Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:46 am, sunset 6:35 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 49 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.
Gray skies delivered about a half inch of snow overnight, dusting everything white. A chilly south wind belied the 38º on the thermometer, even when rising to 40º. I was glad for my wind pants, warm hat, scarf and gloves. No cheery sunshine today or any day in the 10-day forecast.
I eased to a stop on the side of Lowell Point Road this morning to watch a pair of adult BALD EAGLES enjoy breakfast on the popular “Piling Diner” near the road. Or rather, the larger female intently watched from the adjacent piling as the male ripped into what might have once been a fish. Furthermore, the Eagle’s permanent fierce expression makes it hard to tell if he was enjoying breakfast, or angry. He might have been angry as from my limited viewpoint, it sure didn’t look like much of a feast. More like sketchy leftovers.
Nonetheless, he nibbled and tore and gobbled with his enormous golden beak, holding whatever it was in his massive talons. He paused occasionally to swallow and look about, his beak flecked with bits, glaring in her direction in a very non-invitational way. The wind whipped his regal feathers askew, but he didn’t care.
After a time, lacking a fine linen napkin, he rubbed his soiled beak on all sides against the edge of the piling table to tidy up. Then he declared the end of his meal with a loud, ringing, wild cry. The female, within whispering distance, answered as if miles away, throwing her head back, beak to the heavens. I wondered if they only have one decibel level: max. FIVE STAR BREAKFAST! DO YOU WANT SOME, MY DEAR?
With a flourish, he sprang from the piling, giant wings outstretched, and cruised up and away into the wind. The female, wasting no time, leaped over to his abandoned plate. Apparently, he had gallantly left something for her.
She wasted no time devouring every measly morsel. Her meal did not take long; thus no tip or proclamation. Looking justifiably fierce, she launched and flew north along the shoreline, hunting for a bigger entree. I doubt that even a Magpie would be interested in cleaning that table.
Local seafood processors will soon be churning out a fish scrap smorgasbord for all to share. Advance reservations for the Piling Diner are recommended!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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