Sunrise 4:57 am, sunset 10:53
pm for a total day length of 17 hours and 55 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3
minutes and 57 minutes longer.
While walking along the
tidelands this afternoon, I heard an unusual cry and looked up. GLAUCOUS-WINGED
and MEW GULLS were mobbing a light adult POMARINE JAEGER, giving it a thorough
escort out of their territory. The black helmet, yellow wash on the throat, and
black breast band really stood out. The knobby-looking, twisted tail feathers
cinched the identification of this heavy-bodied jaeger. I have never seen a
Jaeger, much less a pelagic Pomarine Jaeger in Seward, 40 miles from the
continental shelf. What an astonishing discovery!
A short time later, I heard
another sound, “keerrt!” and turned around to see 7 BLACK TURNSTONES flying
past, low over the beach. The black head and breast contrasted sharply with the
white underwings and belly; then, flip! the overall black upperside accented
with artfully placed white stripes and brown and white wings. What a striking
pattern! The white eyebrow and lore spot were harder to see. This is another
unusual species for Seward, but not as uncommon as the Jaeger.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS
flew past. A flock of 17 GREATER SCAUP rafted up then flew farther down the
bay.
To top it all off, a HUMPBACK
WHALE blew and surfaced just offshore. What a thrill!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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