Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 10:01 am, sunset 4:03 pm for a total daylength of 6 hours and 1 minute. Tomorrow will be 2 minutes and 7 seconds longer.
Temps in the low teens today shrank the snowflakes to shivering pellets that blanketed the sky to the ground. The snow showers and flat light made driving challenging, but I wanted to survey the Mt Ashes around town.
What a bonanza! Even non-birders noticed the variety of species plucking Mt Ash berries in the snowstorm: VARIED THRUSHES glowing like lit jack-o’-lanterns, puffy ROBINS, PINE GROSBEAKS in sunset hues, ever elegant BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and even a few sleek, black NORTHWESTERN CROWS. I found them at Resurrect Art on Third and at the Alaska Sealife Center, though any Mt Ash with berries is bound to attract them sooner or later.
While watching the berry-eaters, I spotted a small flock of COMMON REDPOLLS nearby, hanging upside down off of alder cones, extracting the tiny seeds. These are the first Redpolls I’ve seen in a long time.
I briefly glimpsed the red, (interior) FOX SPARROW and two WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS at Second and Madison, along with more bright VARIED THRUSHES, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, STELLER’S JAYS, and a PIGEON.
Yesterday along the Waterfront, I found a large raft of COMMON MERGANSERS with at least two female RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS swimming close to shore, buffeted by the cold south wind. The female KING EIDER paddled along with them just on the edge of the raft. Great to know she’s still around!
In a nearby parking lot, I found an adult THAYER’S GULL standing behind GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS huddled forlornly on the snow. The Thayer’s Gull had a small bill, bright pink legs, heavily brown-streaked head and neck, and black primaries with large white spots.
Other January 1 reports: Sadie found a LINCOLN’S SPARROW at Ava’s Place with 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS. John and Robin found a female HOODED MERGANSER at Clear Creek by the Pit Bar.
Robin reported a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at a friend’s feeder. The incredible male ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD was documented on January 1 by Robin and today by John. He puts all whiners to shame!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
No comments:
Post a Comment