Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:02 am, sunset 8:58
pm, for a total daylight of 15 hours and 25 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes
and 28 seconds longer.
Brilliant blue sky and
sunshine! At least two RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS belted out their impossibly
oversized song this morning. I managed to track one down, flitting from one branch
to another, as erratic as a warbler. None have been reported this year, so
these are First of Season. Fittingly, a ROBIN sang its sweet song in the
background. A pair of STELLER'S JAYS exchanged gifts of dry grass, presumably for nesting material. What a great way to start the day!
As the temperature rose from
37ยบ to the mid 50s, a Milbert Tortoiseshell Butterfly emerged from its winter
hideaway to warm up in the sun. This species overwinters as adults, and so is
the first butterfly seen in the spring.
The four TRUMPETER SWAN
cygnets popped up at the Lagoon in town; snoozing in the sunshine. It is so
wonderful to see them again.
Four CANADA GEESE were
reported spending the night and departing around 8 am this morning.
Ava reported a PEREGRINE
FALCON on April 2, not seen since.
Last year, RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRDS showed up on Nash Road just outside Seward on April 15. It’s time
to find, clean, and fill your hummer feeder with fresh sugar solution. One part
white granulated sugar to 4 cups boiling water. NO red food coloring; it’s not
needed and may cause tumors. I like the wide-mouth Audubon glass feeder as it’s
easy to clean and fill.
Have you purchased your $25 2016
Federal Duck Stamp yet? USFWS uses the proceeds to purchase and protect habitat
for wetland conservation. Interesting interview on the proposed changes to add
non-duck species to appeal more to birders and gain support at:
More sunshine in the forecast
for Friday then back to rain; stay tuned to see what shows up next!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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