Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:51am, sunset 6:35 pm for a total daylength of 9 hours and 44 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 21 seconds shorter.
Quite the week and not done yet! Heavy rainfall and low after low resulted in a declared state of emergency as flooding overwhelmed the city’s resources. Seward received a welcome reprieve for part of yesterday and most of today, allowing the flood waters to drain out. Temps in the low to mid 40s.
Another low moved in this evening with more heavy rain forecast. The National Weather Service issued a Flood Advisory effective until midnight Sunday for Seward, Bear Lake, and Lowell Point rivers and streams with locally heavy rain overnight totaling between 2 and 4” by midday Sunday. High winds are also forecast.
The First of Fall BARROW’S GOLDENEYES were spotted on October 18, a pair in the SMIC boat harbor, with a single HORNED GREBE in winter plumage. On Friday, October 19, I found 21 Barrow’s Goldeneyes fishing in the Lagoon with a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. I usually expect to find Common Goldeneyes in the Lagoon, but they haven’t shown up yet.
Four GREAT BLUE HERONS were reported today at the tidelands, double what we’ve seen recently.
Birding at the Alaska Sealife Center
Any time, but especially during inclement weather, is a great time to visit the ASLC. The 11 species of seabirds are so close and so fun to watch!
Now, almost all birds, except the dapper HARLEQUINS are in winter plumage, or nearly. He’s all done with his eclipse plumage. The male LONG-TAILED DUCK also looks bright and fancy, though his tail feathers will grow longer for breeding season. He calls frequently, “oww, omelet!”
The TUFTED PUFFINS have mostly shed their flowing golden tufts. Both the TUFTED and HORNED PUFFINS are starting to shed their flashy bill plates. Watch for the smaller auklet, the RINOCEROS AUKLET, still hanging on to his orange bill colors though he’s lost his elegant tufts.
The elder KING EIDER male, Charles, 10 years old, is just starting to acquire new feathers, on his way to reclaiming the admiration of all who see him. For now, however, he is one of the mostly brown, large seabirds. Look for this year’s two young males with a small knob at the base of their bills, and the older male Eider, North, at three, is starting to look like his dad.
A very special new addition is the COMMON MURRE youngster. She cheeps loudly for her dear old dad to hurry up and feed her as she doesn’t yet know how. The baby paddles around after him, cheeping, until up he pops from the unreachable depths to quickly pass off a morsel of squid or small fish. It’s adorable.
It was interesting to see the duo reach up with open bills when a RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE flew too low overhead. This is the first sign of aggression I’ve noticed from the Murres; maybe the dad is being protective and the baby picked up on that behavior. The other birds seem to ignore the Kittiwakes.
It is very hard to not notice the striking, large-eyed, blocky-headed, red-legged Kittiwakes. You can hear their racket from the parking lot and beyond, and they love to swoop over visitor’s heads to scare them. Cheap thrills.
Note the second winter immature Red-legged Kittiwake closely resembles the adults, with an eye and ear smudge, but its legs are bright orange, not red.
Note the second winter immature Red-legged Kittiwake closely resembles the adults, with an eye and ear smudge, but its legs are bright orange, not red.
The PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, now in salt-and-pepper winter plumage are also quite vocal with a very high-pitched, somewhat grating call.
Almost overlooked are the demure SMEWS; the male resembles the female now, except she has a more cinnamon-colored hairdo.
No matter when you come, there is always something interesting to see at the Alaska Sealife Center.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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