Seward,
Alaska
Sunrise
8:31 am, sunset 6:59 pm for a total daylight of 10 hours and 27 minutes.
Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter.
A
big storm moved in yesterday on a south-southwest wind with gusts to 24 mph and
heavy rain. Temps ranged from a low of 44 to a high of 51. A brief respite is
in the forecast for Sunday in between lows, then heavy rain returns on Monday,
tapering off for the rest of the wet week.
In
the dim light about an hour after sunrise today (9:30 am), I checked for wayward
seabirds along the roiling bay as white-capped waves crashed into the shore and
sent plumes rocketing skyward. There at the outfall of Scheffler Creek was a pair
of BALD EAGLES standing in the cold rain on the exposed rocky beach at low
tide.
The
slightly smaller male stood astride a salmon carcass, vigorously ripping off
chunks. A NORTHWESTERN CROW watched intently from a discreet distance. A short
distance away, a female eagle stood in the water, also watching, but seemingly
disinterested. Finally, she waded through the water past the male, soaking her
leg feathers, striding along with determination, her wings up for balance. He
paused to watch her go past, ready to defend his meal, then went back to business
with his sharp beak.
Wading
around in the shallow water but finding nothing for breakfast, she flew back
towards the male. He picked up his tattered breakfast and relocated to a new
dining spot just a few yards away. No sharing here!
Gutsy
crows immediately flew in between the two giant birds to scavenge the tiny fishy
scraps from the first spot. A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL joined the breakfast table,
watching cautiously for its opportunity. As the table grew crowded with crows,
the eagle again moved another few yards with part of his prize, leaving most of
a large carcass behind. The crows immediately converged, but the female eagle made her move to the spot and scattered
the unwelcome diners.
She
in turn, gobbled down morsels of spawned out salmon while the male flew from
one place to another with his motley remnants, seeking peace from the crows.
Finally, he again landed near the female and both breakfasted at their
respective plates, surrounded by a bevy of emboldened crows. The stressful breakfast
continued for several minutes.
First
one eagle, then the other had enough and flew off to perch side-by-side on one
of the harbor entrance markers, suddenly amicable. The crows wasted no time and
immediately converged to attack the leftovers.
The
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL moved in, screeching with outspread wings, temporarily scattering the cawing
crows. And thus the bickering, disputed breakfast in the driving rain continued,
until I presume, the tide swallowed up the table, dispersed the diners, and washed
away the leftovers.
Tough
birds all, just trying to make a living on a challenging fall morning.
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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