Seward, Alaska
During a respite from the
incessant rain, I enjoyed watching the resident TRUMPETER SWAN family with 3
cygnets at the Lagoon. Bottoms up! AMERICAN WIGEONS hovered nearby to grab
stray bits of vegetation, though one or another Swan occasionally expressed
irritation at the invasion of its dining area.
In the background, a single
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT dove repeatedly, catching small flounders and other
fish. It seemed very wary of my presence though I thought I was far away. It is
unusual to have this migratory species here this late in the fall.
A raft of COMMON MERGANSERS
preened along the shoreline. One, a juvenile still sporting a white stripe
above its bill, paddled bravely up the little stream nearby then dove.
A Kenai SONG SPARROW chipped
from the brush, then hopped up on the boardwalk railing to pose. It’s so lovely
to hear them sing, year-round, just like the DIPPER that was enjoying the
acoustics in the culvert.
Suddenly, a flock of NORTHWESTERN
CROWS burst into action, as well as a clamoring gang of BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES. I
followed their path and discovered a MERLIN dashing through the trees, chasing
a Magpie. The other birds harassed it until it flew away, back over the Lagoon
and gone. It’s a tough place to snag a
meal undetected!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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