Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:22 am, sunset 8:41
pm for a total day length of 13 hours and 19 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5
minutes and 29 seconds longer.
The weather pulled a fine
April Fools’ joke this morning with a little snowstorm. It snowed enough to
refresh the mountains’ dignity, surprise the colorful crocuses, tick off a disapproving
ROBIN, and coat everything white. Fortunately, the joke was short-lived and by
early afternoon the clouds parted to reveal a startling blue sky and a smiling
sun. Maybe that was just another bad joke; a few hours later the clouds ganged
up. Scattered snow and rain showers are in the forecast until Friday. Ha, ha.
On Monday, Joe was barely
back when he found 2 FOS AMERICAN PIPITS on Monday. Many more NORTHERN PINTAILS
have arrived, sharing the wetlands with a pair of GADWALL and MALLARDS.
Tuesday on the Tonsina Trail,
I flushed a non-migratory SPRUCE GROUSE eating gravel. As it flew to the safety
of the trees (spruce of course) it fanned its black tail with a chestnut brown
band. I spotted a COMMON LOON far out from shore, a rare sight all winter.
Today at Ava’s Place, I spied
the PURPLE FINCH, looking much the same as it did all winter. PINE SISKINS and
PINE GROSBEAKS still dominated the feeders and seed on the ground with DOWNY
WOODPECKERS zipping in and out from the suet feeders.
At the tidelands, I saw four
likely PIPIT suspects but they were too far to verify. It was easy to spot the four
newly arrived, brilliant white TRUMPETER SWANS that joined the two local
cygnets to rest and feed in the sn’rain.
The 9-month old light gray cygnets
won’t be ready to breed until they are two years old, but maybe they will
migrate to new territory with other swans. Mom and dad reign over their nesting
area at mile 1 Nash Road and seem to have said adios to their beloved and
well-cared for 2014 kids.
During that brief break in
the clouds, I watched five more snow-white TRUMPETER SWANS fly overhead with
strong, steady wing beats, honking softly, discussing travel plans. What a gorgeous
sight against that blue-sky window! Apparently they decided to push north, ever
north.
Spring migrants are on the
way and that is no April Fools!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
No comments:
Post a Comment