Tuesday, November 12, 2019 Lowell Point Road Seabirds

Seward, Alaska

Another mild, calm, overcast day with unseasonably warm temperatures continuing in the 40s.

I drove slowly along Lowell Point Road, stopping at pullouts to enjoy the seabirds. A frenzy of Gulls, mostly GLAUCOUS-WINGED and MEW GULLS, with a sprinkling of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, flocked and squawked at the seafood processing plant. At least five STELLER SEA LION’S dove among them, adding to the chaos when they suddenly surfaced and the seabirds leapt up. Goosed?

The only vessel on the bay besides the outward-bound USCG Cutter Mustang, was the Alaska Sealife Center seabird survey crew doing their monthly count. 

They reported the Gulls, lots of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES and a good number of MARBLED MURRELETS, an unusual PIGEON GUILLEMOT (not usually here in November), several COMMON LOONS, a possible YELLOW-BILLED LOON (not confirmed), and seven GREAT BLUE HERONS perched on the blue coal dipper just outside the harbor. Other expected species included MALLARDS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, SURF SCOTERS, COMMON MERGANSERS, HORNED GREBES, and PELAGIC CORMORANTS.

A raft of handsome Barrow’s Goldeneyes paddled serenely just offshore until the leaders dove, followed by successive ranks until no birds were visible. After a short time, they popped up nearby and resumed hunting.

I enjoyed watching and listening to a pair of Marbled Murrelets in winter plumage call to each other as they paddled side by side before diving in synchrony. They swam a surprising distance before reappearing.

Two COMMON LOONS fished successfully just off Lowell Point Beach. So great to see Loons!

To my amazement, there were many dozens of tiny sea stars and a few baby green sea urchins and clams scattered along the wrack on the west end of the beach like stars fallen from the sky. I have never seen this. A scientist at the ASLC speculated that the warmer water temperature may be responsible. It would be interesting to learn if this phenomenon is occurring in Kachemak Bay, Kodiak, or other coastal communities.

I was fascinated by the miniatures and arranged them for photographs. Even in death, they added beauty and mystery to a continually changing, dynamic environment.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter 

Sunday, November 10, 2019 Resident Trumpeter Swan family

Seward, Alaska

After an absence of many days, the resident TRUMPETER SWAN family with all three cygnets returned to the ol’ homestead at Mile 1, Nash Road. They have been spotted and recognized from Mile 15 to Bear Lake to various spots in Seward.

It was fun to watch them feed, bottoms up, in a loose group. One cygnet fed quite close to first one parent and then the other, providing a nice comparison of 5-month old to an adult. 

The cygnet is almost if not as large as an adult. The plumage on the back and wings is rapidly changing to white, but the neck and head remain gray. The youngster’s bill is still pink between the black base and tip.  

The family looked healthy and well-fed, perhaps enjoying the extended availability of vegetation in this ice-free November so far. I expect them to remain all winter as residents. We’ll see!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Saturday, November 9, 2019 Reflections!

Seward, Alaska

Every once in a while, the persistent clouds part to allow the sun out to play. Today, it performed a magic show with reflections. And the sun even felt warm. That's a good trick for November!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, November 3, 2019 Eagles and the Giving Salmon

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:26 am, sunset 4:58 pm (Standard Time), for a total daylength of 8 hours and 31 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 8 seconds shorter. Warmer than normal temperatures continued with a high today in the low 40s, lows dipped to mid-30s overnight. Calm, overcast, intermittent showers. Not much change in the 10-day forecast.

A handsome male silver salmon swam from the bay into the Lagoon last week, then thrashed his way up the tiny creek paralleling Second Ave past houses and driveways. Finally, he entered First Lake in the heart of Seward. This migration is an annual event (most years) since anyone can remember, but far fewer salmon have made it to the stream and lake this fall to spawn.

On October 31, the salmon lay, exhausted and gasping in the inlet stream at the lake’s edge. Sharp teeth erupted from a fierce, curved snout. Rival salmon tooth marks and scrapes scarred his face, badges of honor marking battles fought. Golden eyes saw, what? The sky and the gravel below? Or far beyond into the past and future? 

His body glowed despite the gray, rainy day, from his greenish head to his bright maroon body, spangled with black spots. What a magnificent salmon, transformed by hormones and fueled by an ancient urge to protect his genes and return home to spawn.

I checked on him the next day. He had starting giving food to the birds, though the golden eyes remained, staring dully as if still watching from a distance. 

Today, I heard BALD EAGLES screeching and headed to the lake. As I approached, an adult Eagle flew from a tree and away across the lake. A BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE hopped in to scavenge. The salmon still lay near the water’s edge, but now he had given his nutrient-rich eyes, brains. and most of the organs. The muscled body that we prefer was untouched. 

I headed to the opposite north shore to watch discretely. A female adult Bald Eagle had returned, dragged the salmon carcass to the beach and busily tore off chunks. She paused to look around every now and then with good cause. A hungry juvenile Eagle watching from the trees swooped down but bailed. Then a male adult Eagle made a pass to test resistance (yup!) and lurked in a nearby tree, watching intently for opportunities. The Magpie bravely landed near the diner and darted in and out for scraps as the fish fed the Eagle.

After watching the fish give and give and give, the treed Eagle dove and, gaining speed, attacked. The Magpie fled; the diner rose up tall and spread her enormous wings in defense. Undeterred, the attacker knocked her over backwards into the water. Wheeling midair, he returned at top speed, blasted past the still-recovering Eagle, snatched up the remaining salmon, and roared off with his prize.

The robbed Eagle seemed stunned. After a few moments, she took a drink from the clear stream, waded in the cold water, perhaps reflecting on the gift of the salmon and sudden loss. Then she leapt in the air and departed through the Park past the pavilion. Anyone who happened to be walking to the lake would have been startled to meet the disgruntled high-speed Eagle at eye level.

Nothing remained for the salmon to give but scraps and a stripped backbone. The Magpie thought that was just fine, and dined in peace.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter