Monday, February 23, 2026 Bald Eagle frenzy, Snow Buntings, Barrow’s Goldeneyes

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:14 am, sunset 6:10 pm, for a total day length of 9 hours and 55 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 27 seconds longer.

Today provided a delightful mild day of momentary reprieve from Winter’s bitter grip. Temps rose from a low of 30 to a high of 38; the north wind mellowed to 2-8 with gusts to 20 mph. Everything, birds and humans, was allowed to relax. It’s been a tough winter.

Freed from the merciless wind, I ventured across the bay to Spring Creek Beach. A jittery flock of about 30 SNOW BUNTINGS rose up and down, flying from one spot to the next in the battered grasses of the frozen wetlands without lingering. They even flashed overhead several times, more challenging to photograph than summer Swallows.

Next, I checked out Fourth of July Creek. A single SHORT-BILLED GULL pecked at a dead fish at the tide’s edge. As I approached, it fled, giving me a good look at a decaying carcass. Not a pretty sight.

After I walked on, a young BALD EAGLE swooped in, grabbed the "prize" and flew towards the breakwater to dine. Two more young Eagles materialized and vied for possession. Siblings? Last summer’s Eaglets from the nearby nest?

Screeching and flapping, it was a wonder they didn’t crash into the sheet piling or tumble entangled into the water. In a few seconds, the battle ceased but I could not tell who “won” as they dispersed.

Below, BARROW’S GOLDENEYES momentarily retreated but soon paddled back to pry off exposed mussels clinging to the breakwater.  Paddle-up fast food.

Shortly afterwards, an adult Bald Eagle (mom?) flew low over the beach, hunting. In a flash, she grabbed a fish out of the water and settled down to eat it, unchallenged. A closer look revealed that it was a fish head, source unknown. The Eagles were not feasting on fat, live fish. Hungry times.

Back at Spring Creek Beach, I watched another small raft of Barrow’s Goldeneyes dive just a few feet off the beach. Likely, they too were finding mussels in easy reach at low tide. Different strategies, but both effective. The sun caught their golden eyes and illuminated the males’ purple iridescent heads as the water poured off their waterproof plumage. Beautiful sea ducks!

Two severe weather warnings predict Winter roaring back this week: a wind watch for north winds 30-50 mph and gusts to 65-75 mph starting Tuesday night, coupled with dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below as the temp drops to minus 9 by Wednesday night. Batten the hatches and bundle up!!!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, February 15, 2026 Squalls, ASLC, Swans, Robins

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:37 am, sunset 5:49 pm, for a total day length of 9 hours and 11 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 22 seconds longer.

 

Snow/sleet/rain/wind created challenging conditions this week, followed by a few beautiful sunny days featuring more normal winter temperatures in the 20s. Colder and windier in the forecast.

 

BALD EAGLES and RAVENS are courting and pairing up, getting ready for spring with great fanfare. On Valentine’s Day I saw two Ravens preening each other on a romantic street light, forming a heart shape. Unfortunately, I was driving, so no photo except in my memory.

 

The Alaska Sealife Center provided the bird sustenance I needed mid-week. Hard to beat watching and listening to the two outrageously colorful KING EIDER drakes within touching distance, puffing up and cooing, “Ah-oooo,” more like a dove than a duck. A very interested King Eider hen followed them around clucking and chasing. 

 

The gorgeous SPECTACLED EIDER drake didn’t have to say anything to attract his mate; he just looked elegant as he paddled around the habitat with her close behind. The other birds dimmed by comparison but did their best to impress. There’s always something interesting going on at the ASLC!

 

Thursday evening around 11 pm, a SAW-WHET OWL briefly piped up from Little Bear Mountain. Glad to know he’s still around.

 

Today, I was again fortunate to photograph a pair of TRUMPETER SWANS, flying in tandem. I also found three ROBINS scrabbling up frozen and withered Mt Ash berries on exposed grass. The flock of 40 has either greatly diminished or dispersed after the snow buried the berries. Plucky birds!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, February 8, 2026 Swans and sunshine between the rain

Seward, Alaska

 

Sunrise 8:55 am, sunset 5:30 pm for a total day length of 8 hours and 34 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 14 seconds longer.

 

With temps in the mid-30s, cloudy, and calm this past week, it felt more like April with the accompanying showers, not February.  The mild weather even fooled some beach rye grass, optimistically poking bright green spears from last year’s bedraggled remains. Forecasted snow showers with temps dipping below freezing overnight may convince others to wait.

 

Friday, however, broke the pattern by delivering sunshine and blue skies, welcomed like long-lost friends. The surrounding snow-covered mountains were spectacular! I did not discover any new arrivals, but rejoiced at seeing the usual overwintering species.

 

Seven magnificent adult TRUMPETER SWANS chose to wing their way towards me, honking softly, and splashed down like water skiers in an intertidal stream. They certainly noticed me, but after a few moments, settled down to stretch, preen, and nap in the sun.

 

A mixed flock of MALLARDS, AMERICAN WIGEON, and GADWALL grazed companionably in the sedges of the estuary. Other than a couple BALD EAGLES and RAVENS cruising overhead, it was pretty quiet.

 

HORNED GREBES, SURF SCOTERS, one WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, PELAGIC CORMORANTS, and a COMMON LOON paddled and dove south of the harbor uplands with two Sea Otters.  

A Harbor Seal tranquilly floated in the harbor, nostrils flaring to breathe in and sealed shut to dive. COMMON MERGANSERS, and a few Goldeneyes joined more Horned Grebes in the boat basin. I did not find the Yellow-billed Loon.

 

I checked out Lowell Point Beach and found a nice raft of handsome RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS paddling close to shore, diving in synchrony after small fish. Unfortunately, they were very wary and soon paddled farther away.  

 

Several SHORT-BILLED GULLS braved my presence and continued to forage. A few MARBLED MURRELETS dove with PELAGIC CORMORANTS farther out. 

 

A raft of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES mixed with a few COMMON GOLDENEYES staked out Pinnacle Rock and its intertidal treats.

 

In the Lowell Point sewage lagoon, MALLARDS and Goldeneyes rested on remnant ice while others paddled furiously against the bubbling currents. It looked like whitewater rapids as they swam in the foam, plucking who-knows-what out of the roiling water. Yum?

 

The clouds returned for the weekend. Today in the fog, I refound the flock of about 35 ROCK SANDPIPERS, and heard the cheerful song of a DIPPER, happy no matter what the weather.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter