Saturday, October 3, 2026 Greater Yellowlegs, Pacific Loon, Kittiwakes

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:08 am, sunset 7:23 pm, for a total day length of 11 hours, 14 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 25 seconds shorter.

 

North winds and rain squalls returned after a mirror calm, sunny day yesterday. Temps ranged from 32 to 42. More rain and wind in the forecast.

 

A young bull moose dissuaded me from birding at the head of the bay this morning. His freshly scrubbed and shining antlers gave him an impressive look and feisty attitude. I would rather not be on foot in his powerful company!

 

Instead, I sought shelter from the wind at Afognak Beach. To my surprise, a late GREATER YELLOWLEGS foraged in the shallow intertidal pools as if summer were not over and done. It was like seeing an old friend!

 

Two river otters abruptly changed course and bounded back to the bay as I approached, swimming away, seemingly equally at home on land or in the water.

 

Next, I checked out Spring Creek Beach. Tasha reported a resighting of one of two Mourning Doves hunkered down under a spruce tree. Two had been spotted on September 28, but a Northern Goshawk may have dined on the other. Or the smart Dove is happily feasting with the pigeons in town.

 

I did not find the wayward Dove or the two Rusty Blackbirds but I enjoyed seeing a late DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and several HARLEQUIN DUCKS. Many Gulls clamored around the fish-waste feeder and rose in a cloud when disturbed by a BALD EAGLE.

 

On the way home, I checked the boat harbor and found several BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES cruising around in non-breeding plumage.

 

To the south of the Uplands, a raft of a dozen SURF SCOTERS, back for the winter, queued up near another Gull frenzy at the fish-waste feeder.

 

A small raft of Steller Sea Lions poked their noses up like triangular birds then lazily submerged.

 

A PACIFIC LOON surfaced in the distance, paddling, diving, and then stretching. Many loose feathers blossomed from its wings. The white scaling on the back, like a carefully embroidered design, indicated this is a juvenile. 

 

Yesterday, I found a few BARROW’S GOLDENEYES at the SMIC sewage lagoon. Our winter residents are returning even as others migrate farther south. The sight of these resolute birds and mammals sure brightened a dreary, wet and windy, gray day.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, October 1, 2026 Peregrine Falcon, Pacific Wrens, Swans, Snow Goose

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:04 am, sunset 7:29 pm, for a total day length of 11 hours and 24 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter.

Fall so far has been a mixed bag of heavy rain squalls, sprinkles, sunshine, clouds, and fresh termination dust descending on the surrounding mountains. Temperatures continue to drop, with a low this morning of 33, rising to 40 by midday.

Yesterday between squalls, a young PEREGRINE FALCON dashed along the tidelands seeking prey. An angry GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL drove him away, totally unafraid of the future fearsome predator. 

Then I heard the prehistoric croak of a GREAT BLUE HERON that was innocently flying by. The Falcon made several unsuccessful dives as the huge Heron took ungainly evasive action and eventually landed, totally flustered. The Falcon flew off looking for more cooperative (and smaller) menu options.

A flock of about 20 LAPLAND LONGSPURS flushed up, perhaps stirred up by the Falcon.

This morning, under gray skies and chilly north wind at Afognak Beach, I heard the staccato call of first one PACIFIC WREN, then found another flitting among the overhanging vegetation on a cliff. I haven’t had the pleasure in quite some time.

A hundred-some BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, and SHORT-BILLED GULLS flocked around the seafood processor fish waste feeder at SMIC, but few flew along the shore at Spring Creek Beach.

As the clouds rolled away, six HARLEQUIN DUCKS paddled along Fourth of July Beach while Gulls rested along the shore.

The Trumpeter Swan family of 3 seems to have abandoned their nest site at Mile 1 Nash Road. It seems so empty now. 

I did find eight adult TRUMPETER SWANS at the head of the bay, resting on a shoal, moving with dignity as the tide came in.

A single First-of-Season SNOW GOOSE grazed in the sedges and exposed mud of the estuary pond. This is the first Goose that I have seen this fall. Hopefully, more Geese are on the way, pushed ever southwards by a cold front sweeping the Interior clean.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 More Cranes, Long-billed Dowitchers, Pectoral Sandpipers, and a Sanderling?

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:45 am, sunset 7:53 pm, for a total day length of 12 hours and 8 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter, more in line with the recent Fall Equinox.

Fall began with two days of warm sunshine as the temperature eased up from a chilly overnight low of 36 to a high of 50 with the north wind gusting to 17 mph. Termination dust flags the taller peaks and below, the subalpine plants glow maroon and red. 

Three LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS strolled around the ever-shallower estuary pond, occasionally accompanied by 9 much smaller PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a peep, possibly a SANDERLING. Two Blackbirds, (Rusty Blackbirds?) erupted from a clump of spruce trees and quickly flew away. 

Around 4 pm, I heard SANDHILL CRANES bugling high in the sky heading south, but was unable to spot them due to the sun in my eyes (hate to complain!) 

Rain is in the forecast for the next several days, making these sunny fall days even sweeter. Expect more termination dust when the clouds lift!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter