Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 10:00 am, sunset 3:50
pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 49 minutes. Tomorrow will be 9 seconds
shorter as the Earth creaks around the sun.
It’s not hard to get up before
the crack of dawn this time of year! After rolling out after 10 am, the sun tiptoed
behind the thick curtain of blue-gray clouds all morning. But by this
afternoon, the very shy sun peeked out and scattered its weak but welcome rays
around like gold coins. As if to compensate for the cameo appearance, the
southern sky and mountain peaks turned a rosy pink at sunset. I even saw a few
stars and the moon this evening, already more than half-full with a big ring
around it signaling moisture.
The “Accentor House” at
Second and Madison was a hot spot today with 5 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES, the
most we’ve had this winter. At least 2
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and 1-2 SONG SPARROWS darted in and out of the spruce
and alder thicket. DARK-EYED JUNCOS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, BLACK-CAPPED and
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES flitted back and forth. Two BROWN CREEPERS and a DOWNY WOODPECKER were
spotted recently as well.
A flock of PINE GROSBEAKS
flew overhead and landed in nearby spruces, accompanied by the familiar “chirr”
of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, number unknown, though likely only a few. The most BOWA we’ve
had so far is 5 on December 14.
Not today, but on December
15, a STARLING unfortunately found these feeders and feasted on suet. Nearby, a
red squirrel clung to the other suet feeder with an air of desperation. I felt
sorry for it when I saw its head was all bloody. Apparently this unlucky/lucky
squirrel was attacked previously and after the fur grew back (a lighter color)
was attacked again. Perhaps not coincidentally, a MAGPIE missing its tail flew
in, rather expertly considering the loss of the rudder. Only mysterious wing
prints in the snow offered a clue to these injuries, but one always suspects a
loose cat.
Also in the neighborhood, a
loose flock of about 20 PINE SISKINS landed in some alders. Siskin numbers
continue to be low but seem to be increasing.
While driving down Lowell
Point Road, I spotted a juvenile BALD EAGLE eating a Murre in a tree right
above the road. I stopped to watch and take photos. It was very interested in
lunch and not very concerned about me, though I didn’t crowd it.
At Lowell Point Beach, I
again found the COMMON LOON fishing close to shore. A few HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 2
MARBLED MURRELETS, a HORNED GREBE, and a lone MEW GULL were the only other
birds.
Back in town south of the
Harbor Uplands, I was surprised to see several flocks of up to 40 COMMON MURRES
flying from the bay towards the harbor and back. All this action seemed quite
unusual, with the usual question, why? Eight COMMON GOLDENEYES paddled close to
Scheffler Creek. No Scaup was seen. A hungry BALD EAGLE ate is usual Murre
dinner on the dolphin. Murre for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, again?!
NORTHWESTERN CROWS plucked
blue mussels from the intertidal rocks and flew up, dropped them, and swooped
down to retrieve the morsels in a timeless, rhythmic dance. It’s nice to see
they can fend for themselves when not begging and mobbing feeders.
A quick check of the boat
harbor turned up a handsome male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. I caught a glimpse of
a LOON diving, but though I waited a long time, I never saw it again.
Over at the Lagoon, several
MALLARDS stood on the shore preening. A scattered group of Common Goldeneyes fished in
the open areas between the ice.
A KINGFISHER briefly landed
on a wire, then shot off, rattling. It’s always great to see a Kingfisher.
The day was very short, but
enjoyable and interesting.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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