Thursday, September 17, 2026 Two Golden Eagles at Exit Glacier!

Seward, Alaska

Two dark specks soared along the rugged rocky ridge above three Mt Goats at Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. Shreds of clouds occasionally obscured them until they emerged sailing gracefully along another section.

 

Binoculars and a telephoto camera lens revealed the broad wings, long tail, and short head: GOLDEN EAGLES! At least one of them sported the white underwing patches of a juvenile. The habitat was perfect, a rocky subalpine habitat with potential for Mt Goat kids, ground squirrels, or birds. 

 

When I enlarged my photos at home on the computer, I saw 17 much smaller birds mobbing one of the Eagles as it flew close to the ground. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches? Pipits? An assortment of angry birds? Who is still up there in mid-September besides the year-round resident Mt Goats?

 

Other than two BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES chasing each other through the cottonwoods along the lower trail, and a DOWNY WOODPECKER, it was very quiet.

 

Without the optics, the glacier, scenery and beauty would still have been spectacular, but the discovery of the speck birds elevated my experience to joy and wonder.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 Call of the Wild: Saw-whet Owl, Sandhill Cranes

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:26 am, sunset 8:17 pm for a total day length of 12 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter as we approach the Fall Equinox on September 22 at 4:05 pm.

After three glorious days of sunshine and temps reaching the low 60s, the north wind switched to south as a low blew in accompanied by heavy rain. Cloudy and cooler with rain in the forecast for at least the next week.

A frenzied, quavering beeping, not recognized by Merlin, erupted outside my bedroom window at 3:40 am. The diminutive but loud SAW-WHET OWL continued his earnest but one-sided conversation for several minutes until I rolled out of bed and crept around the house. Silence. The missive delivered, he had vanished into the starless, still night like a ghost.  

Yesterday around 12:30 pm, the last of our balmy summery days, I heard SANDHILL CRANES! I rushed inside for my camera then “craned” my head upwards, scanning back and forth. Finally, I found them, a V of Cranes high overhead, bugling and flying due east. They must have flown right over the Harding Icefield, over Mt Marathon, and then over my house. Sweet delivery!

But wait! Even higher were more skeins of Cranes, undulating in ever-changing patterns, weaving intricate designs spread across the sky. Calling, exhorting, encouraging the young fledgling and each other to stroke, stroke, stroke ever farther from their breeding grounds. 

Finally, my camera could no longer discern the dots from the gauzy sky and their ancient bugling faded into the distance. 

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Peregrine, Merlin, Dowitchers, Great Blue Heron

Seward, Alaska

Birding in a downpour may be discouraging, but ah! when the rain pauses, the resulting bird action makes it worthwhile. 

Suddenly, a flock of 22 DOWITCHERS circled around the estuary pond, dots then actual birds with long bills. A peep joined them, keeping in formation. Then, a WILSON’S SNIPE uttered an “eek!” and flew off below them. 

A female BELTED KINGFISHER dashed in, hovering, hovering, hovering, then plummeted into the pond with a mighty splash, emerging triumphantly with a fish.

Next, a secretive GREAT BLUE HERON materialized, flying ponderously across the pond, then landed and again became invisible.

As the rain drops resumed, a MERLIN stroked across the pond and passed behind me, perhaps looking for those Dowitchers.

At the car, a plaintive ROBIN complained from the shelter of spruce trees; we all agreed. 

Yesterday, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS announced that, yes, he was still here, thank you very much, as were several SAVANNAH SPARROWS. 

A magnificent PEREGRINE FALCON stroked powerfully through the sky, wings beating rapidly. He veered and landed in a faraway dead tree, accompanied by two daring RAVENS, who loitered below him as all waited for the next move.

I dried off my optics, well-satisfied with the minor inconveniences of being temporarily soaked.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, September 6, 2026 Catch-up! Pectoral Sandpipers, Black Turnstones, Merlins, Long-billed Dowitchers, and a Tall Ship

Seward, Alaska

It’s been a little over two weeks since I last posted due to continuing computer problems, so this is a catch-up report.

 

Sunrise 7:07 am, sunset 8:42 pm for a total day length of 13 hours and 34 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter.

 

Temperatures remain mild, with lows in the high 40s and highs in the 50s. Rain, sun, wind, calm; the usual weather mix these past two weeks.

 

On August 20 at midnight, I marveled at the first stars since the start of spring. Appropriately, Cygnus the Swan flew directly overhead along the shimmering Milky Way.

 

On August 23, a brilliant sunny day, about 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS joined about 20 chittering BLACK TURNSTONES at the tide flats. These high arctic breeders were on the move and hungry, probing the dark gray mud for hidden treasures. A few WESTERN SANDPIPERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS mingled compatibly with the others. 

 

On August 25, a small flock of RED CROSSBILLS hung from ripening spruce cones gleaning the tiny seeds at Afognak Beach. This was the last day I saw SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and YELLOWLEGS. Time to keep moving south.

 

On August 27 at Spring Creek Beach, two MERLINS harassed two BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, dashing through alders and spruce in a silent and potentially deadly chase. The aerial maneuvers of predators and potential prey were impressive. After many long minutes, during which all took breaks to rest and reconnoiter, the action abruptly shot out of sight.

 

No Arctic Terns were seen. Bon voyage! It was such a pleasure to watch you!

 

On September 2, 3 and 4, six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS mechanically stitched the shallows of the estuary pond at the head of the bay. The water levels here as elsewhere, continue to drop, leaving marestails growing in cracked mud as the shoreline recedes.

 

Ragged rain clouds were just right for another sunspot viewing; so amazing to see that the dark spots move around and are mapped. This one was AR4521, on a star 93 million miles away appearing no larger than the moon.

 

The Mexican Army’s impressive 3-masted tall ship ARM Cuauhtemoc arrived on August 29 and left on September 3. Both male and female crew stood tall among the yards, as music blasted and the golden eagle on the flag danced in the wind.

 

On September 6, I finally found a BELTED KINGFISHER rattling across the Lagoon in Benny Benson Memorial Park. I hope/know they’re around, but I just haven’t seen them.

Last night around 11:30 pm, (dark alas), I again heard the steady beeping of a SAW-WHET OWL, tucked away in the forest on the slope of Mt Marathon. I have heard him several times this summer, dark or not.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter