Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 5:22 am, sunset 10:28
pm, for a total daylight of 17 hours and 6 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes
and 43 seconds longer.
A mix of light rain this
morning made way for clearing skies and welcome sunshine by mid-afternoon.
Temps ranged from a low of 36º to a high of 50º, just slightly below average.
The forecast for the next several days is more rain with a dash of snow showers
for the mountains, continuing well into the rest of May.
While at the Homer shorebird
festival, I received a recent report of a BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW in Seward.
Darn! Hard to be twins! I’ve been searching through all the WHIMBRELS for years,
looking and listening for something different. Years ago, I missed seeing them
in Nome. This has been a tantalizingly elusive species for me.
As soon as I could, I checked
out the tidelands on the rising tide. Far ahead, I caught sight of a MARBLED
GODWIT up to its belly, feeding in shallow water and a small group of
WHIMBRELS. Maybe the Bristle-thighed Curlew was among them?
The light was dim, the rocks
gray, and details hard to discern. I crept forward, hoping to get better photos
to distinguish the species. Finally, I just sat down to wait in the light rain,
and watch as the tide pushed them closer.
Small flocks of WESTERN
SANDPIPERS flashed dark and light, flying low over the water. MALLARDS and
NORTHERN PINTAILS watched me suspiciously but keep feeding. Two handsome male BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS worked their way through the rocks towards me. Suddenly the group
lifted up, revealing more than I initially saw including 5 Black-bellied
Plovers, seven DOWITCHERS, several Western Sandpipers, two curlew-types with
suspiciously buffy rumps, and 8 other long-bills.
Fortunately, after inscribing
a wide arc, all the birds returned and landing almost where they started,
resumed a leisurely but purposeful seek-snack-and-stroll towards me. I sifted
through the flock of 10 large shorebirds, alternating binocs and camera,
looking for differences. It was fascinating to watch their long, decurved bills
pick and probe though the fucus-covered cobble. Amazing tools!
Finally, the birds worked
their way close enough so that I could clearly see that the leader was a
BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW! A buffy coloration infused the whole bird, especially
the belly and back. The pattern of buffy spots on the rear looked like
spangles. I could even see the bristles hanging down around the legs! While
trying to see the subtle differences between the Bristle-thighed and the
Whimbrel with it, I realized they were BOTH Bristle-thigheds! How fun!
Once again the birds took
off, and I could see FOUR bright cinnamon-buffy tails and rumps! This time they
flew a short ways then landed between the shore and me. Nice! While several
birds continued to feed, others pulled up one leg and tucked in that long bill
under a wing for a nap. The MARBLED GODWIT opened wide for a big yawn and
settled down for a nap as well.
Noting the ever-incoming
tide, I carefully rose and walked slowly past the little group of celebrities,
as far away as possible. Still balancing on one leg and tucked in, their bright
black eyes followed me, but they did not stir. Though none could see, I did a
very joyful, Happy Dance inside for this long-sought Life Bird, for the
experience of watching them, and the satisfaction of not disturbing their rest.
Bon voyage, phenomenal birds!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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