Seward, Alaska
Quite a lot of excitement
today!
First song in the morning was
the WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW’s clear ‘O, Can-a-da, Can-a-da, Can-a-da!” close by in
my yard, but hidden in the spruce boughs. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, ROBINS, and
VARIED THRUSHES added to the sweet spring chorus.
At the head of the bay, I
heard a sharp “Chirp! Chirp!” and searched the sky in amazement. Sure enough, two
ARCTIC TERNS zipped in tandem against the snowy mountain backdrop, glad to be back. It
sure seems early!
I spotted a single FOS PACIFIC
GOLDEN-PLOVER foraging through the emerging sedges in the wetland pond, his
dramatic white shawl extended down his sides, separating the golden spangles on
his back from his black front. It’s always a treat to see one of these
beauties.
Five BALD EAGLES soared
lazily overhead, spiraling around each other effortlessly. Suddenly, all the
ducks on the pond erupted into the air in panic as an Eagle streaked across,
right above the water. A CANADA GOOSE flew up and tried desperately to evade
the predator, turning in a sharp circle. Undeterred, the Eagle followed and slammed
into it, then both fell heavily into the water.
The Goose struggled mightily,
but the Eagle held on with determination, wings flailing to maintain balance.
Still holding the Goose underwater to drown it, the Eagle began awkwardly
stroking to shore. It seemed like a long time, but it was only a few minutes
from the strike to lunchtime.
Several of the soaring Eagles
cruised in to watch from various perches, hoping for a piece of the action, but
were not invited to share. One brave Eagle did land nearby and gradually walked
up near the diner who was still ripping away and gobbling great chunks of meat.
Now I could tell the hunter
was the larger female. The male, presumably her mate, did not ask for or
receive any Goose, but seemed to be guarding her, carefully scanning the sky
overhead. Eventually, they both flew off, taking the leftovers with them, with only a small pile of gray goose feathers like crumbs to mark the scene. Wow!
Later that evening, a FOS
SHORT-EARED OWL silently wafted over the drab grasslands, much like an oversized moth,
swooping and turning as it hunted voles.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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