Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 10:00 am, sunset 4:02
pm for a total daylight of 6 hours and 2 minutes. Tomorrow will be 2 minutes
and 11 seconds longer.
What a doozy of a day! All
night, sleet pelted my south-facing windows, as if thrown by angry mobs. The
power went out around 4 am. Thunder rolled and lightning flashed just before
the next violent downpour erupted. It was a spectacular storm!
The 9 am Seward Christmas
Bird Count meeting occurred during a lull between squalls. Despite the recent
weather tantrum, birders with short memories and good rain gear were willing to have a go at the Count. The sage boat
captain, however, was not. The seas were roiling with white caps and visibility
was extremely limited. After much discussion about the logistics and options,
we decided to try again tomorrow when the marine forecast was considerably more
favorable.
It was only raining, a bit
windy, and warm at 41ยบ, so many volunteers headed out anyway, primarily to find
a CRESTED AUKLET, a Life Bird for many. Stopping and scoping along Lowell Point
Road was successful. Several single,
all dark auklets flew frantically into the south wind and plunged into the
waves, diving immediately. Then up they rose, back into the air for another
leapfrog flight. It was hard to estimate how many but at least ten. Tomorrow
we’ll pay closer attention.
Also spotted, a COMMON LOON
flying into the wind, such a large bird by comparison, and so unusual to see one flying. Several small groups of COMMON MURRES flew past, as others paddled in the
surf. Sprinkled along the bay were SURF SCOTERS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, BARROW’S and
COMMON GOLDENEYES, GLAUCOUS-WINGED and MEW GULLS. Several Steller’s sea lions
poked their noses up and waved their flippers. A BALD EAGLE cruised out to grab
a cold one from the refrigerator, likely a Common Murre, the snack of choice.
The sewage Lagoon proved a
popular dining spot for many COMMON GOLDENEYES, MEW GULLS, and MALLARDS. The
pond was remarkably calm, tucked away in the center of the Point.
By now, the sea was frothing
madly, and the 33mph wind made it hard to hold any optics. Squalls of stinging
rain and hail sent us back to the car. We found several more Auklets along the
Waterfront, a small flock of Surf Scoters with Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Steller sea
lions, Harlies, and gulls all riding the waves with determination. They have
little choice. The best bird was a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE slowing stroking its
way above the beach into the wind. Another two were spotted farther out. There
just haven’t been any Kittiwakes around recently.
Hoping for a lull, we next
headed to Afognak Beach. A lone truck was parked there and no one in sight at
the beach. Neither was the KILLDEER. The pink and blue-sprayed
COMMON MURRE carcasses now stretched all along the beach after Tasha finished
her COASST beach survey. Several live murres nearby sat lethargically in the
sleet. When we returned a short time later, they were dead. Five Bald Eagles
made short work of the bonanza lying at their feet.
A party of RAVENS cavorted
joyfully in the wind, performing aerial acrobatics and other daring feats. The
Raven seemed to be the only species actually enjoying the punishing weather.
Then we saw two others,
birders, who had been out biking the beach, covered with sleet and smiles. Glad
to survive that ride! Stoked, tomorrow they plan to fatbike their route out
towards Exit Glacier, probably in three feet of slush. Sounds like fun!
Over at Spring Creek, Tasha
and Sadie found 35 SNOW BUNTINGS and a bunch of other species I did not write
down. I’ll get that list later for Count Week. From the shelter of the car, we
managed to drum up four male LONG-TAILED DUCKS and one female, a PACIFIC LOON,
a few more Auklets, more Common Murres, Harlies, Pelagic Cormorants, and Surf
Scoters. I’ll do better tomorrow recording the CBC data.
It was impossible to get good, close looks or photos of any birds, much less the possible WHISKERED AUKLET. Several experts are mulling over my photos, trying to
decipher the clues. Thede noted that it would be an incredible record since the
species rarely moves between favored tide rip passes in the Aleutians. There are
no Seward or North Gulf records. Martin R further noted that they are only
rarely reported east of Unimak Pass. Did that recent tremendous storm pluck it out of its home and
fling it to Seward? Standing by for the verdict!
We checked out a few more
spots without anything to report, and headed home to dry out. It was a very
interesting day, one that I probably would not have experienced without the company of my
birding friends.
The squalls did not end with
sunset. Instead they seemed to pulse in regular intervals, a rhythm of eerie
silence, then the hammer of hard rain, sleet, or hail. More fantastic lightning
ignited Mt Marathon followed by the thrilling thunder, then the mountains on
the other side of the bay responded in kind, volleying back and forth. Thunder
and lightning used to be so rare!
The marine forecast posted a
small craft advisory for tonight, with the 30 knot south wind diminishing to 20
knots during the evening, seas 7 feet subsiding to 4 feet. Tomorrow, the south
wind at 10 knots becoming north in the afternoon, seas 2 feet. I’ll let Captain
Mike call the boat decision tomorrow at 9 am, but it sure sounds a whole lot
less gnarly than it was today!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
Sorry, no photos today!
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