Sunday, April 26, 2025 Wild Goose chase

Seward, Alaska

All seemed peaceful at the Mile 1 Nash Road pond. The female TRUMPETER SWAN lay drooped over her nest like a wet white dishrag. The male serenely plucked emergent vegetation from the depths. MALLARDS hovered near the Swan; BUFFLEHEAD dove in the middle. GREATER YELLOWLEGS called as they landed in formation in the water horsetail mats at the edges of the pond.

 

Then a flock of 28 delighted GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE descended from the rainy skies and landed at the far edge of the wetlands. And began eating.

 

At first, nothing changed. But after a few minutes in which an inaudible timer was counting down, I heard an angry “smack, smack, smack!” The male Trumpeter unfurled his mighty wings and raced across the water on his huge black webbed feet towards the Geese.

 

The gob-smacked Geese fled into the air, gabbling in panic as the Swan hurtled after them, circling around in tight spirals, gaining altitude. The Geese booked it back towards the bay, the Swan in hot pursuit, trumpeting in fury. They almost disappeared in the distance, likely far over saltwater, before the ghostly white figure of the Swan reappeared unaccompanied.

 

By this time, the lady whose territory was so fiercely defended, had strolled off the nest and was languidly preening. Unlike a previous territorial defense against their own once-beloved cygnets, she did not cheer or even look interested.

The male, Bond-like, descended at full speed, splashed down with landing gear extended and expertly water-skied to a stop. As he turned around to check on his true love, he must have felt a trifle disappointed with the tepid response. Meh. 

 

With that, the unappreciated hero stoically got a cold one, and thus refreshed, resumed eating salad. Mission accomplished.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, April 27, 2025 Kingfisher courtship

Seward, Alaska

The wetlands and pond at Mile 1 Nash Road attract more than nesting Trumpeter Swans. A noisy female BELTED KINGFISHER stridently announced her presence as she zoomed in and landed on a favorite dead snag. 

She quietly sat motionless in the rain for many minutes, then abruptly dove into the pond and back to her station with a fish. The hapless fish, eyes bulging, hoped for a miracle, but failed. Life became lunch. After a few more successful forays, she shot off, rattling.

 

Not long after, another Kingfisher landed on a nearby perch, this time a male. He too had great success catching fish before he rattled off.

 

The next afternoon, while watching the Swans, my attention was again diverted to the Kingfisher on his perch in the rain. This time he scored on a particularly large coho salmon, almost at smolt stage. But instead of enjoying the feast, he flew down to a nearby log and waited expectantly. He had bigger plans than lunch. The lively fish flopped in his bill, trying to escape, but he held firm.

 

“Chirrr!” announced the female as she landed on the log about a foot away. “Chirrr!, big, handsome fella with a fat fishy feast!”

 

Still, her gorgeous suitor held the fish, almost chivalrously, waiting for the glittering gift to stop wriggling around. If birds could drool, she did. He waited patiently; she waited, barely contained.

 

Finally, as he backed away to the end of the log, he expertly flipped the fish to face her head-first. She sidled up, bill open. Tenderly, he placed it in her bill with the utmost care. She clamped down on the fish as he beamed with love, his adorable spiky crest sticking straight up, and immaculate white collar puffed out. 

 

After many long minutes of holding the fish, switching positions on the log this way and that, she finally deemed it safe to eat and chugged it slowly down her throat. I was impressed that she could eat such a large, long fish without choking. It took a while, and she sat there afterwards stupefied, full to the top.

 

I hope these two beautiful Kingfishers will soon dig a snug, long tunnel for their future family and raise many phenomenal babies together.

Thanks to fisheries biologist John for the salmon ID.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, April 27, 2025 Cranes, Pacific Golden-Plovers, Short-eared Owl

Seward, Alaska

 

Another moody, blue-gray, sprinkly day full of excitement! 

 

More SANDHILL CRANES graced the skies, flying high overhead and past the snowy mountains. Only one Crane remained on the ground. ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE patrolled the sedges and slowly waded through the drained pond without wetting their bellies. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE mixed with Cacklers continued to feed in the sedges and grasses.

 

I found my FOS PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS today, a pair, gleaning marine invertebrates from the mud. A WHIMBREL stalked along the shoreline, long bill probing deeper.

 

A gorgeous male EURASIAN WIGEON stood out among AMERICAN WIGEONS and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. I suspect his lady napped nearby, but her ID was difficult, especially when her head was tucked under wing.

 

A not-so-stealthy GREAT BLUE HERON flew ponderously in front of me and landed, huge wings outstretched, another long-legged, long-necked bird.

 

Robin C pointed out a SHORT-EARED OWL hunting in the upper field. RAVENS soon discovered it and one chased it higher and higher until they were both sky specks before giving up. The Owl continued flying east to more tranquil hunting grounds.

 

Later, at Two Lakes Park around 5 pm, I heard my FOS RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and found him flitting and gleaning in a nearby cottonwood. The timing was serendipitous as that was the only time he sang while I was in earshot.

 

A few minutes later, I watched three River Otters playing in First Lake. One even ventured on land before noticing me and splashed back in the water.

 

Another fun day!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

Saturday, April 26, 2025 Cranes! Geese! Godwits! Dowitchers!

 Seward, Alaska 

A tremendous surge of long-awaited feathered migrants pulsed through the cloudy skies today, thrilling onlookers with their joyous cries. Skeins of SANDHILL CRANES, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, CACKLING GEESE and ducks stroked northwards high overhead. 

It seemed the flocks took turns; as soon as one flock shrank to specks to the north, another flock announced its arrival from the south, grew in size and volume, passed overhead, and again diminished. 

 

Some chose to land, much to our delight. At least a hundred Sandhill Cranes fed ravenously on the long-vacant sedge wetlands, these giant, unbelievable birds. Serving as decoys, more and more Cranes spiraled down, bugling loudly with long legs outstretched, to a high count of 239. (Thanks to Tasha for the exact count.)

 

Nearby, flocks of similarly hungry Cackling and Greater White-fronted Geese mowed through the vegetation like machines. NORTHERN PINTAILS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, GADWALL, and MALLARDS dabbled in the shallow pond. A single BONAPARTE’S GULL growled from the middle of the pond. Whenever a BALD EAGLE cruised overhead, pandemonium ensued as all took flight with loud cries of alarm.

 

After feasting on the sights and sounds of the Cranes and Geese, I further scrutinized the pond scene. Five FOS HUDSONIAN GODWITS probed the pond mud with their long bills. Five FOS SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS stitched the mud nearby. Three DUNLIN in their distinctive breeding plumage shared the pond edge with two LEAST SANDPIPERS. Noisy GREATER YELLOWLEGS dashed thither and yon on their long legs, heads jerking. A WHIMBREL called. Eight BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS flew overhead.

 

A juvenile AMERICAN GOSHAWK added to the excitement, escorted away by ARCTIC TERNS and SHORT-BILLED GULLS, all screeching. A male and female NORTHERN HARRIER cruised the fields. Almost invisible, several SNIPE peacefully winnowed from the sky.

 

What a show stopper day!

 

Later, another surprise awaited at Two Lakes Park. At 5:15 pm, I recorded that lonely little SAW-WHET OWL beeping for a few minutes as I passed below his mountainside bachelor pad. Then the recently arrived VARIED THRUSHES resumed the more expected daytime serenade.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter