn83uloZYGzUuhcCOUJMufQUn1_QArXLl4nm8BNqDTNSIKOPjKYG_60gl8Ky8NWOLXy_6xZK5DtFR9OUgUX-QW9jRDJHOTIevrz1cWcYg/s2100/_22A3714-red-breasted-merganser-drake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivkhGGjXqlHPozohoE5m7YfPbluesoCqvblPEML80o2ZNSktrT7KuUjMjpwPCgtW4HTy6gTDOmzaau4gUkTIn83uloZYGzUuhcCOUJMufQUn1_QArXLl4nm8BNqDTNSIKOPjKYG_60gl8Ky8NWOLXy_6xZK5DtFR9OUgUX-QW9jRDJHOTIevrz1cWcYg/s320/_22A3714-red-breasted-merganser-drake.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenjWrwlsG5BtahCLrjJJ269XoP3F0nnEO_U-7V51nuR5GKZzWgx4x_pq5fsJJNHqu5BOs0Rvpe_qezL9yqy6OjdG2xgFF6x7h2eCLf5HxHQOhA0w_JwOjczXbJ5nn7_r9x7-Hth511glCArblfMRHAT01DMm2Qsk0Fzr6268b6RgG0vEuuiT8gPSoQXw/s2100/_22A3723-red-breasted-mergasnser.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenjWrwlsG5BtahCLrjJJ269XoP3F0nnEO_U-7V51nuR5GKZzWgx4x_pq5fsJJNHqu5BOs0Rvpe_qezL9yqy6OjdG2xgFF6x7h2eCLf5HxHQOhA0w_JwOjczXbJ5nn7_r9x7-Hth511glCArblfMRHAT01DMm2Qsk0Fzr6268b6RgG0vEuuiT8gPSoQXw/s320/_22A3723-red-breasted-mergasnser.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrijdgo8d9LJgoypqmYlJkiEMHKP1AOmnq725JPBt_xz3W-zd5zC5lufrFUOftGH-yJ-ok2__JbCHzMB5-niOiQAG78oEGb8b8OhDjx6nDpCoen5MS_Vo8wH9IPKGJ43kX69LISFjJ6jLkiRKe6QK0Ry4BxrD8zqTRfLcmY2thxYllKBqzPLS621vPDn0/s2100/_22A3771-Fox-Island,-CHSRA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrijdgo8d9LJgoypqmYlJkiEMHKP1AOmnq725JPBt_xz3W-zd5zC5lufrFUOftGH-yJ-ok2__JbCHzMB5-niOiQAG78oEGb8b8OhDjx6nDpCoen5MS_Vo8wH9IPKGJ43kX69LISFjJ6jLkiRKe6QK0Ry4BxrD8zqTRfLcmY2thxYllKBqzPLS621vPDn0/s320/_22A3771-Fox-Island,-CHSRA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEmFnliU6CODejYNvIYuwf4wSYxOJhW8iJNcDXl6ziz400SFTw6kwQTXb-ZzXePUVil6RO7YCqWCidvhqBJz2hOcpxguOUViDwgLbnqYNUDCi1SHCP3tap410vVO156JkhDZu2WbmY9DgTteXSaZ4j4seIc1J3MhP-ymv2JYlrTpVGfrtW28uIiBxvlI/s2100/_22A3785-Bald-Eagle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEmFnliU6CODejYNvIYuwf4wSYxOJhW8iJNcDXl6ziz400SFTw6kwQTXb-ZzXePUVil6RO7YCqWCidvhqBJz2hOcpxguOUViDwgLbnqYNUDCi1SHCP3tap410vVO156JkhDZu2WbmY9DgTteXSaZ4j4seIc1J3MhP-ymv2JYlrTpVGfrtW28uIiBxvlI/s320/_22A3785-Bald-Eagle.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibV_pwj1lsE_mZhdhWLAIkRy0m83lNOfJBGxXmSXRRUOcLPEGXeJ1JoIp1xlZfAzK4kzwouRSbz52ZLLMGmJGW-IQ8adh4_ZWXp9aI7VEs3Kt6LV6HHYfQ-OGn6N1-IRT6DPf1dA6FzEgZ336zg5bx0Vv-ogn2oE9KlkJ6FiifvIZtCBBlTyEeelPPzg/s2100/_22A3814-bald-eagle-head-.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibV_pwj1lsE_mZhdhWLAIkRy0m83lNOfJBGxXmSXRRUOcLPEGXeJ1JoIp1xlZfAzK4kzwouRSbz52ZLLMGmJGW-IQ8adh4_ZWXp9aI7VEs3Kt6LV6HHYfQ-OGn6N1-IRT6DPf1dA6FzEgZ336zg5bx0Vv-ogn2oE9KlkJ6FiifvIZtCBBlTyEeelPPzg/s320/_22A3814-bald-eagle-head-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-62100252704599481832023-12-06T21:19:00.003-09:002023-12-07T08:27:22.307-09:00Wednesday, December 6, 2023 Cassin's Finch, Snow Goose, Alpenglow<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 9:44 am, sunset 3:56 pm for a total day length of 6 hours and 11 minutes. Tomorrow will be 2 minutes and 36 seconds shorter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The “wind” symbol on my weather app did not exaggerate. The NNW wind blew 9-27 mph with gusts to 42 mph. The wind whipped the spume off the white-caps, creating flashes of rainbows in the right light. Dust devils and plumes of dust rocketed down Lowell Point Road and Resurrection River Valley. Snow swirled off the mountains, revealing bare rock once more. Trees swayed and creaked. Trash cans fell over and rolled with anything else not secured.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Despite below-freezing temperatures and wind chill, I saw amazing sights today of people outside enjoying the beautiful sunny day. A dozen or so preschoolers, 3-5 years old, searched Lowell Point Beach for sea treasures, only slightly out of the brunt of the wind. A woman jogger stretched against the new Kids Don’t Float stand, seemingly oblivious to the blast. More visitors headed to the beach as I was leaving; the parking lot was over half full.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">An octogenarian biked into the teeth of the wind in town. A bicyclist less than half his age pedaled home also into the wind, wearing nothing more than suited an average summer day, not even a hat. Two little girls skipped merrily down the street, propelled by the wind at their backs. I even saw a guy wearing shorts at the Post Office, though maybe he just hopped out of his heated truck to dash in for the mail.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The brutal wind was not kind to the lonely SNOW GOOSE, still hanging out by the waterfront bike path. The poor thing hobbled over to a frozen puddle and futiley tried to get a drink. The Crows know how to peck the ice with their sharp bills and eat ice chips, and also probably know where to find running fresh water in the winter. I hope this lost goose will succeed soon; it looked so pathetic.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Just before 4 pm at sunset, I spotted several PINE GROSBEAKS and ROBINS gobbling frozen Mt Ash berries at the edge of the parking lot at Two Lakes Park. Among them was a much smaller, lighter, streaky bird, an immature or female CASSIN’S FINCH! This bird was first reported on November 26 in the two hundred block of Second Avenue, but I never saw it. I raced home for my binoculars and camera (ABC: Always Bring Camera!) and in the increasingly dim light, got a few documentary images showing the little crest and white eye-ring. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Google sez Cassin’s Finches feed primarily on tree buds and seed, but this one was definitely eating the frozen berries. Google also sez that mid-BC is their northern range and they’re supposed to migrate south from those northern hinterlands in late summer or early fall, even as far as the mountains of Mexico. Instead, this one took a leap to Alaska. The species is listed as “Casual” in the 2023 Checklist of Alaska Birds, more rare than “Rare.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The first one I ever saw was a male in February 2009 in my yard, feeding on sunflower seeds, continuing into April when a female joined him. The second visit was a female/immature on November 28, 2020 near the Alaska Sealife Center, feeding on Mt Ash berries with Pine Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings. And now this one, looking perky even after another short, cold, and windy day.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The golden glow of morning faded under midday clouds but revived to a gorgeous purple and magenta alpenglow a brief six hours later. What a crazy, spectacular winter day!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">PS Thanks to alert readers, I realized my subscription to eBird Rare Bird Alerts Kenai Peninsula had been dropped. A Cassin's Finch eruption landed one in Anchor Point and another in Homer this first week of December. Amazing!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISJKZ1OyteeqwJ5BJh0djpP_mDLPz6Sh1sRu2obbSDpcy9i0zUfHC37ULotvJeSqmlGlOuwzw92B23CHWewtXlR-K72dScGmqzz5FA-j6Bj3FwGlcx3DdvUiP-AxlpOajC7VvRDbx9T5uXfYzdeTNhw8wafEisaug-bB3sCSiQ9kTJmnfHWWTt4EcCmk/s2100/_22A3143-common-loon-in-spray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISJKZ1OyteeqwJ5BJh0djpP_mDLPz6Sh1sRu2obbSDpcy9i0zUfHC37ULotvJeSqmlGlOuwzw92B23CHWewtXlR-K72dScGmqzz5FA-j6Bj3FwGlcx3DdvUiP-AxlpOajC7VvRDbx9T5uXfYzdeTNhw8wafEisaug-bB3sCSiQ9kTJmnfHWWTt4EcCmk/s320/_22A3143-common-loon-in-spray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTghpIZE40iP_ZJSEHBQvhEC8C_SYxN3aTD-R2PNmWu9pSXNZ05rKUH57qk7sMHE4FINzyPgrpr3vIyugYvj0hJ-7iTb0nloJyLeWL3XCFLxhszjOG95tgEQCnC1xKSJHN42MC_bL7AxnMehR7URU6XkVzAjtRmfL6bckNawv7Juyr4X7MGHDMmWjksvA/s2100/_22A3178-Rez-Bay-morning.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTghpIZE40iP_ZJSEHBQvhEC8C_SYxN3aTD-R2PNmWu9pSXNZ05rKUH57qk7sMHE4FINzyPgrpr3vIyugYvj0hJ-7iTb0nloJyLeWL3XCFLxhszjOG95tgEQCnC1xKSJHN42MC_bL7AxnMehR7URU6XkVzAjtRmfL6bckNawv7Juyr4X7MGHDMmWjksvA/s320/_22A3178-Rez-Bay-morning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipGthfs4lS3LxgR8XfAIIgYPQ4G1jmwtrydsbfRO65lgX3bm8HT1VrgpwfkYY0Wq_0OLnU2c8L_0_MaXqtX1d0HUeu78-dFJ-P-g4F3jgySfDv4f9rK0V1zrNl9izGQX3c8c69VZjrHsIOSbzqX5Hdff664Lrd8TXYjIezJZxGUjfKG0zbR6Iaf0tJ0M/s2100/_22A3189-Pinnacle-Rock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipGthfs4lS3LxgR8XfAIIgYPQ4G1jmwtrydsbfRO65lgX3bm8HT1VrgpwfkYY0Wq_0OLnU2c8L_0_MaXqtX1d0HUeu78-dFJ-P-g4F3jgySfDv4f9rK0V1zrNl9izGQX3c8c69VZjrHsIOSbzqX5Hdff664Lrd8TXYjIezJZxGUjfKG0zbR6Iaf0tJ0M/s320/_22A3189-Pinnacle-Rock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1MhU8lwNFnk5TIUfcAoYk-l7KZWoTgfwFyLxFfHZFpo8R0SDM4Lm7kwN-SMDlTKXB9Dy_5ebSu5Vr268mjrN0K49uQESOiYlhZnCET-Nrh0w5-Pii6ZNKF4p_aQslqkctylYmNTYWNrEjg7RQ0FN0D46oEBLGz7AAbE7XYHWR0Vc3VnY4h91mik6iE8/s2100/_22A3193-Lowell-Point-Beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1MhU8lwNFnk5TIUfcAoYk-l7KZWoTgfwFyLxFfHZFpo8R0SDM4Lm7kwN-SMDlTKXB9Dy_5ebSu5Vr268mjrN0K49uQESOiYlhZnCET-Nrh0w5-Pii6ZNKF4p_aQslqkctylYmNTYWNrEjg7RQ0FN0D46oEBLGz7AAbE7XYHWR0Vc3VnY4h91mik6iE8/s320/_22A3193-Lowell-Point-Beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54Y5DhOuSfx8FuoTwGz3ZL8euibmPjvRquS0Q2AbTmlpqUy1IRQZlvgBQRrSnkVQ097GRb3KViiPbaUlI0K3o2WnyE_nD9gpem_ZzV9GXEuYc_IIfZEIkLvYnLXLc2A_vQQ-5_oukMRTMvU0NZuf3m7wFFscbF4Po7uAYEWQj2KEeui7Alh4pnHY9n6o/s2100/_22A3219-snow-goose-with-injured-foot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54Y5DhOuSfx8FuoTwGz3ZL8euibmPjvRquS0Q2AbTmlpqUy1IRQZlvgBQRrSnkVQ097GRb3KViiPbaUlI0K3o2WnyE_nD9gpem_ZzV9GXEuYc_IIfZEIkLvYnLXLc2A_vQQ-5_oukMRTMvU0NZuf3m7wFFscbF4Po7uAYEWQj2KEeui7Alh4pnHY9n6o/s320/_22A3219-snow-goose-with-injured-foot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYXV1u0tIs_wL4ayouUICW049D9Quo7tvWtrKVZjPnRrRmOauKS7-8QAMeoxgfhW67j7cQ6VXQjoFtDp4b_kiOFDujJmOgyyl4yB7512XJAqQZPr3VvyD1WzcXonCyURakmUbQUY2FE6wvoiQpOMSjcACe8Sbk8Hvsv-9VglaFx_eJqwq58UnHFTvJtU/s2100/_22A3249-snow-goose-failing-to-get-a-drink.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYXV1u0tIs_wL4ayouUICW049D9Quo7tvWtrKVZjPnRrRmOauKS7-8QAMeoxgfhW67j7cQ6VXQjoFtDp4b_kiOFDujJmOgyyl4yB7512XJAqQZPr3VvyD1WzcXonCyURakmUbQUY2FE6wvoiQpOMSjcACe8Sbk8Hvsv-9VglaFx_eJqwq58UnHFTvJtU/s320/_22A3249-snow-goose-failing-to-get-a-drink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJx_PzOzHmcepo-QdXozJ6kW5WQh9Uv0VEUPANut1zrsL-CwVuyqiC29glSQCWbx_TVgR6jHA81Tl3bAKRrO_lUePanybfmO5aldoSW_DI6CwL_cif47XP4hdpyv2L9gz_WAmsvwSozhT5duJcHPELZVv2HrOWEmZmmRcJDXXJVoYJ0G_BDQkNpPmflU/s2100/_22A3348-Cassin's-Finch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJx_PzOzHmcepo-QdXozJ6kW5WQh9Uv0VEUPANut1zrsL-CwVuyqiC29glSQCWbx_TVgR6jHA81Tl3bAKRrO_lUePanybfmO5aldoSW_DI6CwL_cif47XP4hdpyv2L9gz_WAmsvwSozhT5duJcHPELZVv2HrOWEmZmmRcJDXXJVoYJ0G_BDQkNpPmflU/s320/_22A3348-Cassin's-Finch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC6QHB7qxoZRl05y_d_cKU93YyPYMQg6KQPUbYhGw85llLxL6oWl-JX8j9V16IAAuN9QmMo0NGTujosLkObIm5XwwKBaQnTzCf_C6mDR1zK8lnkYahWBkjDzXvnY9tO19KQO5E51u4X3msB_hA2JTYg0XEWh4atjVv9zbhWw6T9-qBJbcIMwuIN8kBnc/s2100/_22A3374A-lpenglow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC6QHB7qxoZRl05y_d_cKU93YyPYMQg6KQPUbYhGw85llLxL6oWl-JX8j9V16IAAuN9QmMo0NGTujosLkObIm5XwwKBaQnTzCf_C6mDR1zK8lnkYahWBkjDzXvnY9tO19KQO5E51u4X3msB_hA2JTYg0XEWh4atjVv9zbhWw6T9-qBJbcIMwuIN8kBnc/s320/_22A3374A-lpenglow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o70l8NdGcADNOb68lbuZcDrByuRNab_eWNpQvvbiCbuTKMJBMwYg1R6D4bSHz2Z8CLUHEuqdq_xLRv3fgohdLpDXGVXs_4CjiHhgeyDc-Bykts0Z-q5iGHsVLTVvak_DSt-BBkVRJDci1em_kkHF5VRmzMk3CA1eZtBo35FrR9Lup3pVL-1pkBIv_L8/s2100/_22A3378-alpenglow-over-Tiehacker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o70l8NdGcADNOb68lbuZcDrByuRNab_eWNpQvvbiCbuTKMJBMwYg1R6D4bSHz2Z8CLUHEuqdq_xLRv3fgohdLpDXGVXs_4CjiHhgeyDc-Bykts0Z-q5iGHsVLTVvak_DSt-BBkVRJDci1em_kkHF5VRmzMk3CA1eZtBo35FrR9Lup3pVL-1pkBIv_L8/s320/_22A3378-alpenglow-over-Tiehacker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyfAs-XAqlupEWQeji_athmwM4FnUxQDs5PPm9SBhe69Qy6aQdcz8gVqZopRoFEUCKrvdssYwX824g2Zl8xQtCsYTS-6rhxzk6li9glAKFGI8hFkG4Ytp7ImD0ou07NXoJWwr0KfmjycsH1yKCJfbhCK1deRnA8gMOyJ2TaRbePKeBZpcR2Ye9U4jL-I/s2100/_22A3385-alpenglow-over-bike-patch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyfAs-XAqlupEWQeji_athmwM4FnUxQDs5PPm9SBhe69Qy6aQdcz8gVqZopRoFEUCKrvdssYwX824g2Zl8xQtCsYTS-6rhxzk6li9glAKFGI8hFkG4Ytp7ImD0ou07NXoJWwr0KfmjycsH1yKCJfbhCK1deRnA8gMOyJ2TaRbePKeBZpcR2Ye9U4jL-I/s320/_22A3385-alpenglow-over-bike-patch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce7gkfbjKjsts8R87tNZX5CY_76CyIt7M95g4GgTgUtXRkZdh8olJiw-gkAIPBVK21DM378SrX1f1Ul_IErqcoGaN-EIXl0yYz6NCdX1iOo_myqewKsV9lz0MRVDe_nquxJ_0YD2kB-5pPAFPyp35ox_k9KaZtCUMovNt1gyfukBdYIiwpYtXWeZ3WcE/s2100/_22A3390-Alpenglow-over-Resurrection-Peaks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce7gkfbjKjsts8R87tNZX5CY_76CyIt7M95g4GgTgUtXRkZdh8olJiw-gkAIPBVK21DM378SrX1f1Ul_IErqcoGaN-EIXl0yYz6NCdX1iOo_myqewKsV9lz0MRVDe_nquxJ_0YD2kB-5pPAFPyp35ox_k9KaZtCUMovNt1gyfukBdYIiwpYtXWeZ3WcE/s320/_22A3390-Alpenglow-over-Resurrection-Peaks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-14150061615381412942023-12-01T14:09:00.001-09:002023-12-01T14:09:23.945-09:00Friday, December 1, 2023 Snow Buntings<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">No Rock Sandpipers today, but a flock of about 30 SNOW BUNTINGS swirled ahead of me in the wind and disappeared into the beach rye grass. Except for one female, who posed quietly on a log. What a beauty!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd5pXr5lp0y6Kgu0YhNMfkjcZ8IcHfvR0l9YIwJjJLMXal1NHN5bmxPXr8pKyfoelsryQG8vSMWXfCAyDYShZFTVRENYabiiPZ-ao_CqoihbcoQTjDYYT0N_TAPD1lSaxWJSoRdhnA3xjFm7gjS7tMGr7-nIB6_lo1MkRCQb3fp_HMC7-Fh6EsleF3-s/s2100/_22A2913-snow-bunting-female.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd5pXr5lp0y6Kgu0YhNMfkjcZ8IcHfvR0l9YIwJjJLMXal1NHN5bmxPXr8pKyfoelsryQG8vSMWXfCAyDYShZFTVRENYabiiPZ-ao_CqoihbcoQTjDYYT0N_TAPD1lSaxWJSoRdhnA3xjFm7gjS7tMGr7-nIB6_lo1MkRCQb3fp_HMC7-Fh6EsleF3-s/s320/_22A2913-snow-bunting-female.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSmLKYYiEVwWNbZqDsrUplOZkIjNGU6m2nWpYZ1BKv5JHnYUQ6Cm01mkau9K7QmVbMC-oqJBC-H9FUElwEWWLJgNVIO_L9urSLoxup7KtZdm56woFPV-EQK0IDhjCiQqZ-wa7w5_9rC7idoEsXBJQmR1ujZiIIOjnTEeT9tRbX-312Y3hyphenhyphenCW5UVLntSA/s2100/_22A2945-snow-bunting-female-left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSmLKYYiEVwWNbZqDsrUplOZkIjNGU6m2nWpYZ1BKv5JHnYUQ6Cm01mkau9K7QmVbMC-oqJBC-H9FUElwEWWLJgNVIO_L9urSLoxup7KtZdm56woFPV-EQK0IDhjCiQqZ-wa7w5_9rC7idoEsXBJQmR1ujZiIIOjnTEeT9tRbX-312Y3hyphenhyphenCW5UVLntSA/s320/_22A2945-snow-bunting-female-left.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO91_11thj15nfv-l3QTzgFZ_yANeNvztw0Rgg8vxk1O2wze2FKficSkqU4Fs8z7lT8UJnEL3ed1iueilhunkOWxLiYlPrVLpq3hFplQ-j3xx42LK8U89Gqmfj909vcNYdaSAd4AoARGRdypIQJxes2i1ECqrqdgWVVlF3M-UeNgSeilFRrtTIG4Q-OBg/s2100/_22A2949-snow-bunting-right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO91_11thj15nfv-l3QTzgFZ_yANeNvztw0Rgg8vxk1O2wze2FKficSkqU4Fs8z7lT8UJnEL3ed1iueilhunkOWxLiYlPrVLpq3hFplQ-j3xx42LK8U89Gqmfj909vcNYdaSAd4AoARGRdypIQJxes2i1ECqrqdgWVVlF3M-UeNgSeilFRrtTIG4Q-OBg/s320/_22A2949-snow-bunting-right.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-70376390391583611652023-11-30T21:32:00.002-09:002023-12-01T10:29:19.237-09:00Thursday, November 30, 2023 Rock Sandpipers, Dunlin, Snow Goose<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 9:32 am, sunset 4:03 pm, for a total day length of 6 hours and 30 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 23 seconds shorter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">This last day of November sighed to a close with bright Jupiter in the eastern sky and the Big Dipper slowly rotating around Polaris. Is this an enticement to forget the rain followed by hail this afternoon? Or the overall rainy month with a cold snap in the middle? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward still has no snow on the ground (ephemeral white slush does not count). Today’s high was 34 around midafternoon, with a low of 28. The north wind shifted around noon to SE with gusts to 31 mph in the squally afternoon. The forecast calls for slightly cooler temperatures tomorrow and 30% chance of rain/slush in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I lucked out today at the tidelands with the break in the weather, only light rain and mild wind. Even at noon, however, the light was very dim due to the thick pewter-gray clouds all around. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">As the tide rolled in, I spotted 26 ROCK SANDPIPERS and two DUNLIN feeding at the rapidly diminishing tideline. How fun to hear their chittering as they angled for a choice spot at the table! A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and the smaller SHORT-BILLED GULL stood companionably among them like giants.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Farther along the beach, a single female SNOW BUNTING popped up, possibly same bird I saw previously on November 17. She was very secretive and did not stop for a photo this time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">In the short time it took to walk the beach and return, the tide covered the table and the Sandpipers disappeared. Timing is everything; birding is serendipity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I checked out the Blue Dipper by the harbor and found two GREAT BLUE HERONS standing on the platform looking glum in the rain and rising wind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Despite the weather, several people were out walking the bike path with their dogs. I was relieved to see the SNOW GOOSE flying from the disturbance; it had not been invited to a Thanksgiving feast. It flew high and away but soon circled back and landed nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The poor goose has an enlarged, knobby, distorted left leg, an injury that healed badly. The goose walks with a slight limp but uses the left foot frequently to scratch a persistent itch under its chin. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">It’s strange to have a </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Snow Goose here so late, but the lack of snow means grass is available. It will be interesting to see how long it stays.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7ugMVnPZJtkM4DuIz6khqjb8Nabyi_aNVYkAp6D7gzQ28nUW5zzHk5_BKOgteUITXDXR4i6q72gtNkppEWwW32pa75e8ZX1OElcqdJZV3ez8dtJWdUPjXjnFaChw4vg20kl6MLiIn2ke9jFPmyZy-yXOUrL0h1a_63g1EMIo37nvWBP_A1aiP5uQQN0/s4494/_22A2794-rock-sandpipers-and-dunlins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3210" data-original-width="4494" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7ugMVnPZJtkM4DuIz6khqjb8Nabyi_aNVYkAp6D7gzQ28nUW5zzHk5_BKOgteUITXDXR4i6q72gtNkppEWwW32pa75e8ZX1OElcqdJZV3ez8dtJWdUPjXjnFaChw4vg20kl6MLiIn2ke9jFPmyZy-yXOUrL0h1a_63g1EMIo37nvWBP_A1aiP5uQQN0/s320/_22A2794-rock-sandpipers-and-dunlins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8Bc4mi9Gt8PfEr5TpnGF3SCUZK62W5pLK4CRs9KSoHh1Otxr5-2-whJS82OJHO6G10CXdIj0nNyJTak_hqW-3EiC_If0_hChWXAvUNZVGRjlHf2BCVyjLRxEPbKY8ehfybRGTlqtuISKRQJi9BgGc_vgLAlOSYRjOHDbfBqCUD67_OM-iBNW3OOwnSc/s2523/_22A2858-snow-goose-flying.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1802" data-original-width="2523" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8Bc4mi9Gt8PfEr5TpnGF3SCUZK62W5pLK4CRs9KSoHh1Otxr5-2-whJS82OJHO6G10CXdIj0nNyJTak_hqW-3EiC_If0_hChWXAvUNZVGRjlHf2BCVyjLRxEPbKY8ehfybRGTlqtuISKRQJi9BgGc_vgLAlOSYRjOHDbfBqCUD67_OM-iBNW3OOwnSc/s320/_22A2858-snow-goose-flying.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_adfVrziQCMw-N30E4FNNT7TIvxvg47BHXONYxhWmrOMAX4wKGnV4S4rYu4Doxt3To6YHNBRp3XyKp3cfJ0zb9eZYezvCSif7B-Vdus3m8RnyWrn_Lhld-siQ_MEo-feTehHPd0iqZKLryrWSq8P_SHue_-pC-gMthstt5GZn3wEeQ1G4QSSTdnMRgE/s2868/_22A2865-snow-goose-landing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="2868" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_adfVrziQCMw-N30E4FNNT7TIvxvg47BHXONYxhWmrOMAX4wKGnV4S4rYu4Doxt3To6YHNBRp3XyKp3cfJ0zb9eZYezvCSif7B-Vdus3m8RnyWrn_Lhld-siQ_MEo-feTehHPd0iqZKLryrWSq8P_SHue_-pC-gMthstt5GZn3wEeQ1G4QSSTdnMRgE/s320/_22A2865-snow-goose-landing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT7vNnQ58IAy-yhc8uSPsBfD2JEF5fC5XXGES3DBmlhD2Q67Fj-efMtvnsxM4bJqrTBWMmhRVpmgkbuevCQe0yt-8_fhyphenhyphena9wveJr99Sx7vMVYDmXa1nc1E7QanUrQxazgse0d35xfEqPQ6u8LDBQwBcI1NWNkBQMvC6hMbcbxrnKVjx0SJCO_9bCMjS0/s2335/_22A2887-snow-goose-deformed-foot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2335" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT7vNnQ58IAy-yhc8uSPsBfD2JEF5fC5XXGES3DBmlhD2Q67Fj-efMtvnsxM4bJqrTBWMmhRVpmgkbuevCQe0yt-8_fhyphenhyphena9wveJr99Sx7vMVYDmXa1nc1E7QanUrQxazgse0d35xfEqPQ6u8LDBQwBcI1NWNkBQMvC6hMbcbxrnKVjx0SJCO_9bCMjS0/s320/_22A2887-snow-goose-deformed-foot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-72712763436708675962023-11-18T16:11:00.004-09:002023-11-21T21:30:08.629-09:00 Saturday, November 18, 2023 Snow Goose!<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Sunrise 9:05 am, sunset 4:23 pm for a total day length of 7 hours and 18 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 29 seconds shorter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Cold and clear today continued with a low of 7 and a high of 11. Strong NNW winds 10-13 mph with gusts to 32 mph pushed the wind chill into the negatives. Brrrr! No snow on the ground, at least not in town.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Thanks to a tip from Robin, I found a lone SNOW GOOSE hunkered down against the wind, eating grass along the Waterfront bike path. First reported two days ago, this a very late bird! I didn’t see any Snow Geese in the spring or fall migration this year so it was quite a surprise to have one here now. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The blasting wind and cold may help reduce the usual pedestrian and dog traffic on the path and give this poor goose a chance to fuel up before it flies south.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwR9KiPyU8jMSJf1VgeiDKVoTG-KX-HtuX3QdxRYfpJLmIJIHEr16CPnVnmyo6kg5C_a5mGy6DGPlLFg8rmp-qB_1cYq0Eelo13U7bfcit7IcqDScWTrQd9SAxp8v7UmteSKw-LhV6SYJCHtMaBDAtAUK-PMArLL4Eq3tdvFoVOCPobFPSXfCjwb27Yo/s2100/_22A2301-snow-goose-eating-grass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwR9KiPyU8jMSJf1VgeiDKVoTG-KX-HtuX3QdxRYfpJLmIJIHEr16CPnVnmyo6kg5C_a5mGy6DGPlLFg8rmp-qB_1cYq0Eelo13U7bfcit7IcqDScWTrQd9SAxp8v7UmteSKw-LhV6SYJCHtMaBDAtAUK-PMArLL4Eq3tdvFoVOCPobFPSXfCjwb27Yo/s320/_22A2301-snow-goose-eating-grass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L3nFIfX6jnA_Itlt9_oN7z3HCSl5cUOCRKK8bV3_k5tpWq7QZb9WjdJvnFio_cVt-_oZRBJYeWuI4Q5spLWhDWXwA63DEdT9ox2Ab1CJO6l4qnGO-SMGRxBmx-xQCikwDQ4-NZ32g26SzlzOxMV8bFU7y0Og4-pmx0xK1Ofy7ssKbXYBkYpUOs618yw/s2100/_22A2305-snow-goose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L3nFIfX6jnA_Itlt9_oN7z3HCSl5cUOCRKK8bV3_k5tpWq7QZb9WjdJvnFio_cVt-_oZRBJYeWuI4Q5spLWhDWXwA63DEdT9ox2Ab1CJO6l4qnGO-SMGRxBmx-xQCikwDQ4-NZ32g26SzlzOxMV8bFU7y0Og4-pmx0xK1Ofy7ssKbXYBkYpUOs618yw/s320/_22A2305-snow-goose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovqkW9WU9-zy7F8lmihZqAUfnZDDXCFK7ozBpZtoG0DSKiqcNxFz3FlJvfd_x0wjMOW3bxwR0S2lMkTf_BynhCcUnHW8zL-8_ruEzncxPiNJAdguAq8J6mUUZ1cBKJR8_dLv2cIJpS8UF9iKRVF9n2iDgoo2yM750TJVrYxVWM6-g8OrR0C_-erKQoIQ/s2100/_22A2289-snow-goose-bill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovqkW9WU9-zy7F8lmihZqAUfnZDDXCFK7ozBpZtoG0DSKiqcNxFz3FlJvfd_x0wjMOW3bxwR0S2lMkTf_BynhCcUnHW8zL-8_ruEzncxPiNJAdguAq8J6mUUZ1cBKJR8_dLv2cIJpS8UF9iKRVF9n2iDgoo2yM750TJVrYxVWM6-g8OrR0C_-erKQoIQ/s320/_22A2289-snow-goose-bill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-67635397108909279092023-11-17T16:35:00.004-09:002023-11-21T21:30:31.888-09:00Friday, November 17, 2023 Snow Bunting<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Chilly and blowing but sunny and beautiful at the beach. Frozen jellies, aliens from the undersea universe, lined the tideline. On the frozen silty mudflat, Jack Frost had etched delicate, intricate patterns resembling feathers and flowers. When the frost subsequently sublimated, the designs remained etched in the fine silt. Tattered remnants of seaweed spun round and round, creating perfect wind circles amongst the etchings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">I found a single female SNOW BUNTING gleaning seeds from a fallen stalk of beach rye grass. I’ve been looking for Snow Buntings ever since a flock of about 40 zipped overhead and disappeared into the grasses on November 9. I heard them on several occasions since then, but never had a chance to get a photo. I hope this one will refind her flock.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Just as I was leaving, a BELTED KINGFISHER expertly hovered above a sliver of open water in the pond, somehow compensating for the terrific blasts of wind as if it were a lovely summer day. Tough birds all!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjx_NsuUWFvidOjQ6LyLsU_GiyX79xDIzYANjewwBa8qqhQ3F4tMd922av3tYVIqsQPvtQksADPaHMT8Kxfk9XTR7s60Z2xdeS-V0U8zUZLVBEvEkTSwlkcwrdYyfpAgFpobAM2R-hy2CqvX8_khvATGbiY8K0jn50_Y5mhjEHAKvw9vTUNO18M5geLM/s2100/_22A2083-snow-bunting-eating-beach-rye-grass-seeds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjx_NsuUWFvidOjQ6LyLsU_GiyX79xDIzYANjewwBa8qqhQ3F4tMd922av3tYVIqsQPvtQksADPaHMT8Kxfk9XTR7s60Z2xdeS-V0U8zUZLVBEvEkTSwlkcwrdYyfpAgFpobAM2R-hy2CqvX8_khvATGbiY8K0jn50_Y5mhjEHAKvw9vTUNO18M5geLM/s320/_22A2083-snow-bunting-eating-beach-rye-grass-seeds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgWbL_IWtG6a5cYRT3KFpjMW7fUq7VIt5KN_6fbG1oPPITsEeoBu1X-nYtNLVtQSI-dREWzMugxa24pHW0K4JKX9TAFXnjDfVYk0b_wwH-M8HA_X3u9bHXph1HYNhW7RPtPFbcgAPGEKeNPprDNba3W2cPIvny1e-e3vviyE0LBK9ewEh22uYB0YyTXw/s2100/_22A2115-snow-bunting-female.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgWbL_IWtG6a5cYRT3KFpjMW7fUq7VIt5KN_6fbG1oPPITsEeoBu1X-nYtNLVtQSI-dREWzMugxa24pHW0K4JKX9TAFXnjDfVYk0b_wwH-M8HA_X3u9bHXph1HYNhW7RPtPFbcgAPGEKeNPprDNba3W2cPIvny1e-e3vviyE0LBK9ewEh22uYB0YyTXw/s320/_22A2115-snow-bunting-female.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTS9BT1CSMAgBCaj1RWjxiEJglNqXt511ImDV3IJerGwSgjoo6AkxiF0La9wOC6hVKVgVbw0hQ0pHN6Op8OW-ozNGu6_rrI-UgEQ7lGYvVhmZp1p2Z_M0I_s7bYcYpSfIqXR-aRIGKEdCoFLBX6iYsS36TvSuaLaH16v4V_t5DdNUXwq3AXETM114Ofw/s2100/_22A2045-northern-sea-nettle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTS9BT1CSMAgBCaj1RWjxiEJglNqXt511ImDV3IJerGwSgjoo6AkxiF0La9wOC6hVKVgVbw0hQ0pHN6Op8OW-ozNGu6_rrI-UgEQ7lGYvVhmZp1p2Z_M0I_s7bYcYpSfIqXR-aRIGKEdCoFLBX6iYsS36TvSuaLaH16v4V_t5DdNUXwq3AXETM114Ofw/s320/_22A2045-northern-sea-nettle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHzBaanokqBJ6hZhSHbo2gu5MYLTlHJ1CVMQY9eGfTM1t0fKbM-A4QLBMPh73nzzR3lKq9tAtSr8oJzsSdDHfQbIFCjQI9FHK0gLfJq0KjyNjO0ruMY4sLtiRUPemh99zcwZCRzxoXB-WrBqeV8J2CTS0ghX10BjH6zrYVy1IjhRUOS-gpObjclISPfI/s2100/_22A2061-northern-sea-nettles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHzBaanokqBJ6hZhSHbo2gu5MYLTlHJ1CVMQY9eGfTM1t0fKbM-A4QLBMPh73nzzR3lKq9tAtSr8oJzsSdDHfQbIFCjQI9FHK0gLfJq0KjyNjO0ruMY4sLtiRUPemh99zcwZCRzxoXB-WrBqeV8J2CTS0ghX10BjH6zrYVy1IjhRUOS-gpObjclISPfI/s320/_22A2061-northern-sea-nettles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHmIor2_G_vx2qCogUmVW_vRc7JcDVUK6y50HlPuQyBTN2XXMfl8Bhll3oafQdXg5iQT4o3iCAv-kU4JrHTBQyH1-nL8u2u5DXS5lUH_4yLWcH9r9pud4L9G6Bd15RoGSxhlFSAYaGShojPiYmE-2z6pZsGmI2W1SrxP38bBvQDguZGabSHjQVpkxUkk/s2100/_22A2128-frost-patterns-in-silt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHmIor2_G_vx2qCogUmVW_vRc7JcDVUK6y50HlPuQyBTN2XXMfl8Bhll3oafQdXg5iQT4o3iCAv-kU4JrHTBQyH1-nL8u2u5DXS5lUH_4yLWcH9r9pud4L9G6Bd15RoGSxhlFSAYaGShojPiYmE-2z6pZsGmI2W1SrxP38bBvQDguZGabSHjQVpkxUkk/s320/_22A2128-frost-patterns-in-silt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8ms9MCsBVsr4hdkRB4DitLl_ulrVPJtl2Caiwwv1a1MSbDmIfO1xRFTWpEJfpwECfL7-RqtTDb1RmyhiDd966f_Fv_6svcZSnCPOO4mLIGTpFF8bFEutV4qgEqbvSZA80m5psK1qFViwbYCBoce2AR9BSsD1KAm-w5qlEyUYpyeD5yfdR9FKi9l-Ifk/s2100/_22A2134-frost-patterns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8ms9MCsBVsr4hdkRB4DitLl_ulrVPJtl2Caiwwv1a1MSbDmIfO1xRFTWpEJfpwECfL7-RqtTDb1RmyhiDd966f_Fv_6svcZSnCPOO4mLIGTpFF8bFEutV4qgEqbvSZA80m5psK1qFViwbYCBoce2AR9BSsD1KAm-w5qlEyUYpyeD5yfdR9FKi9l-Ifk/s320/_22A2134-frost-patterns.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-eDlcSVjUjLcaXf-p2W1Op5UZ_cgZCz_gBFDXfHxxUDgtfpSdD6wWhE1XuDiUvF-GAUKMpRi0rC566eIX50EihpQ0ECw0f_wPl9W3ns6zb0ZCGyiX92MMNKEOBDRHw-A8eJMh4dkJEJM9WP-Tg5FlbE9hS-UUcWKsnF5Z0fGCvMYB8jb6amcJkqYNG4/s2100/_22A2133-wind-circle-in-frost-patterns.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-eDlcSVjUjLcaXf-p2W1Op5UZ_cgZCz_gBFDXfHxxUDgtfpSdD6wWhE1XuDiUvF-GAUKMpRi0rC566eIX50EihpQ0ECw0f_wPl9W3ns6zb0ZCGyiX92MMNKEOBDRHw-A8eJMh4dkJEJM9WP-Tg5FlbE9hS-UUcWKsnF5Z0fGCvMYB8jb6amcJkqYNG4/s320/_22A2133-wind-circle-in-frost-patterns.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CgPXOfz1FPxDXoXMbh_btUi8lrm_Yp2qFd85ZYq3P4ztwqrjrRfT3LJLSI0Wor172Q6O3qUxA-teEFtK2jaiBkBKtVqR8QJMY2AsE6Eg_hxOUsizULuWSWd2oLyXKehvbb5-1yTyg9IOIE5mIDDAf3-O4uoflhjtuPaeaygWGlibaiY1KUEV5zsTt8Y/s2100/_22A2136-beach-rye-grass-seed-head.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CgPXOfz1FPxDXoXMbh_btUi8lrm_Yp2qFd85ZYq3P4ztwqrjrRfT3LJLSI0Wor172Q6O3qUxA-teEFtK2jaiBkBKtVqR8QJMY2AsE6Eg_hxOUsizULuWSWd2oLyXKehvbb5-1yTyg9IOIE5mIDDAf3-O4uoflhjtuPaeaygWGlibaiY1KUEV5zsTt8Y/s320/_22A2136-beach-rye-grass-seed-head.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-8445271188739294812023-11-09T15:38:00.001-09:002023-11-18T17:54:07.207-09:00 Thursday, November 9, 2023 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper farewell<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The two SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER juveniles were last reported on November 2; I only found one on November 3<sup> </sup>and 4. After a big rainstorm and strong winds, Tasha refound one on November 9. I believe that is the last report of this handsome Asian sandpiper in Seward. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Since I first found one on October 21, and then two on October 24, they fed steadily at the tidelands, visibly gaining weight. It was such a pleasure to watch them probe through the intertidal puddles and beach wrack, going about their very serious business of fattening up for the next leg of their journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Farewell!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Happy Birding!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Carol Griswold<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRVtQk80yyKZnd63yYfowQkb3RDfOjgI2yTxpL3y-_V5788cxW1dhuCH71h6zEnMdw_S-CQNzXgjv5SsEczF6XijjMixYWgWcnbi3T4Xrskh7yavAfY96CWM7Q7bEgyB9ghyJ3EmnvDQPIupGfK6MzHA1MHMg6nBwGUbhthd9uM-z-oaDXbduqCncBWw/s2100/_22A0853-sharp-tailed-sandpiper-preening.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRVtQk80yyKZnd63yYfowQkb3RDfOjgI2yTxpL3y-_V5788cxW1dhuCH71h6zEnMdw_S-CQNzXgjv5SsEczF6XijjMixYWgWcnbi3T4Xrskh7yavAfY96CWM7Q7bEgyB9ghyJ3EmnvDQPIupGfK6MzHA1MHMg6nBwGUbhthd9uM-z-oaDXbduqCncBWw/s320/_22A0853-sharp-tailed-sandpiper-preening.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBYwx6r2k4S1-rtuco9ZZ9D9HCl6zOArtxnioxVFy7DooMeJWBbaoSERuSmPGsL_WslpamxrvrTL2eL0w94FxlXhaNx-sUPkWuj7iccZcx7fiHizA0qC2n9Sc8DMI-jFGG0fbuRIJjMgarPyVZKRzOD0uKrRmweWCeoQl-21wHdrRXApkNnH2SKdzeo4/s2100/_22A0898-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBYwx6r2k4S1-rtuco9ZZ9D9HCl6zOArtxnioxVFy7DooMeJWBbaoSERuSmPGsL_WslpamxrvrTL2eL0w94FxlXhaNx-sUPkWuj7iccZcx7fiHizA0qC2n9Sc8DMI-jFGG0fbuRIJjMgarPyVZKRzOD0uKrRmweWCeoQl-21wHdrRXApkNnH2SKdzeo4/s320/_22A0898-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyw373l2EgGgLYqHNnkj6GhInHDL59KFVVEGd1ohgWnDddE7SfDmJyAeFbUOkiKIvlA69lIRJVoKRDP1T2r1CQqJ5mi-b9UW5pS_RcEkXypsixRkMvp-LaqQW36uB-DSCXTgtszSOezgmJpXA6L76fAiAvXKbC9E6kgG4vHT0pjRY9lD8Rl9ANU3UdIY/s2100/_22A0899-Sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyw373l2EgGgLYqHNnkj6GhInHDL59KFVVEGd1ohgWnDddE7SfDmJyAeFbUOkiKIvlA69lIRJVoKRDP1T2r1CQqJ5mi-b9UW5pS_RcEkXypsixRkMvp-LaqQW36uB-DSCXTgtszSOezgmJpXA6L76fAiAvXKbC9E6kgG4vHT0pjRY9lD8Rl9ANU3UdIY/s320/_22A0899-Sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E9Aku1wg0SpYt_nFWuKhuAcCinutfTx7hRMIao15pB4ehINAHwvoJsjnRQMx95DgbTDYBIf0SCXd1q30MOy7pcCPkCWZpzCCMTGfPwR5JkFM60STsWWcFdu5CGX01cre0JSz-KMzFZtHskLKFloVwhT1RmHzer65WVlcxjeYqHtLIot7P-P9Xr3TcFM/s2100/_22A0909-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E9Aku1wg0SpYt_nFWuKhuAcCinutfTx7hRMIao15pB4ehINAHwvoJsjnRQMx95DgbTDYBIf0SCXd1q30MOy7pcCPkCWZpzCCMTGfPwR5JkFM60STsWWcFdu5CGX01cre0JSz-KMzFZtHskLKFloVwhT1RmHzer65WVlcxjeYqHtLIot7P-P9Xr3TcFM/s320/_22A0909-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6x5bIiIsVQJvsf_Yrz5AQ6H9WRCmlxe3Awvxt48shyw1IaAd6Nt8KB0yv7ggb2eH7Byip09KKdrDfGKrhbxPDXjKMl5uUmUFvqg8ElrMl6xc2evIAoC4nNyI2PylxT5vyMD_O3oL13j2XOHercKBPQLDyfgAgsVcSWGj0jmrHkHRjvDgFtqY_O8WN1Q/s2100/_22A0924-Sharp=tailed-sandpiper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6x5bIiIsVQJvsf_Yrz5AQ6H9WRCmlxe3Awvxt48shyw1IaAd6Nt8KB0yv7ggb2eH7Byip09KKdrDfGKrhbxPDXjKMl5uUmUFvqg8ElrMl6xc2evIAoC4nNyI2PylxT5vyMD_O3oL13j2XOHercKBPQLDyfgAgsVcSWGj0jmrHkHRjvDgFtqY_O8WN1Q/s320/_22A0924-Sharp=tailed-sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdt2sZF9_aPptiT_j2-NFzPaNytL6eQGcjNAsaSaLsYEsdZZCYVCJWixWSwUkwF3u2RnPKABJ6ug6g6AhUcTGb3l_8zyFrz3vXXWY1ZgkFEQthcBbRFXTYmgNZ37chZ8hyqRC4gVlRy2AitMaJrRyNGqtbz24G44FN5kzd_FLu3kwLPGn-r1tNXrTsDQ/s2100/_22A0940-chunky-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdt2sZF9_aPptiT_j2-NFzPaNytL6eQGcjNAsaSaLsYEsdZZCYVCJWixWSwUkwF3u2RnPKABJ6ug6g6AhUcTGb3l_8zyFrz3vXXWY1ZgkFEQthcBbRFXTYmgNZ37chZ8hyqRC4gVlRy2AitMaJrRyNGqtbz24G44FN5kzd_FLu3kwLPGn-r1tNXrTsDQ/s320/_22A0940-chunky-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjmVDma8-_0teM2ul_sOsasKooszPAJkxDByiPg1nWB6g4FsgEbAxP4EKHFHajn6Z-xw4gu_87SKyCOFO3j1m_nfaMbSCNOd3ierlRYfYeIqAagqsZlOQDNFlQGSHJ5Mc1GoIQ6TZIeasIqlgvtlL9O2IxMcyRTs7dZ4G5zsYlArFbcnBDsyTkGptjzc/s2100/_22A0946-sharp-tailed-sandpiper-back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjmVDma8-_0teM2ul_sOsasKooszPAJkxDByiPg1nWB6g4FsgEbAxP4EKHFHajn6Z-xw4gu_87SKyCOFO3j1m_nfaMbSCNOd3ierlRYfYeIqAagqsZlOQDNFlQGSHJ5Mc1GoIQ6TZIeasIqlgvtlL9O2IxMcyRTs7dZ4G5zsYlArFbcnBDsyTkGptjzc/s320/_22A0946-sharp-tailed-sandpiper-back.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxvKbNzWI13JwVoWHKv7GRB6b7hOuyEPb_WjYeCX0wY_b6EEO8LKNTakwYNinITZt2pIITaPZ2OCYIvCugKdGNTE0iUGYeL2QjZmsS-ymAGIbDF_lMSCmnXA8QGIYEGib3uz-sYtmgqm32fMM13a3c_8yIGowFMyJQZk8-CirlYF7LQVmLNQs2bhvqgY/s2100/_22A0957-belted-kingfisher.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxvKbNzWI13JwVoWHKv7GRB6b7hOuyEPb_WjYeCX0wY_b6EEO8LKNTakwYNinITZt2pIITaPZ2OCYIvCugKdGNTE0iUGYeL2QjZmsS-ymAGIbDF_lMSCmnXA8QGIYEGib3uz-sYtmgqm32fMM13a3c_8yIGowFMyJQZk8-CirlYF7LQVmLNQs2bhvqgY/s320/_22A0957-belted-kingfisher.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwCqm7b_HlX2eEIR-_UBM0xU9yKIuDXYXjJFaoQaupBj4M_v3SBj6sNElgU_UZxVjMfNNkfb_Xq_CJY9dXhR3B68IPJFjTcpscYQI6mKua5Ha7uerRs6Cz3ksmLV7a0QEIIBIbcz77yyiml2tmEgHueVC0_ozQ30ZY4shs7eV2CvmCtNGDDUx8NLpugw/s2100/_22A1071-sharp=tailed-sandpiper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwCqm7b_HlX2eEIR-_UBM0xU9yKIuDXYXjJFaoQaupBj4M_v3SBj6sNElgU_UZxVjMfNNkfb_Xq_CJY9dXhR3B68IPJFjTcpscYQI6mKua5Ha7uerRs6Cz3ksmLV7a0QEIIBIbcz77yyiml2tmEgHueVC0_ozQ30ZY4shs7eV2CvmCtNGDDUx8NLpugw/s320/_22A1071-sharp=tailed-sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9YYR-8ZuMR_oRLeDKDfhNmymyqKx6m05YZum0IIo6jtGadG04iegEHZACtVuEb8UZQNTulCN6W3ZzJRz2uyrUlZYZAjDGDGE3U8GM2OwOOikzJi2mO-k7m-qfYq6zf2lAsKGoyejxLv9FRhWzwFRCewDsUFiXkFBIyjvyBSF8hETW4EFRzirzwPLZKo/s2100/_22A1078-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9YYR-8ZuMR_oRLeDKDfhNmymyqKx6m05YZum0IIo6jtGadG04iegEHZACtVuEb8UZQNTulCN6W3ZzJRz2uyrUlZYZAjDGDGE3U8GM2OwOOikzJi2mO-k7m-qfYq6zf2lAsKGoyejxLv9FRhWzwFRCewDsUFiXkFBIyjvyBSF8hETW4EFRzirzwPLZKo/s320/_22A1078-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV11wyqQ_1AxyqOSRiUhZ-i0gvcmY626YaYYOC7oZl3Q7DGuWuZAL4JWVsIuVsMXI9PCi2lidIrRBKRhjgmIO5x6REa6XNQqLOkU9kCA4GeqVnh5NTZgw6tshqqYGauCBvUO8P7Fi9PHxi9vEw_Jqafz5NWqjenCYk7zmhKicqulMmwq8biRbAQAmFxVw/s2100/_22A1081-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV11wyqQ_1AxyqOSRiUhZ-i0gvcmY626YaYYOC7oZl3Q7DGuWuZAL4JWVsIuVsMXI9PCi2lidIrRBKRhjgmIO5x6REa6XNQqLOkU9kCA4GeqVnh5NTZgw6tshqqYGauCBvUO8P7Fi9PHxi9vEw_Jqafz5NWqjenCYk7zmhKicqulMmwq8biRbAQAmFxVw/s320/_22A1081-sharp-tailed-sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-45876746994047788942023-10-31T21:20:00.003-08:002023-11-01T14:59:00.815-08:00 Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Great Blue Herons, and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Thick clouds slipped in overnight, dimming the daylight to dusk. What a contrast to yesterday’s bright sunshine!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Today turned out to be GREAT BLUE HERON day with many surprising sightings of this normally stealthy, elusive species.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">First Heron of the day flew directly overhead this morning at Lowell Point Beach heading north and squawking, not so stealthy! </span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">I found four perched on the former coal loader “Big Dipper” while another circled and circled looking for a landing spot, long landing gear and wings outstretched. How they can perch on the guy wires with those giant feet is amazing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">As the 12.37’ tide rolled in around noon, four Herons, likely commuting from the Dipper, flew to the tidelands slough for a little slow-motion fish stalking and lunch. Eventually, one by one, they took off and flew to a nearby stand of spruce trees, landing with a small crash in the upper branches. A brownish immature Heron graced the top like a Christmas tree angel with an adult perched below. The other two chose separate trees to lurk, unlikely ornaments. </span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">These birds are talented acrobats, defying expectations for a long-legged, long-necked, long-billed wader of shallow waters. It’s always a treat to see them, whether flying overhead, perched like circus aerialists on the wires, fishing in the shallows, or roosting in treetops.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">The two SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER juveniles are still here, feeding and preening as if their flight to Australia or New Zealand hadn’t already left. The current mild weather is deceptive; a big storm is forecast with below freezing temps for next week. Good luck, handsome but lost, Asian sandpipers!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Happy Birding!<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Carol Griswold<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT_R6rRNxLvL9x9rzpQDQud1knocaOzIsqTEQevlxVJ5d0bkyt5HhBbzn5aZ9XiLenLCor7nE1QMp_qykjnPrePHIcvnTlkVxTZLJFjHtqvSbmEQEoosAMeh87EbBrjdXtsunFifxBQKAYn6o_2morn7p0DWIxGjSk6eJhaFSHJK4c_SAtzoEzUtqpus/s2100/_22A0489-great-blue-heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT_R6rRNxLvL9x9rzpQDQud1knocaOzIsqTEQevlxVJ5d0bkyt5HhBbzn5aZ9XiLenLCor7nE1QMp_qykjnPrePHIcvnTlkVxTZLJFjHtqvSbmEQEoosAMeh87EbBrjdXtsunFifxBQKAYn6o_2morn7p0DWIxGjSk6eJhaFSHJK4c_SAtzoEzUtqpus/s320/_22A0489-great-blue-heron.jpg" width="229" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUbowb9pP3Coi8FxK9BROqEboAt0briYFimnIOQJgTXjISKAH1UjkZSlkJfSSWWWwjguEkx0V-NaZ86nKSZnrgJ56Eh0hsUoPQJpL4ERMohr1l5cMxPUahmxhiIWFAwtLwXCOG1isw5okQNNNHfOlWudy9zfw8EYQe7taRVWVf7u5Yz42yAMahcVE5AY/s2100/_22A0680-Great-blue-heron-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUbowb9pP3Coi8FxK9BROqEboAt0briYFimnIOQJgTXjISKAH1UjkZSlkJfSSWWWwjguEkx0V-NaZ86nKSZnrgJ56Eh0hsUoPQJpL4ERMohr1l5cMxPUahmxhiIWFAwtLwXCOG1isw5okQNNNHfOlWudy9zfw8EYQe7taRVWVf7u5Yz42yAMahcVE5AY/s320/_22A0680-Great-blue-heron-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8q7elcfbB4iaJyDjpK8ZGdhUIjkqWcsYjDr8DHDT2UkHFYkKacZzBodWMYTAra2bLYPVULV_Mbnivf9W_MQK6hLrANF_8JbfQPOBSyERa7PglS4bjGlB069pBeA5ATxLqpjxO8kJXrQ_GrkJdyuB14xckBvFaj0Fd8R65_PnechAWEOlYO0_ht3Qy4E/s2100/_22A0690-Great-blue-heron-flying-past-mountain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8q7elcfbB4iaJyDjpK8ZGdhUIjkqWcsYjDr8DHDT2UkHFYkKacZzBodWMYTAra2bLYPVULV_Mbnivf9W_MQK6hLrANF_8JbfQPOBSyERa7PglS4bjGlB069pBeA5ATxLqpjxO8kJXrQ_GrkJdyuB14xckBvFaj0Fd8R65_PnechAWEOlYO0_ht3Qy4E/s320/_22A0690-Great-blue-heron-flying-past-mountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG2lVGWArPW2Ysft_svG_2VJm0RVqmxfZxE5me4euPb9AA6YqNWJQlXxubsx-FcqbTrT-mgy8PQuaWUXDuP8MMdFpR6Amel8dFDIm4dOf3nuoDcvXszA8OK9xVPqsYbozhYnNlWM4D4Qls57RWUuL4MLuNxQvRF7s7kxDiYWt4q5cPdS6r4pydOHuWMg/s2100/_22A0724-Great-Blue-Heron-immature.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG2lVGWArPW2Ysft_svG_2VJm0RVqmxfZxE5me4euPb9AA6YqNWJQlXxubsx-FcqbTrT-mgy8PQuaWUXDuP8MMdFpR6Amel8dFDIm4dOf3nuoDcvXszA8OK9xVPqsYbozhYnNlWM4D4Qls57RWUuL4MLuNxQvRF7s7kxDiYWt4q5cPdS6r4pydOHuWMg/s320/_22A0724-Great-Blue-Heron-immature.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf9VlcMzsAODFMRRPuAliLLN275zTKR81uwUwEA75Df8YgMJ1qTc02ZS7uz1PoREwzRHgUsrCwRywDEgUPKyN0CaY3SLHJvU2m7yofA1bnZq7odevwPnkKHPQwPExTeVvgFl6vQG2bwJQ_F7SkEg_DSSIZ_5tA0hvzHfEAKeHQtRVmhRByIfevjRyU2c/s2100/_22A0751-Great-Blue-Herons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf9VlcMzsAODFMRRPuAliLLN275zTKR81uwUwEA75Df8YgMJ1qTc02ZS7uz1PoREwzRHgUsrCwRywDEgUPKyN0CaY3SLHJvU2m7yofA1bnZq7odevwPnkKHPQwPExTeVvgFl6vQG2bwJQ_F7SkEg_DSSIZ_5tA0hvzHfEAKeHQtRVmhRByIfevjRyU2c/s320/_22A0751-Great-Blue-Herons.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_-36Z6Vo8w7VSE5g8WpM_u7fmFG-FWyDpnmrKW_yA5ySmQv06tQnStYz1MvZHySekzUvznuaGoDejzX6WSZ7biat5xuIpbT6XS9r6b_nTBlToECEbEKvxVG2s2FsI_kGFzZuOskoL-8XsitKpg_9Hb3YAzvhLuMEUB5BqsRmKS7rVS7tB70GwWaUSEU/s2100/_22A0617sharp-tailed-sandpiper-wading.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_-36Z6Vo8w7VSE5g8WpM_u7fmFG-FWyDpnmrKW_yA5ySmQv06tQnStYz1MvZHySekzUvznuaGoDejzX6WSZ7biat5xuIpbT6XS9r6b_nTBlToECEbEKvxVG2s2FsI_kGFzZuOskoL-8XsitKpg_9Hb3YAzvhLuMEUB5BqsRmKS7rVS7tB70GwWaUSEU/s320/_22A0617sharp-tailed-sandpiper-wading.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyODbNt7McgGzFCA-K0e52uDTABt4zL7p76VhdyJIfYNEGadsDEN4JjXmADUXsvy-T9G-amBFjDVimDDsKr3NDIBxnNkrpTCN62cp6KWob7aVdZYfumkCF3MtNP9AbzLjhTgo-Kl0ZYxvUrOU4MjhWMRCuTeLl4c365VaU9mNtihhCwOKqU9PSRo5MmbE/s2100/_22A0614-sharp-tailed-sandpiper-juv-wading.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyODbNt7McgGzFCA-K0e52uDTABt4zL7p76VhdyJIfYNEGadsDEN4JjXmADUXsvy-T9G-amBFjDVimDDsKr3NDIBxnNkrpTCN62cp6KWob7aVdZYfumkCF3MtNP9AbzLjhTgo-Kl0ZYxvUrOU4MjhWMRCuTeLl4c365VaU9mNtihhCwOKqU9PSRo5MmbE/s320/_22A0614-sharp-tailed-sandpiper-juv-wading.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEidZPH312JvG1QgjSMALGXWkfy0OOnupZe0s84rWMvuRfXZgmpw6w6QS6TBe1UqMNBn2qXuS1vsZjT_4VIaiGf92xOuWPq4qF9Ru-JGrvCLzyfV4kFFgwOzahKaybAE7ZQSQWE-Cz46WRT0lqJM-TlpMUOUr8wofAuxs_xmhdIyiA4ihWfCKxochpqp4/s2100/_22A0602-sharp-tailed-sandpipers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEidZPH312JvG1QgjSMALGXWkfy0OOnupZe0s84rWMvuRfXZgmpw6w6QS6TBe1UqMNBn2qXuS1vsZjT_4VIaiGf92xOuWPq4qF9Ru-JGrvCLzyfV4kFFgwOzahKaybAE7ZQSQWE-Cz46WRT0lqJM-TlpMUOUr8wofAuxs_xmhdIyiA4ihWfCKxochpqp4/s320/_22A0602-sharp-tailed-sandpipers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUaW6KNHATrv9MYZ2WHMyqpYQ_gh_fIb5MF2AmGd7A45W3EjZi-fD3HXKcvQZ4Iy5wKjUMwlox1-UO8SNGIEjq_0zCfi5nS6RL_kIC0nYI5k6b-tFQKBOMsm2EtnO5jFjCczAvVC7QgaQxi7wjZrs7lJ05oCEWZpGXbavuXierKZlvEuDQRxKLySQ-vE/s2100/_22A0594-sharp-tailed-sandpipers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUaW6KNHATrv9MYZ2WHMyqpYQ_gh_fIb5MF2AmGd7A45W3EjZi-fD3HXKcvQZ4Iy5wKjUMwlox1-UO8SNGIEjq_0zCfi5nS6RL_kIC0nYI5k6b-tFQKBOMsm2EtnO5jFjCczAvVC7QgaQxi7wjZrs7lJ05oCEWZpGXbavuXierKZlvEuDQRxKLySQ-vE/s320/_22A0594-sharp-tailed-sandpipers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcsnBX3uwkNmKknwdInDrsWXB3lUcrvD_UJUWlihBAtuuWinAKSmqNsw1q7FHm_Z99hyphenhyphenHVNUsjHE1z9sxDWaNQ4yNUxR8Chb4yldWybylLDLzV3wNc9XXu2rjOEb1NwlY7rm-DCf8b2BKRUkkgX4UmA0qUeVlHhu5aDjOg13BPNKa5Acq7Nj8o8gLmjU/s2100/_22A0816-trumpeter-swan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcsnBX3uwkNmKknwdInDrsWXB3lUcrvD_UJUWlihBAtuuWinAKSmqNsw1q7FHm_Z99hyphenhyphenHVNUsjHE1z9sxDWaNQ4yNUxR8Chb4yldWybylLDLzV3wNc9XXu2rjOEb1NwlY7rm-DCf8b2BKRUkkgX4UmA0qUeVlHhu5aDjOg13BPNKa5Acq7Nj8o8gLmjU/s320/_22A0816-trumpeter-swan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6165794974633135501.post-43015929073341637502023-10-30T22:46:00.000-08:002023-10-31T14:37:41.806-08:00Monday, October 30, 2023 Bald Eagle Day<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Seward, Alaska</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Today did feel like Bald Eagle Day. I found a pair on the eagle perch on a remnant pole overlooking the Lagoon. Another waded in the shallows, looking for silver salmon carcasses while three others cautiously watched from nearby perches, waiting to swoop in to share (steal) any bounty.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Another pair relaxed in the sun, wings outstretched, high in a spruce at Spring Creek; Mt Alice in the background, wearing a fresh dusting of snow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Others called from hidden perches at Afognak Beach, watching the high tide recede.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Regal company on a glorious fall day!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Happy Birding!<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Carol Griswold<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.533335px;">Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1VVcjwSK0iib1HosQTH2mWTfl1YuhEbcK25LdRbabc1Mmlrzr15_92Ahw9UN-jDAV6XhQ18Der5AAyh4kgZY6Ap0lrA92rl6sH0r0j732xPBziez1Hfcb_hPf1hFY0gjUv3A2A0ydimWWPb5xNZnylOqvQ70qEl1fBY8QTle7KY-uNuOHEwiPzHMiyY/s2100/_22A0343-bald-eagle-pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1VVcjwSK0iib1HosQTH2mWTfl1YuhEbcK25LdRbabc1Mmlrzr15_92Ahw9UN-jDAV6XhQ18Der5AAyh4kgZY6Ap0lrA92rl6sH0r0j732xPBziez1Hfcb_hPf1hFY0gjUv3A2A0ydimWWPb5xNZnylOqvQ70qEl1fBY8QTle7KY-uNuOHEwiPzHMiyY/s320/_22A0343-bald-eagle-pair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC74BxLHqcVnoErbpUhq3ywkccF3cBujRxK7MauXaGFCLzL9y4JxNGjAXflSPE9DbUEDtOOuLAavPJM0a9w5QF1GZ-xv-cElYCaKfg5tB5FQYctmxa5LBd9VI6SNYHJLddW_IQPs3OFAwjLhbMT4X5pJvJ-2PuuEt4vYF05UMrD2ynyVnVn5L_xxQXQzE/s2100/_22A0344-bald-eagle-pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC74BxLHqcVnoErbpUhq3ywkccF3cBujRxK7MauXaGFCLzL9y4JxNGjAXflSPE9DbUEDtOOuLAavPJM0a9w5QF1GZ-xv-cElYCaKfg5tB5FQYctmxa5LBd9VI6SNYHJLddW_IQPs3OFAwjLhbMT4X5pJvJ-2PuuEt4vYF05UMrD2ynyVnVn5L_xxQXQzE/s320/_22A0344-bald-eagle-pair.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgaolb-y7We1uvlstC6RTUsgwtLpjAzLo9pdEPykFqg4q6oB3qSmqj4jLwOT4gYW_4j8hAM9V5XBwXsn2dkQNa3jweBrjwAbwasHNrGPk1NTbE7NBZVVdi6GamzBra2gA9T9pL4lW8SRpiOeetJVsDQI-5LYYfa4lgsL0AI5wyxj_jc5OkHFSsq45D8g/s2100/_22A0346-Bald-Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgaolb-y7We1uvlstC6RTUsgwtLpjAzLo9pdEPykFqg4q6oB3qSmqj4jLwOT4gYW_4j8hAM9V5XBwXsn2dkQNa3jweBrjwAbwasHNrGPk1NTbE7NBZVVdi6GamzBra2gA9T9pL4lW8SRpiOeetJVsDQI-5LYYfa4lgsL0AI5wyxj_jc5OkHFSsq45D8g/s320/_22A0346-Bald-Eagle.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMyH4FzoQ4Cq4rc9oUorZzmNVpkW9BabeT04g9lskpOQJBBSTHJ3SdEhrIQRQ6JoDWAkzYldgFxPogc7aMR0MIwxPkUc_Oi9aiGMqfueHq9dRRveH3NrvEuKCr4BJU20tc5a2MDOzFS6_COnEDMtgUDawQmBiM2DU-bmWuygex_y_-TSHfH5EJGsW-vo/s2100/_22A0350-bald-eagle-in-sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMyH4FzoQ4Cq4rc9oUorZzmNVpkW9BabeT04g9lskpOQJBBSTHJ3SdEhrIQRQ6JoDWAkzYldgFxPogc7aMR0MIwxPkUc_Oi9aiGMqfueHq9dRRveH3NrvEuKCr4BJU20tc5a2MDOzFS6_COnEDMtgUDawQmBiM2DU-bmWuygex_y_-TSHfH5EJGsW-vo/s320/_22A0350-bald-eagle-in-sun.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbR0jI1Ydxu_xF9Xbr4gye-ZSPjwxzqL2yJOBFG0GdCHLe309CwzJ50bnQuGvgjDgpLsxDP3vn00H-HhacX5STAO3cYHjFrh89a7tP8PXQVvV3VLug2iLd0r-juxr80XJxRngv9LKtNlVZBMp-hmHp4KEuSfjgK94UbG9ZWoFWXvqE4rtiMXlb-nU2Nw/s2100/_22A0360-bald-eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbR0jI1Ydxu_xF9Xbr4gye-ZSPjwxzqL2yJOBFG0GdCHLe309CwzJ50bnQuGvgjDgpLsxDP3vn00H-HhacX5STAO3cYHjFrh89a7tP8PXQVvV3VLug2iLd0r-juxr80XJxRngv9LKtNlVZBMp-hmHp4KEuSfjgK94UbG9ZWoFWXvqE4rtiMXlb-nU2Nw/s320/_22A0360-bald-eagle.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB9ObH1TYqZfSmyuoNT509tDqM5l3BkVOkz20bdrMYf58DW_6cHo9fGiWDLctYzf-NY9fcA8liWUxC2Qot4JeSteyr5oyGraK8eIglHVNr_7OcfQUailECwhOluDktfEIB8fp9f7o8prqBc-Cod0t6-ghIBdpcym701am7qZKaf2iUb0NGyggaqNRaNw/s2100/_22A0413-Bald-Eagles-Mt-Alice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB9ObH1TYqZfSmyuoNT509tDqM5l3BkVOkz20bdrMYf58DW_6cHo9fGiWDLctYzf-NY9fcA8liWUxC2Qot4JeSteyr5oyGraK8eIglHVNr_7OcfQUailECwhOluDktfEIB8fp9f7o8prqBc-Cod0t6-ghIBdpcym701am7qZKaf2iUb0NGyggaqNRaNw/s320/_22A0413-Bald-Eagles-Mt-Alice.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Carol Griswoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01883412801969720091noreply@blogger.com0