Sunrise 8:13 am, sunset 7:20 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 65 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 25 seconds shorter. Temps today ranged from a low of 34 to a high of 49 with high overcast and filtered sunshine, and calm until late afternoon. The forecast calls for mostly sunny for Sunday and Monday then cold rain and north wind.
Rare birds ramped up the excitement this week with the YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO on September 30 videoed by Jonah Lindquist, and 2 possible BRANDT’S CORMORANTS on October 3 reported by Toby and Laura Burke.
Toby noted that the Cuckoo may feed on fruit when insects are scarce, so that narrowed the search to mostly Mt Ash trees, of which there are approximately a zillion. I and several other birders failed to refind this elusive rarity. I figure it’s on its way to Cordova and beyond by now.
I searched hard for the Brandt’s today from Lowell Point, along the Waterfront, and over at Spring Creek and Fourth of July beaches. I found 3 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, many PELAGIC CORMORANTS, and speck birds lounging on distant rocks, buoys, and dolphins. It was tempting to leap into a kayak, hop on a paddleboard, or hitch a ride on a boat to get closer, but alas, I remained landbound, peering through my spotting scope, and found none that were conclusive. I did see one GREAT BLUE HERON, which is always a treat. Six were reported recently.
Many FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS flitted unobtrusively along the Waterfront from near the harbor to the Alaska Sealife Center. It would be easy to overlook these butterflies of the sea. I wonder why they are here, whether driven by a storm in the Gulf of Alaska or food.
Gulls, including many BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, a few HERRING GULLS, (and likely hybrids), and MEW GULLS flocked by the seafood processing plant on Lowell Point Road and along the Waterfront.
Two BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES harassed an adult BALD EAGLE on the “whale dolphin” near the Diversion Tunnel Waterfall. A nice raft of HARLEQUIN DUCKS dove along Lowell Point, back in breeding plumage, while gulls foraged at the low tide line. NORTHWESTERN CROWS rose up with mussels and dropped them mid-air to force them open upon impact.
I spied my first SURF SCOTER flying off Fourth of July Beach (only one, which is unusual), and my first COMMON GOLDENEYES (3) hanging out near the single TRUMPETER SWAN at the Lagoon with several MALLARDS. A happy DIPPER sang and hunted among the still spawning silver salmon in the creek.
Add a couple Steller sea lions, sea otters (including two wrestling), and some harbor seals along Lowell Point Road. Also a yard PACIFIC WREN.
This evening, the bright constellation Cygnus flew through the Milky Way heading south, a lovely ending to a mighty fine day.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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