Another cold and clear, sunny day! I headed out again to see
about checking off a few more birds. In the alley behind my house, I found the
EUROPEAN STARLING with a bunch of ROBINS. Check, but not a happy check for this
invasive species. I also found a single PINE SISKIN. Check! It’s so odd to only
find one of these normally gregarious birds.
While trying to get a photo, a banded SLATE-COLORED JUNCO
popped into the frame, a photo bomb. I had no idea it was banded until I
reviewed my photos later in the evening. I wonder who is banding Juncos, where,
and why?
The PINE GROSBEAKS were gorgeous in the morning light,
busily juicing the frozen Mt Ash berries. The snow under the trees is red with
their discarded berry skins and many seeds. It is interesting that they are so
selective, slow, and messy whereas Robins and other birds eat the whole berries
quickly and neatly. This could be a collaborative “Jack Sprat” situation to
“lick the platter clean” if only another bird would eat the skins and seeds off
the ground.
At the tidelands in the brisk north wind, I found the ROCK
SANDPIPERS, about 33 with a few DUNLINS, feeding voraciously. Check! I did not
conclusively find the Sanderling. It was fascinating to watch them, flying
urgently from one area to another, feeding at the edge of the tide, then in a
fresh water creek, and over to an ice-rimmed rivulet, their heads often totally
underwater. I never did see what they found to eat.
The AMERICAN TREE SPARROW popped up at Ava’s. Check! A
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW scratched for grit under the carport just out of the
sunshine, but its golden crown glowed. After a long while, the plucky ANNA’S
again appeared and after a quick sip or two, sat quietly in the shade away from
the 100-watt lamp on the ice-cold metal shovel. What a guy!
I looked unsuccessfully for the Red-breasted Sapsucker, but
enjoyed a show of sprightly JUNCOS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEES, bossy RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, KENAI SONG SPARROWS, a DOWNY
WOODPECKER, STELLER’S JAYS, and several pumpkin-orange VARIED THRUSHES.
My last stop as the light drained away was along Second Ave
where I managed to get a photo of the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW when it briefly
emerged from the alders as if to say “good night!”
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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