Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Anchorage Lesser Canada Geese and a Taverner’s Cackling Goose

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:29 am, sunset 4:54 pm, for a total day length of 8 hours and 23 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 6 seconds shorter.

Rain squalls, heavy at times, all this dark, gray day, dumping 1.55” of rain in the last 24 hours. Temps remained mild with a high of 39 dropping steadily by evening. 

As the rain slackened and the sky brightened imperceptibly this afternoon, I made a break for it. As I approached the tide flats, a mixed flock of 27 Anchorage Lesser Canada Geese and at least one Taverner’s Cackling Goose flew low over the beach rye grass and landed at the ebbing tide’s edge in the distance. ’Bout time some Geese landed here!

I took several photos then walked away, not wishing to make these tired and wet migrants fly.

Later, I checked my photos. As I needed help with the ID, I sent the best of the bad-light/rainy conditions photos to ADFG waterfowl expert Tasha. 

Fortunately, part of Tasha’s job is to identify and band these very Geese and then track them with transmitters to determine their flyways for informed management decisions. She noticed two Geese with bands and one with a possible black collar, and a definite family group.

She noted that there are still many Lesser Canada Geese and a few Taverner’s Cackling Geese in Alaska wearing transmitters that have not yet left the state. 

The Anchorage Lessers nest in the Anchorage bowl and are the last group of geese to leave the state, often staying until every bit of grass in the Anchorage Bowl is covered with snow and ice and all the fresh water is frozen. 

This group is extremely late, likely due to the continued mild temperatures. These Geese may have departed from the Susitna or Chickaloon Flats where they intermingle, and the heavy rain pushed them to land here.

When they are finally ready to leave, they will fly non-stop straight to Oregon without staging. Incredible!

I hope they will give me another opportunity to photograph them tomorrow when it’s not supposed to rain so much.

Thanks to Tasha for her expertise and information!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, October 30, 2026 Long-billed Dowitcher and Greater Yellowlegs!

Seward, Alaska

Seward recorded 3.85” of rain in the last 24 hours on top of 1.65” yesterday. More rain is in the forecast for the next forever.

 

A short break in the rain mid-afternoon lured me outside to the head of the bay. Much to my surprise, I discovered a very late LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and the larger GREATER YELLOWLEGS standing in the rising waters of the pond.  

 

The two buddies took off and flew around and around in great circles, calling. They could have made it halfway to Mexico for all the effort. 

 

Two GREAT BLUE HERONS flew ponderously past followed by a rattling BELTED KINGFISHER. 

 

Finally, the two shorebirds landed in the sedges at the edge of the pond, resting until the tide lowered the water levels back to a reachable depth.

 

Although it was fantastic to see them, I hope they can push south together before the temperatures dip to freezing on Sunday and Monday.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, October 30, 2026 Brewer’s Duck, a hybrid!

Seward, Alaska

When is a Gadwall drake not a Gadwall drake? When he’s a BREWER’S DUCK, a hybrid between a Gadwall and a Mallard. 

 

Waterfowl expert Tasha took a look at my recent post of a Gadwall pair and tipped me off to a bird I had never heard of. She noted the robust size (he is indeed huge), the long body length, and the oddball coloration of the cheeks and head.

 

The Ducks Unlimited duckDNA website notes this is the most common hybrid combination outside of the Mallard family. It was once thought to be a separate species, illustrated by John James Audubon in 1822 who observed in his text that it might be an accidental variety, a hybrid of Mallard and Gadwall. Audubon named it after his ornithologist friend Thomas Mayo Brewer. 

 

In 1943, ornithologist Francis Kortright determined that it was a hybrid, a fact documented by duck DNA. There is a wide variation in appearance and distribution of Brewer’s ducks.

 

Keep an eye out for duck hybrids, a duck that looks different: too big, too long, odd bill shape or patterns. They may be overlooked, as I did!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, October 29, 2026 Common Goldeneyes, Kingfisher

Seward, Alaska

“A strong frontal system with an atmospheric river of moisture…will begin Thursday morning...with a storm total between 3 and 4 inches of rain likely with the event...before the rain slowly tapers off Friday afternoon.” National Weather Service

 

Earlier in the week however, was the calm before the storm, with mild, sunny days. 

 

On Monday, the TRUMPETER SWAN family tipped bottoms-up in the shallows at Bear Lake, one parent draped in a salad garland. The mostly gray cygnet, now full size with a pink patch on its bill, imitated the parents perfectly. Two other adults fed nearby.

 

Hummingbird bander extraordinaire Todd Eskelin drove over on Tuesday afternoon but the Anna’s Hummingbird was busy elsewhere. Insects, including the beneficial Brown Lacewings, fluttered in the sunshine, possibly distracting the hummer from the feeder.

 

A brilliant crimson male PINE GROSBEAK perched at the very top of a spruce tree while a flock of ten gleaned Mt Ash berries below. The usual suspects flitted through: RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, STELLER’S JAYS, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES.

 

At the head of the bay, the full moon’s high tide overflowed into potholes, creating short-lived but spectacular reflecting mirrors of the surrounding snowy mountains. MALLARDS, AMERICAN WIGEON, and a few GADWALL dabbled in the intertidal area and pond. BUFFLEHEAD numbers are increasing.

 

On Wednesday at the Lagoon by the boardwalk, the recently returned COMMON GOLDENEYES dove with BARROW’S GOLDENEYES and BUFFLEHEAD. COMMON MERGANSERS napped in the sun on shore, and MALLARDS poked through the inlet stream for salmon eggs. 

 

Best of all was a perky juvenile BELTED KINGFISHER perched on the power lines, intently hunting for small fish. Both male and female juveniles have some rusty brown on their white bellies, and both sport the rakish spikey hairdo.

 

Robin C reported two female HOODED MERGANSERS at Bear Lake. Maybe they will join the others at the Lagoon when the lake freezes.

 

Stay dry!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, October 25, 2026 5 Great Blue Herons, 1 Goshawk

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 9:03 am, sunset 6:19 pm, for a total day length of 9 hours and 15 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 17 seconds shorter.

The weather dial spun wildly the past two weeks delivering rain of varying intensities, dark clouds, warm sunshine, darker clouds, strong wind, more rain and clouds, calm, and even ice. Temps lingered in the chilly mid-30s in the morning, warmed to mild mid-40s by afternoon, and dipped down into the mid-20s overnight. 

A highlight on October 23 was five GREAT BLUE HERONS perched like giant holiday ornaments in a spruce tree. The stealthy and elusive herons remained there, motionless from the time of my discovery while on a walk to my departure 45 minutes later. Birds of mystery.

Another highlight was a juvenile AMERICAN GOSHAWK that was reported on the ground late yesterday afternoon. The Alaska Sealife Center had responded, but was unable to catch it. The wild and fierce young bird managed to fly about 15’ up into a spruce tree, and remained there all day today. The homeowner had to point it out to me, well hidden in the tangle of branches. 

Out in the open nearby, another raptor shot across the sky chasing a smaller bird. It was too quick to grab a photo. Two PINE GROSBEAKS flew up to the top of a nearby spruce, probably glad it wasn’t them. They called melodiously, so nice to see and hear them after a long absence.

On my way to the Post Office, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK soared overhead, cruising for dinner.

Add two COMMON LOONS fishing for lunch at Fourth of July Beach, a sea mammal sculpture, and a report of an ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD in town for a pretty nice wrap for the last half of October.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

Commander in Chief Mr. Whitekeys aka "Keys" passed away on October 15, 2026

October 19, 2026

Dear Readers,

I just received this sad and shocking news from the Anchorage Audubon Society: 

Dear Friends,

With great sadness, we are letting you know that Mr. Whitekeys or “Keys” passed away late last week, surrounded by family in Anchorage, after a brief illness.

Keys lived in Alaska since 1971. He was always interested in wildlife, but birds became a serious pursuit for Keys in the 1990’s. He rapidly became a recognized local bird ambassador and was elected to be President of the Anchorage Audubon Society in 2009. He contributed substantially to building a devoted membership at Anchorage Audubon through many outreach and educational activities. He promoted events that brought people together, that highlighted the amazing lives of birds, and that raised awareness and support for habitat protections for birds in Anchorage.

Most recently, he spearheaded the donation of significant resources to the new Potter Marsh Watershed Park, which protects wildlife habitat and wild spaces for people to enjoy. He encouraged citizen science by helping to lead the annual Anchorage Christmas Bird Count and by promoting events that taught people how to use eBird to record their bird sightings. He also spread his love of birding with people by hosting group events like the Gunsight Mountain Hawkwatch and the Potter Marsh “Summer Smackdown” that allowed for some friendly ribbing and competition.

His enthusiastic leadership inspired many people to begin or renew their fascination with birds and the outdoors, wherever they might be. In a news article in the Mat-Su Sentinel about this spring’s Gunsight Mountain hawkwatch event, Keys said, “No matter where you are, there are going to be birds. Once you start paying attention to what is around you, it just sort of opens up the whole world.”

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

May his buoyant spirit continue to inspire birders everywhere. 

RIP, Keys. You are missed! 

Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter