Thursday, April 24, 2025 Black-bellied Plover, Cranes, Whimbrel!

Seward, Alaska

Cool and cloudy conditions persisted this week with scattered showers.

 

On Sunday, April 20, I first heard a clear whistle then located my FOS BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, a very dapper and distinguished-looking male in full breeding plumage. He steadily foraged in the mudflats and shallow puddles. When he turned towards me, his body outline was a perfect circle. I don’t get to see them every year, so it was a real treat. On April 19, 2020 I saw several; they are right on time.

 

On Monday, April 21, I counted 15 LAPLAND LONGSPURS diving towards the bleached grass in the distance. I heard a familiar growl of a BONAPARTE’S GULL. Ten SANDHILL CRANES flew high overhead, bugling excitedly as they stroked northwards.

 

Tuesday, April 22 was Crane Day as wave after wave passed overhead, some in strings of over 100, others in small flocks, and one all by itself. One large flock was so high, they looked like tiny stitches in the clouds, their voices floating to earth. So exciting! Happy Earth Day!

 

Wednesday, April 23, seven GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE landed to feast on sedge corms and other vegetation. Two CACKLING GEESE circled around and around and landed out of sight. Seven GREATER-YELLOW LEGS cried out, “ridley, ridley, ridley!” as they flew across the sky. More Cranes flew ahead of the glowering clouds and kept going.

 

Today, while watching a GREAT BLUE HERON stalk fish for brunch, I heard a call that seized my attention. A large brown shorebird landed in the grass in the distance. I watched and waited until it finally flew far away to the west. 

 

I resumed walking and to my joy, it again called, and landed much closer. Finally, I could verify my FOS WHIMBREL! I have many, many favorite birds, but I am especially fond the these long-billed, long-legged, exotic-looking shorebirds.

 

37 laughing GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew overhead in a well-organized “V”. And later, I received reports of more Cranes that I was sorry to miss. 

 

Spring is sprung!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Saturday, April 19, 2025 Swan on nest, Kingfishers, Dipper, Crows, Robin

 Seward, Alaska 

The rainbow’s promise of sunshine came with a thin veneer of morning ice on puddles as the overnight low dipped to 27. Brrr! It felt like winter all day with a chilly south wind, though the thermometer read a high of 40.

 

For the first time, I saw the TRUMPETER SWAN sitting on her nest. The water level is unusually high at the Mile 1 Nash Road wetlands; she’s been dredging nest materials from the water to the water. But now, it looks like the nest and future babies are above the flood zone.

 

Out in the bay, HORNED GREBES are exchanging their plain black and white winter outfits for outrageously gaudy gold “horns” and chestnut brown suits. This process takes a while, so don’t embarrass them during the seedy-looking molt.

 

Salmon fry are hatching out of their hidden eggs in the numerous anadromous streams around the bay. These tiny fish fuel many birds, including ARCTIC TERNS, BELTED KINGFISHERS, and DIPPERS. I marveled as a Dipper added variety to its meal and dove for a caddisfly larva, shook it out of its case, and tossed it down the hatch.

 

An unexpected, long song of a PACIFIC WREN at Two Lakes Park delighted me, though the singer was concealed in the woods. Though these tiny Wrens sometimes stay the winter, this is the first I’ve heard this year.

 

Nest-building continued in earnest for two resident AMERICAN CROWS. They industriously gathered bits of dried grass, last-year’s horsetails, and small twigs from the gravel drive and grass near the Waterfront. More and more, cramming in one treasure after another to an already over-flowing bill. 

 

I don’t know how they kept going and suspect they picked up the same building supplies more than once. Finally, possibly realizing the items were starting to look familiar, they both flew off towards a grove of small spruce. Biodegradable, affordable homes almost ready for occupancy!

 

The finale tonight around 9:45 pm was not the lonesome Saw-whet Owl, but a phenomenal male ROBIN, serenading the whole neighborhood with his sweet, melodious song. Wow! 

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, April 18, 2025 Northern Harrier, Arctic Terns, Canada Geese, Rainbow

Seward, Alaska

Another crazy, squally day with tantalizing moments of sunshine, ending in a spectacular rainbow.

 

I refound that handsome NORTHERN HARRIER hunting the fields but missed the Short-eared Owl cameo appearance.  A distant AMERICAN GOSHAWK perched at the top of a spruce tree, resting. More ducks have arrived in small numbers including NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and MALLARDS.

 

Two CANADA-type GEESE flew in with the rain and quickly disappeared.

 

The ARCTIC TERNS, who arrived on April 15, have increased from four to about ten. Rather than coexist harmoniously at the long-sought breeding grounds, two Terns duked it out high in the sky, fluttering furiously and screaming, beak to beak, grabbing feathers and fighting foul. Even in the midst of battle, they remained graceful, acrobatic, and stunning. All pointy: bills, wingtips, tails.

 

Incredibly, the sun came out. I took a chance during the brief weather window to ebike Exit Glacier Road, still gated at Box Canyon. I only heard one VARIED THRUSH near the beginning of my ride and no Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Still early.

 

Though the road was very wet, (and I got rained on) there was no ice or snow on the road until just before the 1894 marker where I turned back.

 

A single TRUMPTER SWAN floated in Resurrection River upstream of the bridge. I briefly heard distant Gulls high above but no other birds. So peaceful and silent. Soon, soon!

On my way home, a BALD EAGLE flew to the side of the road accompanied by two excited RAVENS and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES. I pulled into the nearby Chamber of Commerce parking lot to watch. It seemed the Eagle was interested in a birdy bath in a rain puddle, but the raucous company wouldn’t allow five minutes peace. The Eagle stalked around as they do, and shot a most piercing glare at the pests…if looks could kill! Pretty amusing to watch, though I’m sure the Eagle did not find it one bit funny.

 

Later, in early evening along the Waterfront, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS announced its presence and flew in low from the bay. It landed along the shore in front of a noisy campsite with campfire smoke, but didn’t seem to mind. Behind it, across the bay, a spectacular double rainbow arched from the clouds in front of snowy mountains and glaciers, down to the water.  

 

For a finale, around 10 pm, the SAW-WHET OWL steadily beeped in the forested lower slopes of Mt Marathon as luminous Jupiter set behind the peak far above. 

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

Thursday, April 17, 2025 Northern Harrier, Pelagic Cormorants

Seward, Alaska

Another stormy, squally day with snow showers, temps in the mid-30s, and south wind 4-10 with gusts to 27 mph. Winter just won’t give up, having missed most of February.

 

In between squalls, I enjoyed watching a GREAT BLUE HERON stealthily stalk small fish, almost invisible. A bright male NORTHERN GOSHAWK cruised over sodden fields looking for voles. Small flocks of recently arrived NORTHERN PINTAILS circled overhead.

 

After driving through another squall of pelting rain, I found a pair of stunning PELAGIC CORMORANTS preening on a piling. They have replaced their boring black non-breeding plumage for a glossy greenish-purple ensemble with dashes of white on the neck and flank patch. Two jaunty crests adorned their heads front and back. Red outlined their eyes and the base of their slender dark bills. Dressed for success!

 

At Afognak Beach, I watched an outraged and courageous SHORT-BILLED GULL chase an adult BALD EAGLE across the beach. As the rain and wind resumed, the undeterred Eagle swept around a spruce tree and reappeared clutching a small, lichen-covered branch in her talons. Off she flew with her prize to add to the large nest, just down the beach.

 

These birds are all on schedule in the rain, snow, sleet, and squalls. I went home to dry out and get warm. Lucky me!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Monday, April 14, 2025 Yellowlegs, Surf, Humpback Whale

Seward, Alaska

 

After an overnight dusting of 1-3” snow, the clouds retreated and offered a day of welcome but chilly sunshine. Temps ranged from 25 to 38 with a brisk north wind.

 

Spring arrivals seem slow, though I enjoyed watching two GREATER YELLOWLEGS fishing at Afognak Beach, darting through a shallow intertidal stream to nab small fish with great accuracy and satisfaction.

 

Fourth of July Beach featured green surf pounding against the shore and a few hardy surfers. A smattering of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, SURF SCOTERS and HARLEQUINS dove in less dramatic water farther down the beach.

 

Off Lowell Point, a small fleet of fishing boats accompanied by the giant orange M/V Ross Chouest utility tug participated in SERVS, the Alyeska oil spill training for fishing vessels. 

 

In the middle of the bay all by itself, without any fanfare or flash, a magnificent Humpback Whale exhaled misty plumes then gracefully, leisurely, disappeared down into its ocean universe. 

 

Although it’s very hard to wait, the Seward spring migrants are on their way.

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter