Thursday, August 20, 2026 Black Turnstones, Hooded Mergansers, Merlin

Seward, Alaska

Yesterday at Spring Creek Beach, a scruffy juvenile SONG SPARROW sitting on a rock near the parking lot sang like an adult, unless there was a ventriloquist about. Very talented either way!

 

A short ways down the beach near the stream, a BLACK TURNSTONE standing on the upper beach surprised me as much as I surprised him. We both froze, though clicking noises might have been heard coming from one of us. He finally flew towards the remnant pond/creek, revealing a startling and beautiful pattern of black, brown and white. 

 

He landed and posed with his long wings pointed straight up, the brilliant white undersides signaling his presence to any predator, much like the SPOTTED SANDPIPERS down the beach. Then he waded in and took a refreshing bath, splashing water all over! On the way back, two Black Turnstones busily probed the exposed rocks of the small rock jetty.

 

Two dark heads appeared offshore, surfacing then diving. Steller Sea Lions! I haven’t seen any Sea Lions along shore for months! The mom surfaced and began bellowing for her much smaller and darker pup. Up popped the little one who quickly swam to mom for a reassuring whisker touch, then off they swam. So sweet.

 

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES seemed to be on the other side of the breakwater now, but a few GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS flew along the shore. All was peaceful, the gentle waves shushing in and out. 

Suddenly, a MERLIN appeared out of nowhere and dove at the Gull. A brief skirmish ensued with skillful evasive action. The Merlin gave up and kept flying as did the Gull. That was exciting!

 

A large “dirty dishwater” juvenile Glaucous-winged Gull begged loudly and insistently while mom stood nearby, probably rolling her brown eyes, definitely not delivering sushi. Hard to stop wanting service even if you are bigger.

 

I counted 14 ARCTIC TERNS resting on the rocks in their usual corner of the boat basin and spotted at least two youngsters with white foreheads. Always great to see them.

 

At the Mile 1 Nash Road wetlands, the TRUMPTER SWAN family with one cygnet cruised around the far side of the wetlands pond. The light gray baby is about ¾ the size of her magnificent parents. Growing, growing!

 

Then two crestless HOODED MERGANSERS with yellow lower bills popped up near the road. I was expecting the usual Mallards or GREEN-WINGED TEAL, not these fish-eating divers. One caught a fish while the other came up with an empty bill. 

 

Last year on August 23, almost a year to the day, I found a crestless female Hooded Merganser at the head of the bay. She too had a yellow lower bill, but also a white chin. Maybe the two I found today are juveniles as they didn’t have whitish chins. I wonder if they are nesting somewhere nearby, though I haven’t seen any adults this summer.

 

Always more to learn when watching the Nature Channel!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, August 17, 2026 Black Oystercatchers, Arctic Tern update

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 6:18 am, sunset 9:48 pm for a total day length of 15 hours and 30 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 16 seconds shorter.

 

Much-needed rain returned on Sunday, dumping 1.85” of rain then misty drizzle. Cool, cloudy and rain in the forecast for the rest of the week with temps in the high 40s to low 50s. We sure need it; freshwater levels are low everywhere.

 

Spring Creek continued to be a hot spot. On August 14, five BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS surprised me with their strident wheeping call as they flew past down the beach and out of sight, red legs blazing and yellow eyes flashing.

 

Today many 100s of Gulls screeched around the fish processor waste pipe outlet: BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES seemed to be the majority, along with GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. A single juvenile BONAPARTE’S GULL hung out with the Kittiwakes dabbling near the shore. The crashing surf from a Gulf storm mingled with Gull cries making seaside music.

 

The ARCTIC TERNS linger. I could only see about 15 resting on the distant rock jetty of the harbor basin, and more were flying up and out of sight. I savored their chirping calls and even heard some begging. 

 

On August 11, a youngster perched and preened on a nearby mooring dolphin. Only a few white feathers remained of a fledgling’s white forehead photographed on July 29. Growing up fast!

 

As I watched the Black-legged Kittiwakes and other Gulls bob in the waves and pick at the tidbits on the surface, I realized that I have not observed Arctic Terns float on the water. They seem to prefer resting on floating debris. How do they make it to Antarctica without landing on the water?

 

Also observed today were a group of four SPOTTED SANDPIPERS plus another two, a LEAST SANDPIPER, and a juvenile SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. Lots of flies on the beach for these crafty foragers.

 

No sign of the Rufous Hummingbird since August 6. She may be in Mexico by now!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

Saturday, August 8, 2026 Foggy with Sandpipers

Seward, Alaska 

Pea soup fog greeted the morning, creating a very eerie and mysterious scene where the familiar was no longer. Water droplets adorned the blooming fireweed and other plants, undisturbed by even a breath of wind. 

 

Peeps, including a family of SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and LEAST SANDPIPERS poked through the bright green algal mats at the head of the bay. A flock of about 45 peeps flashed along the tide’s edge. 

 

A slight breeze shooed the fog away by late morning. BALD EAGLES screeched from the treetops at Afognak Beach in bright sunshine and soared overhead. One adult and one immature Eagle circled each other in a graceful aerial ballet. 

 

Two juvenile SPOTTED SANDPIPERS walked along Afognak Creek, intent on lunch, oblivious of the spawning Chum Salmon nearby. 

 

Though the fog was magical, one cannot complain about a beautiful blue-sky sunny day.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter 

Saturday, August 8, 2026 Sitka Black-tailed Deer Fawn (sad)

Seward, Alaska

 

Just a week after I photographed a buck Sitka Black-tailed Deer on Nash Road, I happened upon a dead fawn draped on a log deposited by the high tide at Afognak Beach. It was a bit smaller than my Labrador and still showed white spots on a reddish-brown summer coat for camouflage. Such a sad sight!

 

Perhaps it drowned in the Resurrection River and was flushed out with other woody debris during the recent flood event. 

 

After contacting an ADFG biologist, I returned that evening and collected it for their research project. I estimate it weighed about 25 pounds. It is the first documented fawn from the Seward area.

 

The biologist noted that hunting for deer on the Kenai Peninsula, Units 7 and 15, is not allowed and for that reason, deer are not listed in the regulation book with a season and bag limit. ADFG is pursuing more information and considering transplanting deer to the Kenai Peninsula.

 

It seems the deer might be transplanting themselves from Prince William Sound and liking it here!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird (and Deer) Report Reporter

Thursday, August 6, 2026 Rufous Hummingbird!

Seward, Alaska

Around noon, an insistent “tick, tick, tick” from my outdoor baby monitor penetrated my multi-tasking thoughts. I glanced out the kitchen window to an empty space where the hummingbird feeder had waited in vain since July 28 until I removed it three days ago. Below, a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD buzzed from one purple pansy to another, emitting little hummingbird curses. 

 

Almost panicking, I quickly made a fresh sugar solution and rehung the feeder. What was a Rufous Hummingbird doing here in August??? They should have migrated in July.

 

I hustled to get my camera ready and went outside to wait. Much to my amazement, I happened into a burst of activity. Species I haven’t seen since spring zipped through the spruce branches, flitting from branch to branch, gleaning tiny caterpillars from the twigs. Most looked like youngsters: TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and resident CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.

 

It was impossible to get a decent photo, hidden behind the needles and moving fast, so I had to settle for pieces and parts.

 

The Hummer returned and allowed me to savor her (?) presence as she silently sipped the sugar water; the offering apparently passed inspection.

 

The mixed flock moved on, but the Hummer returned around 6 pm and enjoyed another long drink. What a beauty!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter