Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Geese and Cranes!

Seward, Alaska

Luckily, I happened to be outside this evening when I caught the faint, faraway, but familiar cry of migrating geese. I ran to grab my camera and scanned the sky. Finally, I found them, a ragged bow of Geese, speck dots against the gray sky, stroking north. Yay! The migration was finally happening in earnest!

For the next hour, I waited then watched as flocks in various formations winged northwards high overhead: check-marks, bows, Vs, scraggly lines, and independent travelers. I’m guessing most were GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. What a joyous wonder! 

This Pacific Flyway Population overwinters in the Sacramento Valley area of California. The geese nest primarily from the Alaska Peninsula north to the Yukon River with the majority on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Tagged onto the Goose parade came seven LESSER SANDHILL CRANES, lower, and hardly vocalizing. It’s possible they will spend the night at a wetlands to regain their strength before resuming their arduous journey.

These Cranes are also likely from the Pacific Flyway Population that migrates from central California to their breeding grounds in the Bristol Bay lowlands, on the Alaska Peninsula, and in the Cook Inlet-MatSu Valley.

I expect RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS to rain down from the skies now, skydiving off their comfortable, goose down, hitchhiked ride. What else could explain how these miniscule marvels travel thousands of miles from as far as Mexico or even Panama or Florida?

In between the migrating flocks, I spied an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK flying rapidly among the spruce trees along the mountainside. Looking closely, I saw dinner was served, possibly a skinned Red Squirrel, clutched in its powerful talons. Bon appetit!

Keep your eyes and ears to the skies!

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter








Tuesday, April 23, 2019 Short-eared Owl hunting in the snow storm

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 6:18 am, sunset 9:35 pm for a total of 15 hours and 17 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 21 seconds longer.

Overnight low of 24ยบ turned the calendar back to winter with twice the daylight as puddles and ponds refroze. Again. Daytime high of 38 still felt like standing in a freezer with a fan blowing chilly air. Snow squalls lazily strolled across the landscape alternating from the north and south, scattering fat snowflakes like confetti. More snow in the forecast, from 1-3” tomorrow through Thursday, then sunny for several days and warming up to the low 50s as MAY arrives.

While everyone waits in eager anticipation of new arrivals, I can’t help but hope they wait until winter is done. On Friday, April 19, Seward received 4-5 inches of snow, followed by 1-2” on Saturday, and another two inches today. Pretty crazy!

This evening, I was lucky to find a beautiful SHORT-EARED OWL hunting through another snow globe squall. This can’t be easy!

The TRUMPETER SWAN pair at Nash Road are now settled in, the pen sitting stoically on her nest piled high above the surrounding wetland, the cob heroically guarding. Or not. I’ve caught them both far from the nest several times, feeding and preening without a care. I suspect they will soon be more serious about brooding. Meanwhile, their six cygnets have disappeared from the area. A single Trumpeter Swan adult frequents the Lagoon now and then.

Lisa H shared this helpful link from Sibley Guides to help distinguish Cackling from Canada Geese: https://www.sibleyguides.com/2007/07/identification-of-cackling-and-canada-goose

Of note: a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS was reported at the Mile 14.7 wetlands and pond by the boardwalk. This is a first for the pond and worth monitoring for possible breeding.

Quick summary:
April 13, FOS GREATER YELLOWLEGS first heard, but then, as I began to doubt my ears, found in person.
April 15: many RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS seem to be the most common migrant and most easily heard from town to Exit Glacier. Tiny but loud and tough!
April 17: 5 LESSER CANANA GEESE, 7 magnificent FOS TUNDRA SWANS with one TRUMPETER SWAN, FOS male NORTHERN HARRIER, many NORTHERN PINTAILS, MALLARDS, GADWALL. 11 pm, GREAT HORNED OWL hooting serenely from mountainside.
April 18: VARIED THRUSH yard birds singing from spruce and cottonwood, “my” RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET in side yard.
April 19: FOS 8 GREEN-WINGED TEAL
April 21, FOS 13 SANDHILL CRANES, ~60 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE plus a few LESSER CANADA GEESE, did not linger. ROBINS scolding, VARIED THRUSHES singing.
April 22: FOS SHORT-EARED OWL, clouds of KITTIWAKES, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, MEW GULLS.

Happy Birding! 
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter


















Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Lesser Canada Geese

Seward, Alaska

I was able to get some better photos of the two LESSER CANADA GEESE at the Waterfront bike path. They chose a busy place to grab a bite to eat as people also enjoy this first mile of the Iditarod National Historic Trail between the Alaska Sealife Center and the boat harbor. Several people walked past and didn’t even see them from just a few feet away!

As I watched, they became very alert and slowly walked away from the grassy area and down onto the rocky beach. A block away, a woman walking her dog on the beach had come too close. She saw them too late and the Geese flew a short ways and landed in the water, honking. The woman considerately turned around and walked her dog away. 

It will be interesting to see how long these hungry Geese will persist at this busy location. 

Based on several resources, I determined these Geese to be Lesser Canada Geese, Branta canadensis parvipes. If anyone has a better ID, please let me know. With so many subspecies and the smaller Cackling Geese now separated from Canada Geese, it can be confusing!

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter






Tuesday, April 9, 2019 Canada Geese! Pied-billed Grebe flees River Otter!


Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 6:59 am, sunset 9:01 pm, for a total day length of 14 hours and 1 minute. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 27 seconds longer. Low of 33 at 8 am, rising to a high of 46 by 6 pm. Mostly sunny tomorrow, followed by a couple days of rain, then mostly sunny until Wednesday, so says the forecast.
After a few days of unremarkable light showers, the gray clouds lifted. By late afternoon, the curtain parted as if in a magic show, revealing blue sky, majestic snowy mountains, and a glassy-smooth bay. 

I hopped on my bike at 8 for an evening ride along the Waterfront as mountain shadows crept up the flanks of Mt Alice and her neighbors on the east side of the bay.

The beauty of the stunning scenery compelled me to stop frequently to admire and take more photos like a tourist. At one stop, I almost fell off my bike. Two FOS CANADA GEESE! One watched warily while the other fed hungrily on the greening grass at the top of the beach. The Geese were in the shadows and I did not have either binocs or long lens. I’ll try for more diagnostic photos tomorrow.

A friend passing by told me they were on the bike path yesterday, and walked away towards the beach as she approached with her little dog. How fabulous! Geese!

I pedaled slowly away without further disturbance and headed to the boat harbor. So calm! Then ripples of something odd paddling along and diving. Again, in the shadows, but then I realized it was a River Otter, swimming characteristically with its head low facing forward, rear end out of the water. I followed slowly trying to get a better view.

Just ahead, the PIED-BILLED GREBE popped up! The River Otter made a bee-line for it, but the Grebe didn’t wait for any small talk. It shot off, running like mad across the water, wings beating, leaving huge foot splashes behind. When it finally landed a safe distance away, it dove and disappeared. Smart Grebe!

As the mountain shadows deepened and the temperature started to drop, it was time to head home. What an amazing little spin along the water!

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter












Sunday, April 7, 2019 FOS Ruby-crowned Kinglet

First of Season RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET singing briefly this morning in town along with a chorus of newly arrived VARIED THRUSHES ringing along the mountainside.

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE singing, first Caddisfly adults flutter-flying, and lots of mosquitoes along Exit Glacier Road.


Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 resident Swan cygnets

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:17 am, sunset 8:46 pm for a total day length of 13 hours and 28 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 28 seconds longer. Low this morning of 39 rose to a high of 51 by midafternoon. Clouds rolled in by late afternoon, heralding the end of our amazing sunny spring streak. Forecast for showers, possible snow?!, and precip for the next week or longer. 

While the resident adult TRUMPETER SWANS stake out the icy Mile 1 Nash Road nest site, their recently unfriended cygnets are chilling together at the wide-open Lagoon. What a marvelous sight, those six healthy, 10-month old Swans! Their plumage is ever-changing to white, even more obvious when they stretch and show their white primaries.

The drab-looking aquatic plants that the cygnets pull up from the depths do not look very appealing, but apparently provide sustenance for these hardy waterfowl angels.

A pair of HOODED MERGANSERS, tiny BUFFEHEADS, and courting COMMON GOLDENEYES hung out near the cygnets, most likely diving for small fish. COMMON MERGANSERS chose to snooze in the sun on the north shore, soaking up the rays while they could.

Later, I refound the PIED-BILLED GREBE back on the north end of the boat harbor near the Train Rec and Travel-lift. This time, I could even see his little black adult chin. 

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter