Monday, July 14, 2025 Oystercatchers, White-winged Crossbills, and other surprises

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 5:00 am, sunset 11:08 pm, for a total day length of 18 hours and 8 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 39 seconds shorter.

 

Cooler and cloudy today with temps ranging from 46 to 53º after two days of sunshine and temps reaching 60º. 

 

Amazing bird day today starting with yard birds in the morning: VIOLET GREEN SWALLOWS swooped overhead with aerial refueling of fluttering babies. I hoped that some were “my” Swallows, fledged from one of my nest boxes.  

 

The Merlin app alerted me to the presence of a TOWNSEND’S WARBLER and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER; the FOX SPARROW sang loudly from the side yard, a SONG SPARROW chipped from the raspberries; PINE SISKINS zzzz-ed overhead; RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES yank-yanked; a STELLER’S JAY threatened predation on CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE fledglings begging in the spruce. 

 

Add the sweet serenading of the neighborhood ROBIN and HERMIT THRUSH, counterbalanced by squawking RAVEN juveniles. 

 

Missing were the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS that disappeared on Friday, July 11, leaving me forlorn. They sure tanked up prior to migration.

 

At Fourth of July Creek came a surprise sighting of three BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS intently feeding among the algal-strewn intertidal rocks. One seemed smaller, perhaps a juvenile with its parents. Not one “Wheep!”

 

Fishing nearby: 3 SURF SCOTERS, 5 MARBLED MURRELETS, 7 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and a few SHORT-BILLED GULLS, KITTIWAKES, a PIGEON GUILLEMOT, a Harbor Seal and a Sea Otter. Another surprise, a BARROW’S GOLDENEYE flyby after being absent all summer.

 

At the edge of the beach rye grass, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER called anxiously, her babies probably nearby. Ditto, a concealed SAVANNAH SPARROW chipping from the grasses.

 

I checked the BALD EAGLE nest, but did not happen to see any eaglets or adults. One adult flew past and landed out of sight in the forest, otherwise it was pretty quiet.

 

Add a few BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES and RAVENS to top off the list.

 

In the afternoon, I enjoyed an eBike ride along Exit Glacier Road into Kenai Fjords National Park. Brilliant magenta fireweed is already blooming halfway up the spikes; Mt Dryas moved on to producing “Albert Einstein” balls of white, wild seed heads. Cottonwood seed fluff joined the summer “snow” of willow seeds parachuting in the wind; who says plants don’t move?

 

I heard a SWAINSON’S THRUSH calling softly near the parking lot, another nice surprise. Two Steller Jays noisily flew crumb patrol. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE family groups called and chipped from roadside willows along with a few YELLOW WARBLERS. COMMON REDPOLLS blew raspberries overhead. 

 

In the Chugach National Forest just outside the park boundary, a VARIED THRUSH called tentatively. I watched about a dozen WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS call and fly to the top of a nearby spruce. I haven’t seen Crossbills since winter. 

 

I watched another flock of White-winged Crossbills at Two Lakes Park in town. Add to the list a PACIFIC WREN that burst into its long song, and several GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS flitting and twittering through the alders. A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET also chose to grace the woodlands with its now-scarce exuberant song. 

 

A dark GOLDENEYE grunted plaintively at Second Lake and paddled slowly away. I couldn’t tell if it was a Barrow’s or Common. Like the Goldeneye at Fourth of July Beach, it seems early for them to be back, ready to overwinter.

 

Lots going on outside; I regret any time spent/wasted indoors!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, July 7, 2025 Rufous Hummingbirds, Red Squirrel, Eaglets

Seward, Alaska

 

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD activity has dramatically increased at my single feeder. For the past month, I sometimes wondered if I even had hummers, and then only saw one occasionally. This past week, I have enjoyed watching frequent visits by two youngsters and possibly the mom.

 

One checked out the orange rim of the basketball hoop, and when satisfied it was not a food source, zoomed through the netting, an expert flyer. Often, two tangoed in a mid-air dispute over feeder access. Mostly, one sits and sips quietly, tanking up. 

Thanks to Todd Eskelin, hummingbird bander extraordinaire, for the following information: heavy stippling on the throat is pretty conclusive for an immature male. The best way to tell is a lack of gorget feathers and then the amount of rufous in the tail. More than 50% rufous is male, and less than 50% is female." The photos show immature males.

 

A brilliantly blue young STELLER’S JAY flew in, downy feathers still sticking up here and there. It snagged some chunks of suet and flew off.

 

A zippy Red Squirrel scurried around my flower pots, gleaning fallen sunflower seeds from a nearby mostly empty feeder. When it paused, I took a few photos through the window. Pests though they can be and predators of birds, it did look cute.

 

However, when I magnified the photos on my computer, I saw that this squirrel has had a tough time. A bird, possibly a Magpie, had pecked a wound on the top of its head and taken a chunk out of its left ear. A tick, a native species appropriately named the squirrel tick, attacked its right ear. I felt sorry for it and did not begrudge the few seeds it found.

 

Later, I tried to rescue a baby VARIED THRUSH, recently fledged, from an attacking BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE. The poor baby was trapped against a chain-link fence, suffering wounds. I shooed away the Magpie and the baby squeezed though the fence for a temporary respite. 

 

I wonder if local songbird declines are due in part to higher numbers of resident predators like red squirrels, ermine, Magpies, Steller Jays, American Crows, Ravens, and Eagles. They are very, very good at finding eggs and picking off babies.

 

I finally saw two very young Eaglets in the enormous nest at Fourth of July Beach. There may be more but their camouflage brown coloration made them hard to see. The mom stood in the nest, then she dove down to the ocean and in a flash, returned with a fish! Easy as picking up a fast food order! She ripped it into bites for her eager babies.

 

In the quiet evening, the all-night ROBIN serenaded from the top of a spruce; the flute-like, peaceful notes of a HERMIT THRUSH cascaded down in the distance. A FOX SPARROW sang from the side yard, joined by an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and an enthusiastic but not musical PINE SISKIN.  As bird songs diminish, these late songsters are greatly appreciated.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold 

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

Sunday, June 29, 2025 Babies!

Seward, Alaska 

June means baby birds and busy parents. I was lucky to watch a few new families at a wetlands.

 

Ducks seem to have an easier time than songbirds. Single moms like the COMMON MERGANSER with six adorable ducklings, the GADWALL with eight little cheepers, and the AMERICAN WIGEON down to two ducklings, do not have to forage and deliver food. 

Once hatched and feathers barely dry, their tiny offspring bravely hit the water and start paddling after mom. She guards them and guides them through plankton soup and water plants hosting tasty invertebrates ready to be plucked.

 

Meanwhile, the TREE SWALLOWS rack up the miles as they swoop and twirl through the air, beaks open like insect nets, snapping up protein-rich bugs for their babies. Food in and fecal sacs, aka “bird diapers,” out to keep the nest clean, just one more chore on the to-do list.

 

Parent SAVANNAH SPARROWS chip anxiously from lookouts near their hidden nests in the grass and exchange territorial songs with their neighbors. They glean slow flies from the beach and pluck muddy amphipods for their brood.

 

While a WILSON’S SNIPE winnowed from high above, a youngster flushed from the grass, just learning to fly. I wonder if a second batch is in the works?

 

Perilous but hopeful times for these hard-working parents and their treasures. It’s a privilege to see them.

 

Update: check out this timely article on swallow conservation and the importance of wetlands at

https://www.ducks.ca/stories/biodiversity/lessons-in-habitat-and-hope

Thanks to Professor Emeritus E. Thomas Robinson at Boreal Birder.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Pacific Loon!

Seward, Alaska

The forecasted rain only amounted to a mist by the afternoon when I drove over to Fourth of July Beach, but I left my camera in the car anyway. As soon as I started walking on the beach, I raised my binocs then turned and hustled back to get it. Sheesh! A PACIFIC LOON paddled along just off the beach!

 

The wary Loon didn’t linger, and dove away when it saw me. But something tasty lured it closer several times for great views of the narrow chin strap, grayish nape, and all dark around the eye. Sibley’s calendar dates suggest this is a first summer bird (May-Sept) as the other plumages do not correlate with June. 

 

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, a HERRING GULL, three PELAGIC CORMORANTS, two MARBLED MURRELETS, and a Harbor Seal competed for the feast though I failed to see the menu.

 

Much farther out, about 50 SURF SCOTERS and the pair of WHITE-WIINGED SCOTERS rode the green waves up and down. 

 

Eight HARLEQUIN DUCKS rested on a rocky finger as the rising tide splashed them with waves.

 

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, maybe 4-5, swooped over the beach rye grass and roiling creek, hard to even follow with binocs much less the camera. 

 

The BALD EAGLE still sat on her regal nest, with the male perched in a nearby tree. The eaglets should be just about ready to fledge by now, though I haven't seen any sign of them. Another late starter?

 

Despite the mist, low light, and chilly south wind, I had a great time observing the unusual Loon and other birds and taking photos. Another lesson relearned: Always Bring Camera. It’s as easy as ABC!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Greater, Lesser, Least and a Hummer

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 4:34 am, sunset 11:28 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 53 minutes. Tomorrow will be 42 seconds shorter.  Clouds lowered the temp to the mid-40s today with showers in the forecast.

 

Civil twilight began at 2:45 am; a ROBIN heralded the new day around 3 am, joined by an exuberant FOX SPARROW. They don’t get much sleep!

 

At the head of the bay, I saw 3 SNIPE winnowing and calling. A SAVANNAH SPARROW adorned a blue Large-leaf Lupine flower spike, likely nervous about its hidden youngsters. A LINCOLN SPARROW and an ALDER FLYCATCHER sang from the bushes. 

 

Also heard in the trees, YELLOW-RUMPED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, a DOWNY WOODPECKER, and HERMIT THRUSH. TREE SWALLOWS zipped up and down a creek nabbing flying insects for their babies. 

 

Suddenly, a flock of 10 LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew over, softly calling “tu, tu, tu”. Fortunately, they landed and I was able to get a few photos. I haven’t seen Least Yellowlegs for a while and wonder if they are already starting to migrate south. Two LEAST SANDPIPERS poked along the beach with them. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS foraged nearby.

 

This evening, I chanced to see a female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD feeding on my pansies under the hummer feeder. I wonder if she too has babies waiting for her?

 

Exciting but perilous times for fledglings as the innocents venture into the world.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

 

Sunday, June 22, 2025 Gray-cheeked Thrushes!

Seward, Alaska

What a treat this afternoon to hear 3 GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES in the wetlands just before the Welcome to Kenai Fjords National Park sign, as if conjured!

 

Also heard 2 SWAINSON’S by the 1889 marker, HERMIT, and VARIED THRUSHES and saw a ROBIN for a quintet of expected Seward thrushes.

 

Unfortunately, it was too hard to hear the songs in the videos that I wanted to share, so I deleted them.

 

Birding, biking, and botany go hand in hand. The native wildflowers dotted along the roadside include streamside, woodland, and alpine species which provide an everchanging feast for the eyes accompanied by birdsong. I included a few here.

Please excuse the formatting; it just won't display properly.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

                                              Nootka Lupine

                                              Lupinus nootkatensis

    

                                              Northern Goldenrod                                                                                              Solidago multiradiata

                                            
                                                Red or Western Columbine

                                                Aquilegia formosa

     

Yellow Mt Avens

   Dryas drummondii

                             

                                          Pink Wintergreen, most still in bud                                                             Pyrola asarifolia

 

                                           Single Delight, Frog's Reading Lamp                                                                                                   Moneses uniflora

 

         

  Purple or Blackish Oxytrope

         Oxytropis nigrescens

Yellow Paintbrush

Castilleja unaslaschcensis

                             River Beauty, Dwarf Fireweed                                                      Chamerion latifolium

 

                                                 

                                                                   

                                     

                                    

Friday, June 20, 2025 Swainson’s Thrush, finally

Seward, Alaska

Happy Summer Solstice!

Sunrise 4:33 am, sunset 11:27 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 54 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 second longer, and then the days become imperceptibly shorter. Grab them while you can!

 

Another beautiful, sunny day, but hazy from wildfire smoke drifting south from the interior. Temps ranged from a low of 47 to a high of 60, though it felt warmer. Early morning north wind switched to south, 2 to 6 mph with gusts to 14. Cooler temps in the forecast and showers next week.

 

I was delighted to finally hear the upward-spiraling song of three SWAINSON’S THRUSHES as I e-biked along Exit Glacier Road. One could be even heard from the busy parking lot.

 

Also noted: VARIED THRUSH, HERMIT THRUSH, ROBIN (seen, not heard), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, FOX SPARROW, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, COMMON REDPOLL, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (staked out at Nature Center).

 

Songs are dwindling as frantic parents switch jobs from choral celebrities to fast food finder/haulers, but I am still hoping to hear a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Report