Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:29 am, sunset 4:05
pm for a total day length of 6 hours and 35 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes
and 33 seconds shorter.
Mild weather returned with
temps hovering around 32 and a light north breeze. The sun shown bravely and
briefly in the morning, then ignited a rainbow to the north over the Seward
Boat Harbor as light rain eased in.
Shortly after the sun lazily
peered over the mountains to the southeast, I heard the joyous tinkling of tiny
chimes. I looked up and counted 15 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS perched at the top of a
cottonwood. First of the season! They gathered and conversed musically, then flew off,
perhaps heading for breakfast at a Mt Ash tree. Seward doesn’t usually get many
of this gorgeous species, so it’s always a thrill.
Midday, I headed back to
Afognak Beach to check on the Sleeper Shark that was salvaged there on Sunday
by the Alaska Sealife Center. An excited group of BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES alerted
me to something edible at the receding tideline. As I drew nearer, I found a 2’
long chunk of shark meat that had been left behind.
The skin was like the
roughest grit sandpaper, with sharp, embedded teeth. The white flesh was firm,
and smelled faintly fishy, not at all stinky. After my inspection, I retreated
so the Magpies could enjoy their unusual feast. A BALD EAGLE watched from a
nearby tree until I approached too close and it flew.
About 50 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS flashed overhead in a scattered flurry. Then I scanned the bay for
Swans. Nothing but a harbor seal, looking around curiously.
What’s that? Far over by the
Resurrection River tide flats I caught a glimpse of one white head, then another.
What could have passed as snow or ice chunks proved to be 10 TRUMPETER SWANS,
including the resident Swan parent and two cygnets. Ah! So great to see the
little family again, protected by the presence of the other seven magnificent adults.
Afterwards, I visited the
ASLC and watched the rescued baby Beluga drink from a bottle. When that ended,
I watched Pilot, the Steller sea lion play with an illicit piece of the habitat
“rock.”
This is the second time he’s
found (or otherwise obtained) a small, flat rock to play with. Again, he
balanced it on his nose, slid it down his long body, and caught it with his
flippers. As staff scrambled to rustle up some fish to lure him out of the
habitat, he figured out a new trick: balance on the nose, then throw it hard.
It hit the glass with a loud
BANG! Not good for the glass, but he sure liked it. Fortunately, several more
tosses missed the glass. Soon the fish bribe was ready and he loped behind
the scene.
According to staff, Pilot is
the only sea lion that does this, clever one. Divers will now have to retrieve
the rock so he doesn’t do any (more) damage. Very entertaining, however, for
him, and the viewers!
What a fun and interesting
day!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
