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

 

Thursday, September 17, 2026 Two Golden Eagles at Exit Glacier!

Seward, Alaska

Two dark specks soared along the rugged rocky ridge above three Mt Goats at Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. Shreds of clouds occasionally obscured them until they emerged sailing gracefully along another section.

 

Binoculars and a telephoto camera lens revealed the broad wings, long tail, and short head: GOLDEN EAGLES! At least one of them sported the white underwing patches of a juvenile. The habitat was perfect, a rocky subalpine habitat with potential for Mt Goat kids, ground squirrels, or birds. 

 

When I enlarged my photos at home on the computer, I saw 17 much smaller birds mobbing one of the Eagles as it flew close to the ground. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches? Pipits? An assortment of angry birds? Who is still up there in mid-September besides the year-round resident Mt Goats?

 

Other than two BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES chasing each other through the cottonwoods along the lower trail, and a DOWNY WOODPECKER, it was very quiet.

 

Without the optics, the glacier, scenery and beauty would still have been spectacular, but the discovery of the speck birds elevated my experience to joy and wonder.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 Call of the Wild: Saw-whet Owl, Sandhill Cranes

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:26 am, sunset 8:17 pm for a total day length of 12 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter as we approach the Fall Equinox on September 22 at 4:05 pm.

After three glorious days of sunshine and temps reaching the low 60s, the north wind switched to south as a low blew in accompanied by heavy rain. Cloudy and cooler with rain in the forecast for at least the next week.

A frenzied, quavering beeping, not recognized by Merlin, erupted outside my bedroom window at 3:40 am. The diminutive but loud SAW-WHET OWL continued his earnest but one-sided conversation for several minutes until I rolled out of bed and crept around the house. Silence. The missive delivered, he had vanished into the starless, still night like a ghost.  

Yesterday around 12:30 pm, the last of our balmy summery days, I heard SANDHILL CRANES! I rushed inside for my camera then “craned” my head upwards, scanning back and forth. Finally, I found them, a V of Cranes high overhead, bugling and flying due east. They must have flown right over the Harding Icefield, over Mt Marathon, and then over my house. Sweet delivery!

But wait! Even higher were more skeins of Cranes, undulating in ever-changing patterns, weaving intricate designs spread across the sky. Calling, exhorting, encouraging the young fledgling and each other to stroke, stroke, stroke ever farther from their breeding grounds. 

Finally, my camera could no longer discern the dots from the gauzy sky and their ancient bugling faded into the distance. 

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Peregrine, Merlin, Dowitchers, Great Blue Heron

Seward, Alaska

Birding in a downpour may be discouraging, but ah! when the rain pauses, the resulting bird action makes it worthwhile. 

Suddenly, a flock of 22 DOWITCHERS circled around the estuary pond, dots then actual birds with long bills. A peep joined them, keeping in formation. Then, a WILSON’S SNIPE uttered an “eek!” and flew off below them. 

A female BELTED KINGFISHER dashed in, hovering, hovering, hovering, then plummeted into the pond with a mighty splash, emerging triumphantly with a fish.

Next, a secretive GREAT BLUE HERON materialized, flying ponderously across the pond, then landed and again became invisible.

As the rain drops resumed, a MERLIN stroked across the pond and passed behind me, perhaps looking for those Dowitchers.

At the car, a plaintive ROBIN complained from the shelter of spruce trees; we all agreed. 

Yesterday, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS announced that, yes, he was still here, thank you very much, as were several SAVANNAH SPARROWS. 

A magnificent PEREGRINE FALCON stroked powerfully through the sky, wings beating rapidly. He veered and landed in a faraway dead tree, accompanied by two daring RAVENS, who loitered below him as all waited for the next move.

I dried off my optics, well-satisfied with the minor inconveniences of being temporarily soaked.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter