Friday, May 26, 2017 Fox Sparrow nest and eggs

Seward, Alaska

Rain, hail, sun, strong and chilly south wind, calm, showers, sun, hard rain, etc. The temperature sank to 32º overnight, rose to 47º by midday, then dropped again towards evening. The forecast even mentions snow tonight! What a blender buzz of crazy weather ingredients!

This afternoon between squalls, the neighbor boys came over to show me a bird nest. It was located about 2 ½ feet above the ground in a dense ornamental Arborvitae of some sort. A generous layer of dried grasses, mosses, plant stalks, and twigs surrounded the perfectly round and deep cup in the middle. Four dark eggs lay nestled against what may be hair from their Australian shepherd.

Some other boys had apparently handled the eggs then put dandelion leaves and flowers on the eggs, perhaps in an attempt to keep them warm. I removed the unnecessary greenery in hopes the mom would return.

At first glance, the eggs looked like chocolate candies. I picked one up to make sure there were no further shenanigans and quickly put it back like a hot potato. Yikes! It WAS an egg! A closer look later at my photos showed the base color was greenish with heavy chocolate-brown mottling.

I suspected a FOX SPARROW, due to the small size of the nest plus a male has been singing in the Dinosaur Chorus nearby, and they are common here.

My excellent reference book, “A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds” by Paul Baicich and Colin Harrison, showed a photo of very similar-looking eggs, though I could be mistaken.

The text notes that the female builds the nest in only 2 to 3 days, and typically lays 3-5 eggs. The incubation lasts 12-14 days, starting with the first egg. The babies are fed by both parents until they fledge in 9-11 days. Under favorable conditions, the parents may raise a second family.

Given the unfortunate location, easy discovery, cold and wet weather, and unfortunate mishandling of the eggs, I doubt that these eggs will hatch. The boys now know to leave this nest and any other nests, alone. I hope the parents will try again, in a less accessible location.

Despite the sad circumstances and lesson in stewardship, we all learned a bit more about our feathered neighbors, their beautiful home, and extraordinary eggs.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Wednesday, May 24, 2017 Dinosaur chorus

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 4:58 am, civil twilight 3:44 am, sunset 10:51 pm for a total day length of 17 hours and 53 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 59 seconds longer.

Technically it was still night at 3:45 am when the good dog roused me from my warm bed to let her out. Was I ever glad! As noted above, it was civil twilight time, not at all dark, and I opened the door to glorious concert in progress.

Close by in a spruce, a ROBIN held center stage, his sweet melody dominating the chorus. His counterpart down the street answered in turn, just as sweetly. In the shrubs, a FOX SPARROW cheerfully piped up as did his rival a block away. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS let loose a cascade of tumbling trills while the YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS rolled their song at a more relaxed pace.

In the distance, the serene notes of the HERMIT THRUSH fell like gentle raindrops on a reflecting pond, soothing the spirit. Each virtuoso seemed to follow a master score, listening and waiting for their turn in a timeless, grand performance.

As I listened and marveled in my nightie at the threshold of a brand new day, I wondered if dinosaurs sang. We will never know, but their descendants seem to have the benefit of millions of years of practice to reach this stage of perfection.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, May 21, 2017 Sooty Fox Sparrow after all

Seward, Alaska

I received a correction to my possible Slate-colored Fox Sparrow from Steve Hampton:

This is actually fine for Sooty Fox Sparrow, based on the brown (not gray) back. Northern Sooty forms show a lot of gray in the face and all forms show red tones in the wings and tail (especially in good light, which they tend to avoid). All Fox Sparrows have yellow in the bill in winter, which becomes pinkish in summer. Slate-colored have much more pale gray in the face, no brown in the crown, obvious gray backs, and more bright orange tones in the wing and tail. See the cover photo at the Fox Sparrows Facebook group for Slate-colored and Sooty side by side. https://www.facebook.com/groups/447117322159681/ 

I wish I had time to record his song; maybe next time. The dialect sure sounded different from the usual Seward Fox Sparrows.

Many thanks to Steve! Check out his photos and explanations on the above link. Always more to learn!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, May 19, 2017 Slate-colored Fox Sparrow?

Exit Glacier, Seward, Alaska

Light rain

I drove slowly along Exit Glacier Road this afternoon with my windows open, listening. Fortunately, traffic was very light and so when I heard my FOS NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH singing, I just stopped. I couldn’t see him, well-concealed in the willow thicket, but appreciated knowing he was back.

From here to the parking lot and partway down the main trail, I also heard: ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a WILSON’S SNIPE winnowing, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, COMMON REDPOLLS, a KINGFISHER, VARIED THRUSHES, HERMIT THRUSHES, ROBINS. I did not yet hear the Swainson’s Thrush or Gray-cheeked Thrush, but they should be arriving soon.

An unusual clear and sweet song caught my ear. I followed it to a FOX SPARROW, sitting on a willow branch just off the trail. Not only was his song different, HE was different. I took photos and when I returned home, I looked it up. To my surprise, he looked just like a SLATE-COLORED FOX SPARROW from the Interior West. What was he doing here, so far from home?

I’ve never seen this subspecies before, so if anyone has a better ID, I’d be very interested to know more. There’s always more to learn with birds!

For an additional bonus, back at the parking lot, a large black bear sauntered across the mountainside from one greening area to the next.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Wednesday, May 17, 2017 Treed Swallows

Seward, Alaska

The continuing rain grounded dozens of TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. They festooned the branches of two downed trees like living feathered ornaments, twittering and preening. After a bit of a rest, they resumed sailing over the pond in mesmerizing loops and swoops, snapping up insects while others landed for their turn.

What a marvelous sight on this rainy day!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Monday, May 15, 2017 Exit Glacier

Seward, Alaska

Herman Leirer Road, aka Exit Glacier Road opened for the public all the way to the Nature Center on Friday. On a sunny, blue-sky Monday morning I drove out and walked to the Edge of the Glacier trail.

The cottonwood leaves had not yet emerged, but the reddish flower catkins were just expanding. Piles of moose pellets provided evidence of moose along the trails. As I walked, I heard and/or saw COMMON REDPOLLS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, ROBINS, VARIED THRUSHES, HERMIT THRUSHES, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a DOWNY WOODPECKER, and a RAVEN.

I was surprised by the number of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS swooping over the Edge of the Glacier Trail, so close to the glacier. Must be insects up there!

I just missed seeing 3 black bear cubs sitting in the trees near the glacier. Apparently the momma got spooked by too much attention and all disappeared over the ridge.

I did see three mountain goats including one yearling kid, resting on the nearby mountainside. While scanning for the goats, I saw PTARMIGAN flying a short distance then landing, tiny white specks.

It was such a spectacular day, I returned in the early evening to look for bears. I refound the three mountain goats, actively grazing plus two more single mountain goats. Just below them in a ravine, a momma black bear slowly ambled upwards, her two yearling cubs following.

I found another single black bear feeding in a green patch of newly emerged vegetation, and yet another large black bear viewable from the parking lot.

It’s always a good time to visit our backyard National Park!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report