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
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