Seward, Alaska
What an amazing afternoon!
I ventured out to look for
the NORTHERN SHOVELER pair that Tasha found on Monday. Instead, I found the six resident TRUMPETER SWANS plus two! I could not get close
for decent photos, but they sure were interesting to watch.
When I arrived at the
half-frozen pond, the two resident parents were floating side by side, gawking like
teenagers at a movie star. The large, magnificent newcomer stood on a small
island stage, ignoring them, while he nonchalantly preened his radiant perfection.
The four cygnets clustered together, as if instructed to stay a respectful
distance away.
Finally, the parents began
dipping their long necks up and down, a signal to move, and paddled back to join
their youngsters. That’s when I noticed yet another Trumpeter Swan on the other
side of the family, quietly resting. She seemed smaller, and much more demure
in contrast to the rock star male. Eight beautiful swans! Not wishing to
disturb them any further, I backed away. It they stay, it will be fascinating
to watch the interactions of this group as the winter progresses to spring.
An entertaining RAVEN put on
quite a show for me near my car, posturing and displaying, pulling up tufts of
dead grass, vocalizing, and generally having a fine time. It was such a treat
to watch and listen to this unconcerned Corvid. Usually Ravens are so wary, I
only think about reaching for my camera and they zip out of sight.
I managed to get a photo when
the Raven’s nictitating membrane was closed, giving him a weird-looking, blank,
blue eye. A short time later, a NORTHWESTERN CROW also flashed its blue third
eyelid. There’s an excellent website on the nictitating membrane at “The Ark in
Space”
http://www.arkinspace.com/2014/06/the-nictitating-membrane-third-eyelid.html
It makes me want to get more photos of this phenomenon.
Later, on a walk at Fourth of
July Beach, I suddenly encountered a long line of brown bear tracks in the
crusty snow. Wow! Did I ever feel small! The tracks were not fresh, maybe
yesterday, but just to know a large, hungry bear was awake and wandering
around was thrilling. I will have to start carrying bear spray now, just in
case.
Just as I was about to leave, I spotted two juvenile BALD EAGLES hunting over the rolling waves. One eagle nailed a COMMON MURRE and flew back to shore. Just as it was about to rise up to land in the spruce trees to enjoy lunch, the other one made a grab for the murre. I watched the murre's white body plunge to dramatically to the ground. As the thief circled back, the other eagle flew away, fiercely clutching the head and bloody upperparts. Hungry eagles!
Just as I was about to leave, I spotted two juvenile BALD EAGLES hunting over the rolling waves. One eagle nailed a COMMON MURRE and flew back to shore. Just as it was about to rise up to land in the spruce trees to enjoy lunch, the other one made a grab for the murre. I watched the murre's white body plunge to dramatically to the ground. As the thief circled back, the other eagle flew away, fiercely clutching the head and bloody upperparts. Hungry eagles!
What a wild and exciting
afternoon in an otherwise rather dark and gloomy day!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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