Sunday, June 21, 2026 Gull Fish Frenzy, Wandering Tattler, Dead Fin Whale

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 4:33 am, sunset 11:28 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 54 minutes. Happy Summer Solstice! Tomorrow will be 0 minutes and 6 seconds shorter. 

 

While western Europe and parts of the Lower 48 sizzle in a record-breaking heat wave with temps over 104º F (40 C), hot enough to deform railroad tracks, Seward remained in the low 40s to mid 50s with light southerly winds. After Sunday’s big rainstorm, we were treated to mostly sunny days.

 

The thick wrack at Afognak Beach on Monday again proved productive for foraging birds and me. I spotted a male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER with two slender white moose hairs in his bill, perhaps an embellishment for the nest.

 

A VARIED THRUSH joined the usual ROBINS and HERMIT THRUSHES and packed many tasty tidbits into his bill, marine invertebrate versions of an urban lawn.

 

Sawmill Creek flooded the intertidal area so that it was impossible to cross the many channels without hip waders. Instead of a nice, long beach walk across the flats to the low tideline, I stopped at the main channel to watch a show. 

 

An excited group of noisy Gulls, mostly GLAUCOUS-WINGED, and a few HERRING GULLS, hovered as best they could above the main channel, spotting for migrating fish. Others stood in the icy water up to their bellies, like combat fishers, sharp eyes searching the clear stream.

 

When a fish was seen, the spotter dove down accompanied by its “friends” in a flurry of feathers. If lucky, the Gull nailed the fish amid a great outcry and gobbled it down before it was stolen. Though the fishing/catching seemed slow, the chance of catching or stealing a fish made it worth the considerable effort.

 

VIOLET-GREEN and TREE SWALLOWS swooped around the intertidal channels. Photographing the fast and erratic insect catchers was futile but I did manage to track a CLIFF SWALLOW with my binoculars darting among them. Cliff Swallows have become uncommon in this area due to loss of several key nesting sites (and probably many other factors), so it was great to find one.

 

On June 17 at Two Lakes Park, I heard and saw two PACIFIC WRENS by Second Lake. STELLER JAY parents fed a screeching fledgling high on a spruce branch.

 

At the head of the bay, a family of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS flushed ahead of me with one fledgling, leaving a dainty embroidery of tracks in the sand.

 

I finally photographed a LINCOLN’S SPARROW singing its melodious, bubbling song on June 18.

 

On June 19, a single LESSER YELLOWLEGS foraged on the tide flats.

 

I was alarmed to count 44 ARCTIC TERNS napping in the sun next to an intertidal stream. This is roughly my estimate, 40-50, for the total adult population. The colony in the grass seemed very quiet. I hoped that the sun served as incubator and the parents were taking a well-deserved break. 

 

I learned later that the enormous Royal Caribbean quantum-class cruise ship “Ovation of the Seas” arrived in port early Friday morning on its second Seward visit, with a dead, pregnant, 61’ fin whale draped over its bulbous bow.

 

She was towed to Lowell Point for the necropsy by Alaska Sealife Center scientists to try to determine the cause of death. Though she was all carved up for the procedure, she was still an awe-inspiring sight. There are many on-line news stories about this tragic event.

 

Despite the crowds lined up along the road, a nonchalant WANDERING TATTLER strolled along the shoreline, foraging for amphipods and other invertebrates.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, June 14, 2026 Black-backed Woodpecker, Whimbrel, Wandering Tattler, mating Arctic Terns

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 4:34 am, sunset 11:24 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 50 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 10 seconds longer as we approach the summer solstice on June 21 with the maximum of 18 hours and 54 minutes.

 

A big storm blew in last night with the first real soaking rain (sorely needed), south winds gusting to 40 mph, and temps in the low 40s. It must have been a tough time for incubating birds and newly hatched nestling in exposed nests.

 

On a stroll around Two Lakes Park on Tuesday afternoon, June 9, I lucked into Woodpecker Alley by the First Lake outlet stream. A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER flew ahead of me, landing about 10’ up successive spruce trees. It was huge compared to a male DOWNY WOODPECKER that followed in its wake. I returned the next day with optics, but alas, no woodpecker sightings.

 

In the mysterious ground fog at the tidelands on Wednesday morning, I found a lone HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL foraging along the tide’s edge. This is a late bird. A male WILSON’S SNIPE winnowed overhead, adding to the eerie scene. That’s a challenging dot-speck to photograph!

 

I heard my FOS ALDER FLYCATCHER singing and enjoyed watching a SAVANNAH SPARROW belt out his song from a lichen-encrusted snag.

 

Around 11 pm, the lonesome SAW-WHET OWL beeped from the forest of Mount Marathon.

 

Another late sighting of a WANDERING TATTLER on Friday, June 12 made me wonder if they are nesting somewhere along our numerous gravel riverbeds or up in the subalpine tundra. 

 

ARCTIC TERNS may have some hatchlings; one Tern caught a tiny fish perfect for a baby and flew it home. Most of the catch still seems to be larger salmon smolt. On June 13, much to my surprise, I happened upon the intimate scene of two Terns mating. While this is likely evidence of failed nesting, it seems much too late in the season for a second attempt with their tight traveling schedule.

 

A dainty immature BONAPARTE’S GULL, a two-year gull, loosely associated with the bigger SHORT-BILLED GULLS.

 

Back home, the male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD finally got perch at the feeder, though he proved very wary and elusive. I snuck some photos through the rain-spattered window while he dined. What a beauty!

 

As we reach mid-June and bird parents busy with their babies, birdsong has greatly diminished. Much to my delight, I heard the long song of a tiny PACIFIC WREN yesterday. 

 

Still serenading/celebrating today after the storm was a lusty FOX SPARROW, fluting HERMIT THRUSHES, the occasional sweet ROBIN, TOWNSEND’S, YELLOW-RUMPED, and WILSON’S WARBLERS. 

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Monday, June 8, 2026 Unexpected Geese, and Spring progressing to Summer

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 4:38 am, sunset 11:17 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 39 minutes. Tomorrow will be 2 minutes and 10 seconds longer. It' hard to go to bed when it is so light!

 

Seward experienced summer for three amazing days last week when the temperature finally rose into the 50s and even mid-60s. My journal notes: “Perfect day!” Brand-new leaves erupted in a lovely spring-green color; alder and cottonwood flowers burst forth; dandelions opened their mini-sun flowers.

Parking is getting difficult at Afognak Beach due to the popular red salmon snag fishery. I managed to “snag” a spot on June 2, probably my last visit for a while. 

The thick algal wrack continued to provide a buffet for birds including the usual HERMIT THRUSHES, FOX and SONG SPARROWS, AMERICAN CROWS, AMERICAN ROBINS, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. No Pipits observed.

A bright YELLOW WARBLER caught my eye, also enjoying breakfast chez The Wrack. It was fun to be able to actually see him, instead of the usual flitting behind leaves and branches.

I also heard a BELTED KINGFISHER.

A black bear was reported rummaging though an irresponsible homeowner’s garbage can down the block on June 3. I reluctantly removed my sunflower seed feeder and suet, known bear attractants. 

The bewildered resident RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES landed on the hummingbird feeder that replaced them. It was tough to quit cold turkey, but they adapted within a few days.

The early-blooming willows continue to attract insects for warblers. As bumblebees bounced from flower to flower, a WILSON’S WARBLER darted about as well, hopefully on smaller, more expendable insects.

Apparently, Seward can’t handle too much heat, so the mysterious fog rolled in on June 5, shrouding the mountains to the sea. The gigantic quantum-class cruise ship and double-berthed smaller cruise ship docked at the port almost disappeared.

ARCTIC TERNS jetted though the mist and occasional blue-sky windows. Some enjoyed a complete soaking bath in a warmed intertidal stream. Nesting and incubation continued for most; no sign of meal delivery yet.

On June 6, an immature BALD EAGLE chased three CACKLING GEESE, stroking powerfully and maneuvering to follow the slightly faster and loudly honking geese. Finally, they outflew him and all the birds landed to rest. Peace returned for now, though the geese continued to exclaim about the excitement.

Seven alert and silent GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE watched the drama but wisely did not move. It seems unusual for these geese to linger in Seward long after their brethren migrated north. No signs of nesting.

On June 7, I watched a dozen or more GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS picking off conveniently exposed mussels at low tide from the sheet pile breakwater at Fourth of July Beach. 

On June 8, at least 15 Eagles lined up along the Resurrection River, probably combat fishing for red salmon, just like the humans. Maybe the unsuccessful goose hunter joined them for an easier meal. Despite the availability of salmon, an adult eagle expended a lot of time and energy pursuing a Glaucous-winged Gull without success.

I am really enjoying listening to the beautiful birdsongs from my bagged baby monitor when inside. A tireless ROBIN serenades the neighborhood for hours with his cheerful song. HERMIT THRUSH, VARIED THRUSH, FOX SPARROW, PINE SISKINS, WILSON’S, TOWNSEND’S, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, the Nuthatches, Chickadees, even the STELLER'S JAYS and raucous BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, plus the chitter of competing RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS bring joy inside and out.

Happy Spring Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter