Sunday, September 6, 2026 Catch-up! Pectoral Sandpipers, Black Turnstones, Merlins, Long-billed Dowitchers, and a Tall Ship

Seward, Alaska

It’s been a little over two weeks since I last posted due to continuing computer problems, so this is a catch-up report.

 

Sunrise 7:07 am, sunset 8:42 pm for a total day length of 13 hours and 34 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter.

 

Temperatures remain mild, with lows in the high 40s and highs in the 50s. Rain, sun, wind, calm; the usual weather mix these past two weeks.

 

On August 20 at midnight, I marveled at the first stars since the start of spring. Appropriately, Cygnus the Swan flew directly overhead along the shimmering Milky Way.

 

On August 23, a brilliant sunny day, about 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS joined about 20 chittering BLACK TURNSTONES at the tide flats. These high arctic breeders were on the move and hungry, probing the dark gray mud for hidden treasures. A few WESTERN SANDPIPERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS mingled compatibly with the others. 

 

On August 25, a small flock of RED CROSSBILLS hung from ripening spruce cones gleaning the tiny seeds at Afognak Beach. This was the last day I saw SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and YELLOWLEGS. Time to keep moving south.

 

On August 27 at Spring Creek Beach, two MERLINS harassed two BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, dashing through alders and spruce in a silent and potentially deadly chase. The aerial maneuvers of predators and potential prey were impressive. After many long minutes, during which all took breaks to rest and reconnoiter, the action abruptly shot out of sight.

 

No Arctic Terns were seen. Bon voyage! It was such a pleasure to watch you!

 

On September 2, 3 and 4, six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS mechanically stitched the shallows of the estuary pond at the head of the bay. The water levels here as elsewhere, continue to drop, leaving marestails growing in cracked mud as the shoreline recedes.

 

Ragged rain clouds were just right for another sunspot viewing; so amazing to see that the dark spots move around and are mapped. This one was AR4521, on a star 93 million miles away appearing no larger than the moon.

 

The Mexican Army’s impressive 3-masted tall ship ARM Cuauhtemoc arrived on August 29 and left on September 3. Both male and female crew stood tall among the yards, as music blasted and the golden eagle on the flag danced in the wind.

 

On September 6, I finally found a BELTED KINGFISHER rattling across the Lagoon in Benny Benson Memorial Park. I hope/know they’re around, but I just haven’t seen them.

Last night around 11:30 pm, (dark alas), I again heard the steady beeping of a SAW-WHET OWL, tucked away in the forest on the slope of Mt Marathon. I have heard him several times this summer, dark or not.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

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