Seward, Alaska
Today is the 51th anniversary
of the Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami of March 27, 1964.
Sunrise 7:37 am, sunset 8:29
pm for a total day length of 12 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5
minutes and 30 seconds longer.
Mornings this past week
started a little cool in the low 30s, and by afternoon the thermometer rose to
the high 40s. The forecast was actually vaguely correct: we had a mix of sun
for a few spectacular days, then hard, hard rain that dusted the mountains with
fresh snow, some wind, but mostly light. It’s the special spring mix of
rainbows and southerly squalls that delivers the migratory birds to the melting
ponds and brown but budding landscape.
Until recently, it’s been
hard to tell if spring was here. Due to the mild winter, the TRUMPETER SWAN
family never left, the young GOLDEN EAGLE lingered, a few NORTHERN PINTAILS
hung around, as did a small flock of DUNLINS and ROCK SANDPIPERS. The
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES arrived way early, and 2 juvenile RED CROSSBILLS popped
up.
Singing is not a good clue as
PACIFIC WRENS, VARIED THRUSHES, and PINE GROSBEAKS have been singing since
December. The dapper DIPPER sings no matter how inclement the weather seems to
us, and the sweet SONG SPARROW seems inspired regardless of the calendar.
All winter, the multitudinous
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS filled the air with their songs, winding up like a
musical toy, crank-crank-crank, followed by a torrent of rapid notes. SAW-WHET
OWLS took over the night duty, with GREAT HORNED and infrequently, WESTERN
SCREECH OWLS. In early March, the DARK-EYED JUNCOS began ringing their little
bells. They’ve been here, but had sense to wait.
On March 17, I spotted my
first PIGEON GUILLEMOT in breeding plumage, and a GADWALL flew by. On March 18,
the first wave of Euphasid krill washed up on the beaches. I don’t know why
they die in the spring, but it’s now a usual March event.
On March 21, I spotted my
first of spring HERRING GULLS, crying and carrying on in small flocks overhead,
glad to be on their way north. RAVEN pairs carried wads of moss and dead grass
to line their nests. They know it’s time.
On March 24, I heard five
PACIFIC WRENS singing along Tonsina Trail. A few more sing in the morning along
the forested slopes of Mt Marathon, and along Lost Lake Trail. That seems like
enough birds to include at least a few migrants.
Today there were a dozen or
more NORTHERN PINTAILS feeding with the usual MALLARDS. Robin C spotted a FOS
HARLAN’S HAWK.
The squalls forecast for the
coming few days bear winged gifts. Keep your eyes open and ears to the sky.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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