Seward,
Alaska
Sunrise
6:52 am, sunset 9:06 pm for a total day length of 14 hours and 14 minutes.
Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 22 seconds shorter.
The
tail of a typhoon splashed Seward last week, but since it blew away on Tuesday,
it’s been sunny ever since with pleasant temps in the upper 50s to low 60s.
More sunny skies in the forecast for the next week!
The
TRUMPETER SWAN family with six beautiful, healthy cygnets often plays
hard-to-see at their Mile 1 Nash Road wetlands home. But once in a while, they
feed on pond plants right next to the road. I was so lucky today, with the sun
just right. Three cygnets swam towards me accompanied by one parent. The other
parent and remaining three cygnets remained farther away. What a fabulous family!
Two
of the 3-month old cygnets paddled up to a shallow spot and stood up to preen their
ever-changing plumage. Their long, flexible necks looped, arced, stretched, and
scrunched in amazing contortions to reach itchy areas. White feathers, notably
the primaries and belly, and peekaboo patches in the body, have infiltrated the
soft gray. After preening, a big flapping stretch revealed the stubby white
primaries, still growing to full size. The cygnet bills are still mostly
lipstick pink, with black tips and base. It won’t be long before these fast-growing
cygnets learn to fly.
Also
of note, I found two adult Trumpeter Swans feeding at the south end of the
Lagoon in town around 9 am. They seemed wary and I did not linger. I wonder if
they might be Seward swans as well, as they were so familiar with that area.
The
previous day, I was delighted to find the Tern Lake Trumpeter Swan family with
three healthy cygnets also feeding close to the road. They were totally unconcerned
about the paparazzi, even when a man got out of his car to take photos. I
prefer to stay in the car and use it as a blind if possible.
Initially
all the swans tipped up to reach the tasty water plants, huge webbed feet
flailing in the air. Tails and heads alternated in a quirky rhythm. It was fun
to hear the gentle sounds of the water splashing as they tipped up and dripping
as they emerged. So peaceful!
But
soon the cygnets gave up on that tricky balancing maneuver and hovered close by
the nearest parent, poised to pounce on morsels as they were uprooted and floated
up. The competition was fierce but must have been worthwhile. The steadily
feeding parent ignored them. The other parent fed in peace. Maybe they take
turns.
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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