Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:35 am, sunset 4:43
pm for a total length of day of 7 hours and 8 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4
minutes and 27 seconds longer.
Weather: Today's high was
44ยบ! It seemed more like April than January. A warm south wind barreled in
bearing sheets of rain from an ominous gray wall o' water blocking the bay. I
found a soggy earthworm on top of a watery sheet of ice this morning. Much of
the ground is free of snow, and tree roots may soon be thawing. Bird activity
at feeders has dropped considerably as the ever-increasing bare ground offers
other options.
Seward experienced a rare
turbulent weather event on Friday morning, January 17: brilliant flashes of
lightning, the low rumble of thunder, then torrential rain. More warm, rainy, spring-y weather is forecast for at least another week. February flowers?
Today, I added two
more species to my 2014 list, bringing the total number to 58. All but the
GREAT GRAY OWL, seen flying across the highway north of Summit Lake before dawn
on January 12th, are from Seward.
At noon, a small flock of
ventriloquistic GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS flitted high in the spruce branch
jungle on the north side of First Lake at Two Lakes Park.
"Tsee-tsee-tsee!" 57.
After the quiet walk through
the dim, mossy green forest, I headed for the gray bay and windy beach. Using
my car as a blind and wind/rain shelter, I pulled up to Scheffler Creek just
south of the Harbor Uplands. A handful of plucky and hopeful NORTHWESTERN CROWS
flew over to see if I might have some tidbits to share. One had an overlong
bill, but otherwise looked healthy. I haven't seen crows with deformed bills
for several years, so this was unusual.
Just out in front, two Sea
Otters cruised around on their backs, munching with gusto, then dove for more.
Suddenly, three River Otters tumbled out of the mouth of the creek and rolled
around each other in the shallow water like a pile of puppies. They soon headed
out to deeper water, facing forwards so they could see where they were going,
unlike their carefree cousins.
Two small gulls took flight
from the beach. One was a typical winter adult MEW GULL, the other was a
mystery bird. It was likely a young MEW changing plumage. The darker brown
coloration along the wings extended from the black and white wing tips into the
gray mantle; the white tail had a black band edged in white; the grayish bill
had a dark tip, and the feet were also grayish. Gulls, with all their plumage
variations, are an intriguing and never-ending source of wonder and puzzlement.
Soon, more gulls arrived as
if called by synchronous dinner bells: MEW GULLS, several GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS
of various ages, and then a small bright gull with jet-black wingtips. A
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE! Then another. 58! These are the first of season for me.
The gulls cried in
excitement, hovering over the water, pink, yellow, and black legs dangling,
jockeying for position, then bam, bam, bam! In they dove with a great splash,
completely submerged, or just showing bits of their wings. After what seemed
like a very long pause, they shot straight up into the air, water streaming
down. Some emerged with small silvery fish held sideways in their beaks; others
either gobbled the fish down directly, or missed. Could these be salmon smolt,
already heading to sea from the Scheffler Creek and Lagoon nursery?
An adult BALD EAGLE,
attracted by all the crying, splashing, and action, swooped powerfully
overhead, wheeled gracefully, and momentarily scattered the noisy crowd. The
wary BARROW'S and COMMON GOLDENEYES, RED-BREASTED and COMMON MERGANSERS, SURF
SCOTERS, and PELAGIC CORMORANTS magically disappeared.
After the eagle flew off, the
show continued as the birds followed the invisible school of fish close to
shore. Then abruptly, first the SCOTERS took flight, then the other sea ducks,
and finally the gulls, heading towards the next great feast. I had forgotten
about the gray sky, gray water, and pelting rain until they left, and then,
that was all that was left.
I rolled up the window,
mopped up the water on the inside, and headed for home, quite satisfied. Back
in the 'hood, I spied 13 soggy ROBINS perched in a Mt Ash tree, eating the old
shriveled berries in the rain. There aren't many berries left, but if this warm
weather keeps up, they'll be feasting on earthworms instead!
Other bird notes:
Tuesday January 14: a dozen
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS "flycatching" invisible insects; WHITE-WINGED
SCOTER by Greenbelt
Saturday, January 18:
Immature GOSHAWK in the 'hood
Sunday, January 19: Scott
Schuette and Nick Hajdukovich spotted the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW with JUNCOS
and a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at Lowell Point Beach access.
Monday, January 20: 30
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS chirring in cottonwood
Robin C reported an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE at Lowell Point
Robin C reported an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE at Lowell Point
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
Check out Chris Maynard's
Feather Blog, featuring fantastic, creative use of feathers: <http://www.featherfolio.com/blog/>
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