Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:55 am, sunset 3:51 pm for a total day length of 5
hours and 56 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 22 seconds shorter.
Almost all the snow has melted, exposing soggy, disillusioned
grass in town. Recent squally weather delivered hard rain and strong south
winds that shook the house, threatening to blow it to Topeka. The rain lessened
today with periods of dry, which was greatly appreciated. The temperatures have
been unseasonably warm with lows around freezing and highs hitting 49º. Towards
sunset this afternoon, the southern sky cleared, bringing hope for a touch of
sunshine tomorrow before the next low returns.
First Day of Count Week brought heightened excitement today.
First bird:
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET! How fabulous that such a tiny bird kicked
off Count Week. RAVEN spoke up shortly afterwards, as expected.
Walking around the block just after dawn (stylishly late at 10 am), I heard
those tiny chimes and counted 5 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS perched high in a bare
cottonwood. Yay! A single ROBIN perched nearby. PINE GROSBEAKS dined on Mt Ash
berries for breakfast.
I found many common species at area feeders: BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEES, SLATE-COLORED JUNCOS, STELLER’S JAYS, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS.
Most of the ice has melted at the Lagoon, opening up large
areas on the north and south ends. Five River Otters played and fished in the
middle where some ice remained. BARROW’S and COMMON GOLDENEYES and several tiny
BUFFLEHEADS, including handsome males, dove at the south end by the culvert
where Scheffler Creek flows to the ocean.
A COMMON MERGANSER dove at the north end, accompanied by
MALLARDS, and watched by an almost-adult BALD EAGLE with a racy, combed,
streaky white head. Many more Bald Eagles festooned the ghost trees, power
poles, and spruce trees at the former horse corral, holding their wings out to
dry.
To my utter delight, I found 9 TRUMPETER SWANS including the
two 6 ½ month-old cygnets at the ol’ nest site at the Nash Road wetlands. The
ice melted towards the back, opening up the deli bar. I found two more adults
at the pond at the head of the bay. ELEVEN swans, overwintering here!
At the end of Nash Road, I found small numbers of SURF
SCOTERS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, a PELAGIC CORMORANT, two HORNED GREBES, one
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, more Eagles and Ravens.
Back in town, I checked out the Harbor Uplands and chalked
up a few NORTHWESTERN CROWS, MEW and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, and more Ravens and
Bald Eagles.
As twilight descended, I checked out a small pond at the
head of the bay and found a single, drake, LONG-TAILED DUCK! I don’t remember
finding this species in fresh water before; very exciting!
Pushing my luck, I headed for the Alaska Sealife Center
parking lot. Ten Surf Scoters and a dozen Barrow’s Goldeneyes followed the
shoreline, dodging in and out of the waves. The last bird of the day was a
single MARBLED MURRELET, calling before diving out of sight.
In all, I found 29 species. I missed easy birds like the
Pigeon, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, and Song Sparrow; anticipated birds like the
Kingfisher, Dipper and Ruby-crowned Kinglet; and wish list birds like the Great
Blue Heron, Common Loon, and cool Sparrows. Tomorrow is another great day to go
birding!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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