Tuesday, February 28, 2017 Bummer, no Hummer

Seward, Alaska

I am sad to relay that there have been no sightings of the famous, fabulous ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD since February 14^th. Whenever I visit Ava’s Place to eagerly, anxiously, monitor the three waiting feeders, it seems so deserted despite the many dozens of other birds flying back and forth. It seems so quiet without his unique ticking pronouncements and buzzy little song though other bird songs and chatter fill the air.

The beauty of the other birds seem to pale compared to that perky little bump, sitting on a snowy branch, flashing his brilliant magenta gorget as his alertly looked around, his impossibly long bill sweeping back and forth.

The cold metal shovel where he liked to sit in the bitter cold, shunning the warm lamp just out of range, waits frozen in the snow, to serve this mite. Also waiting is the green wooden leg of the upside down chair where he liked to sit in the sun next to the house. The Mayday tree, one of his favorite places to survey his bird kingdom, holds all its leafless branches at the ready.

Since early August of 2016, the Anna’s has amazed and delighted birders. He scored a first for the 2016 Seward Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Throughout the darkest, longest nights of winter, through everything from bitter cold, drenching rain, sleet, and ice, he somehow survived.

I suspect he was a frequent flyer between Ava’s Place to an isolated feeder at least 2.3 miles away in town, popping up regardless of the strong north winds or gnarly winter weather. What an incredible bird!

The Boss displayed endurance, perseverance, and moxie that inspired so many every day. I so appreciate this petite spark of life that lit up our winter.

I have not given up on him, nor have the four feeder tenders who faithfully keep his heated feeders at the ready. We all hope to see him pop up any minute like he never left. “Tick, tick, tick!”

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, February 26, 2017 Saw-whet Owl!

Seward, Alaska

Just before noon today, I noticed the bird feeder enclosure (to keep out cats) was very quiet and decided to refill one of the sunflower seed feeders while my feathered guests were elsewhere. I climbed over the snow berm, descended down into the enclosure, and proceeded to noisily pour the sunflower seeds into the feeder.

As I finished rehanging it, I happened to glance over at a branch not four feet away. I froze in wonder. A tiny SAW-WHET OWL sat calmly on the branch sleepily watching me. My goodness! I softly said hello, and other pleasantries while I gathered up the lid and container and eased back out, as casual as can be.

Wow!!! I grabbed my camera and quietly returned to take some photos of this beautiful bird. The little owl seemed to be dozing in the sun, oblivious. I figured he must be very hungry to be hanging out by a bird feeder in the daytime. I was glad that no other birds, particularly the Steller’s Jays or even Chickadees had discovered him as they would raise the roof in alarm. I wondered if the usual feeder birds knew he was there and left.  It seemed unusually quiet.

I felt so sorry for him! So hungry and nothing to eat! Rummaging through my freezer, I found some frozen chicken, defrosted it, and cut it into small pieces. I quietly re-entered the enclosure and arranged them on top of one of the bird feeders in a display I hoped looked tempting. He never moved.

I left, hoping he would be there when I returned. Yes! Three and a half hours later, he now sat in the shadows, still looking very sleepy, his head drooping down. The chicken pieces were untouched.

Hmm. Maybe if they moved, he would be more interested. I found an old fishing pole and tied a thread to it. Just as I was about to go get the chicken and go jigging, he suddenly flew to the ground. Sleepy, ha! He was watching! A moment passed then up he flew into the shadows of an adjacent spruce tree with a mouse! Yea!!

I stayed away to give him privacy at this very exciting and crucial time. But first my telephoto managed to get a few shots of him eating, starting with the head first. Mmmmm!  

With all the birdseed scattered on the ground, there’s sure to be more than one mouse attracted to the bonanza. May the little owl enjoy the all-you-can-eat buffet for as long as he wants as an honored guest.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, February 24, 2017 Glaucous Gulls, and American Wigeon

Seward, Alaska

The new hotspot along the waterfront at the base of Madison Street was even hotter today. I’m glad I stopped to check as I immediately spotted two large, very white gulls floating quietly among the other gulls. GLAUCOUS GULLS! They mostly just watched the feeding frenzy as other birds dove on herring swimming close to shore.

A few more breeding plumage BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES mixed in with the MEW and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. The other gulls mercilessly and noisily chased any successful gull that did not immediately devour its prize. It sure seemed like a lot of wasted energy!

It was fun to watch, and wonder if any of these other gulls might be unusual as well. There are so many different age groups, molts, and subtle differences to consider!

Another new arrival (for me) was two RED-NECKED GREBES that cautiously paddled around the outskirts of the action.

At the head of the bay, I found a single AMERICAN WIGEON in the distance, walking along the tidelands, loosely associated with MALLARDS, also foraging.

Thanks to Steve Heinl who verified my Glaucous Gull identification, and added that they are both second cycle birds. Although one has a pronounced roundish head, it still has a short primary projection. An Iceland Gull would look slim and long-winged, and furthermore, the palest Iceland Gulls that are white are also the smallest in the group. 

I’ll keep looking and studying gulls; it’s a daily and lifetime challenge.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, February 23, 2017 Common Murres return!

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:12 am, sunset 6:10 pm, for a total day light of 9 hours and 58 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 27 seconds longer.

Mostly sunny, calm, and lovely weather these past three days with temps in the 20s to low 30s. The lack of new snow is a relief as there’s just no place to put it, and road crews are still clearing side roads. The forecast is for a high of 37 tomorrow, which may activate Nature’s Zamboni, before cooling off into next week.

I was very pleased today to discover that the first mile of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, aka the bike path along the waterfront, was plowed but not sanded. I enjoyed a wonderful time kicksledding back and forth in this favorable window of opportunity, watching birds with binocs and camera conveniently close.

A fish event of some sort attracted a host of hungry seabirds, six Harbor Seals, and a Steller Sea Lion right off shore.  Farther out, among the SURF SCOTERS, PELAGIC CORMORANTS, and tiny MARBLED MURRELETS, I spotted at least six COMMON MURRES, a most welcome sight after last year’s wreck. One was in breeding plumage. Dan C, one of the intrepid unAnchorage-Seward field trip birders, first spotted a Common Murre on Saturday.

The drake COMMON GOLDENEYES near shore tossed their heads so far backwards it seemed they might break their handsome necks. I hope the scattered hens among them were impressed, especially with the loud “beep” signaling the display finale. Apparently the BARROW’S GOLDENEYES were not, as they mingled but did not react.

The Steller Sea Lion kept swimming through the rafts of ducks, marked by sudden flights prior to the explosive breath and head erupting among them.

Among the GLAUCOUS-WINGED and MEW GULLS, I spotted a single BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE.

I stopped under a cottonwood tree to admire a young BALD EAGLE perched thereon. Suddenly, he took flight in a beeline for the seabirds. I could not see over the snow bank, but soon he returned with the head of a halibut in his golden-yellow talons and landed right above me. His belly was wet and he took a second to shake off before diving in with gusto. It was exciting to watch this youngster feast on the head, perhaps a scrap from the sea lion or a seal. I left him to enjoy his meal in peace, and hope that the next fish will be bigger.

But not too big! On February 20^th, I watched an adult Bald Eagle snatch what appeared to be a Rockfish at Fourth of July Beach. She had a firm grip on the face of the fish; did it come up from the depths to have a look around?

The Eagle struggled mightily to haul this fish to shore, and in a final rise up to the top of the boat harbor breakwater, she dropped it! Alas, I think it sank, as the Eagle landed without supper, and vocalized loudly about her tremendous loss. So close!  

The might be a moral in this story; something about a leftover fish head for dinner is better than a fabulous Rockfish in the water.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter