Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:21 am, sunset 6:54
pm for a total daylight of 11 hours and 33 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes
and 30 seconds longer.
The 28º low this morning
turned yesterday’s rain/slush to slick ice, but it melted under the gentle
warmth of the smiling sun by mid morning. It was winter in the brisk
northerly wind’s company, and spring without it as the thermometer rose to a
high of 48º.
The shift of seasons was also
evident in human activities: an open convertible passed a car topped by
skis; bundled up bicyclists pedaled past red-faced joggers. Hikers hauled snowshoes up the surrounding
mountains, buried in snow, while crocuses bloomed at sea level. Spring is in
the air!
The juvenile NORTHERN SHRIKE left
its comfortable perch on the power line to hunt, flying quickly from one spy
perch to the next. I received a report of a recently fledged BLACK-BILLED
MAGPIE family; talk about early!
The four stately, almost
10-month old, almost white, TRUMPETER SWAN cygnets (hatched around May 25, 2015) spent the
afternoon fending for themselves while the parents took a break at the Nash
Road wetlands. This is the first time I have seen them without the parents
nearby. It may indicate permanent eviction, as nesting started in April last
year. I did not see the “intruder” pair.
The second winter GLAUCOUS
GULL, resembling a large, white snowball with pink legs, seems to like the
historic pilings in front of B Street. It was there yesterday in the sleet.
Today in the sunshine, it was even more brilliantly white. I enjoyed watching
it stretch one wing, like a yoga pose shortly before flying off to join the
screaming BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and other gulls at the fish processing bird
feeder. A large line of SURF SCOTERS, and several PELAGIC CORMORANTS patrolled
the edges of the melee.
Nearby, two NORTHWESTERN CROWS, (a pair?) poked industriously in the brown and greening grass. I did
not see if they found anything of interest, but maybe they were just testing the
suitability of the nesting material.
While watching a swirling mob
of at least ten sleek STELLER SEA LIONS, (hard to count noses!) four BARROW’S
GOLDENEYES flew in front of me, extended their bright orange webbed feet, and coasted
in with a splash. Several more flew in to join the small flock. Their golden
eyes glowed in the sunlight; such beautiful ducks!
A Sea Otter bobbed in the
wavelets on its back, munching away without a care in the world. A curious Harbor Seal repeatedly
poked its shiny head up like a periscope, looked around and slid stealthily back
underwater. I wonder if it too, saw Spring?
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
No comments:
Post a Comment