Seward,
Alaska
Today
could not have been more uniformly gray from the sky down to the ocean. Temps
hovered around 33, resulting in snow one moment and rain the next.
Floating
on the calm gray bay by the SMIC boat basin, I found a gorgeous, LONG-TAILED
DUCK with a dashing long tail. Where was his lady to admire this magnificence?
Nowhere nearby, so I did.
A
patient and illiterate BELTED KINGFISHER perched on a handy no trespassing sign, looking for
dinner, not ducks. Six HORNED GREBES drifted past, seemingly suspended in the
gray world. A PELAGIC CORMORANT preened on a piling while three BARROW’S
GOLDENEYES inspected the sides.
Over
at Fourth of July Beach, one COMMON LOON dove far from shore. A smattering of
SURF SCOTERS, HORNED GREBES, and HARLEQUINS paddled and dove from the cold rain
to the warmer ocean. A single juvie GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL floated placidly near
the beach. All in all, pretty quiet.
Back
in town, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was reported from the Clearview neighborhood
behind Safeway. The recent TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE is being elusive.
Closer
to home, my alley this morning was alive with a dozen or more ROBINS, a few
VARIED THRUSHES, some singing weakly, PINE GROSBEAKS, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS,
JUNCOS, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.
Out
at Lowell Point Beach, there must be upwards of 200 PINE SISKINS hammering the
alder seeds. When they fly, it looks like a swarm of bees.
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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