Saturday, February 22, 2020 ASLC young Murres ID

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:19 am, sunset 6:06 pm, for a total day length of 9 hours and 47 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 26 seconds longer.

After several dreary days of south wind and heavy rain, followed by fog, then 5” of powder snow, the sun shone brightly today with a high of 25 and wind back to the NNE. Mostly sunny tomorrow and Monday, north wind 30-35 mph with gusts to 45 mph, then more snow in the forecast.

I enjoyed a break from the wind at the Alaska Sealife Center this afternoon. The COMMON MURRE adults are suddenly in breeding plumage, cuddling up, and lovingly preening each other (allopreening). 

Now it’s easier to identify the young Murres who seem a bit abandoned. The two first-winter birds have pure white faces with the dark eyeline. The two second-winter birds’ faces have much less white, speckled with dark as the three-year process to maturity proceeds. 

It was amazing to see how the water droplets beaded up on a youngster’s head, very waterproof! Then to watch the Murres expertly diving, stroking, and soaring around underwater, air bubbles streaming behind. Quite a contrast to their quiet paddling or frenzied surface sprints. A whole wonderful world awaits beneath.

The Smews and King Eiders are also courting. Both male King Eiders are in splendid breeding plumage and cooing so enchantingly, how could the females resist?

Of course, I had to check out the other habitats. The incredible sea slug, the Hooded Nudibranch (Melibe leonine), was actively feeding, throwing its fringed net wide open (hood), then closing it to eat tiny zooplankton and other invertebrates. The circular fish tank has another species that feeds by grazing, a more typical behavior of sea and land slugs, and snails.

For the first time, I watched one of my favorite fish, the little Grunt Sculpin, swim (swim!) quickly from the bottom of its tank to the top where another Grunt Sculpin waited. Usually, they hop along on their very stiff pectoral fins and colorful tail.

Can’t leave without being mesmerized by the graceful, pulsating Moon Jellies.

Back outside, while cruising along the Waterfront, I saw a dozen BALD EAGLES flying and diving by the beach. I turned in to see that it was a feeding frenzy for bread scraps. The mighty Eagles did not seem the least perturbed by the people nearby. Hungry times indeed, but not the greatest fare.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, February 21, 2020 Red Fox Sparrow

Seward, Alaska

After several days of dreadful heavy rain which changed to sleet, then snow, my feeder suddenly had more activity than I’ve seen all winter. A delightful surprise was the appearance of the bright, red Interior FOX SPARROW which was seen during the January Christmas Bird Count. He ate the black sunflower seeds without removing the hulls.

A beautiful pumpkin-orange VARIED THRUSH hopped in, feeding on fallen suet and possibly whole sunflower seeds beneath the flock of hungry PINE SISKINS. I heard a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE but the aggressive Pine Siskins may have kept them away. I also saw a cautious house mouse peeking out from underneath the never-used dog house. Maybe a hungry Saw-whet Owl will find it.

February is a prime time for Owls to start courting and calling. A Great Horned Owl was reported February 17 for several successive nights, hooting from Forest Acres. A Saw-whet Owl was reported hunting by a bird feeder at 5:30 am in Camelot. Maybe there’s vole or mouse there too!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Monday, February 17, 2020 Two Short-eared Owls and a Shrike

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:33 am, sunset 5:53 pm, for a total day length of 9 hours and 20 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 23 seconds longer.

A lovely, calm, cloudy, and balmy (36º) day abruptly turned stormy by mid-afternoon. The temperature rose to 40º, the south wind hammered in at 20 mph gusting to 31 mph, delivering heavy rain mixed with snow.

The storm is forecast to continue for the next several days, with more heavy rain/snow tomorrow with a high of 35º, then dropping into the high 20s. Rain on ice, not very nice.

Blissfully unaware of the impending storm, (except for the ominous inky blue clouds piling up in the Gulf) I enjoyed a wonderful walk at the tidelands this noon. 

An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE perched on the uppermost spire of a young spruce tree, surveying the surrounding snow-scape for voles or possibly small birds.

About 40 BRANT (BLACK) fed at the faraway tide line, then flew closer to check out a slough. Their gabbling reminded me so much of wood frogs.

A family of TRUMPETER SWANS with one cygnet flew in and landed by the rock jetty, feeding for 20 minutes or so, then flew back east. The small group of ROCK SANDPIPERS with the two DUNLINS (verified by friends with a scope) fed nearby. 

Oddly, a female NORTHERN PINTAIL walked along the nearby tide flats with a drake MALLARD. Then, being more wary, she took off as I passed. Four BUFFLEHEAD including a very handsome drake, paddled in the ice-jammed creek.

I got all the way back to the car when I spotted the first SHORT-EARED OWL, patrolling in the distance. I followed its progress through the camera and when it disappeared, I looked up to find a second SHORT-EARED OWL following roughly the same route! Although they were far, it was a joy to watch them through binocs, plunging to the ground, disappearing, and rising to try again. 

An adult BALD EAGLE perched on a post swiveled its head to watch the Owl fly past quite close, and apparently unafraid.

This half-day was likely a most welcome relief for all the birds that have been battling for survival, day after day, night after night of cold, wind, and snow. It’s been a tough winter.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, February 16, 2020 Cool animals at the Alaska Sealife Center

Seward, Alaska
Rain or shine, wind or calm, there's always something fascinating to see at the Alaska Sealife Center!

Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Mystery Gull Identified as 2nd-cycle Thayer's Gull

Seward, Alaska

On Sunday, an odd-looking gull was careening around with the others, vying to find or steal herring. 

I couldn’t figure out what it was, and so sent my photos to Steve Heinl, the gull guru in Ketchikan. Here’s his analysis and verdict:

Bill size: 

“I think your bird is a 2nd-cycle Thayer's Gull - sometimes it's hard to judge bill size without direct comparison to another gull, but the bird's bill looks considerably slimmer than the bill on the Glaucous-winged Gull in the background.

Outer primaries: 

It has two-toned outer primaries, meaning that the outer webs of those feathers are dark and the inner webs are much paler, and the undersides of the outer primaries are dark only on the tips of those feathers - all very good for Thayer's Gull. 

Compared to Herring Gull: 

The outer primaries are not blackish like they would be if it was a Herring Gull, which also would show more extensive dark on the undersides of the primaries.  

Compared to hybrid: 

I think if the bird was a hybrid Glaucous-winged x Herring gull, the bird's bill would be stouter or thicker.  It can be quite difficult to judge that, though.  I have to admit that I see a lot of birds in Ketchikan that I'm not sure about, but usually they are on the larger side and have darker primaries.”

Thank you, Steve! Gulls are challenging and fascinating simultaneously. It’s so great to be able to share my photos and get a quick analysis and ID. It’s also good to know that gull identification can be challenging to experts too.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Brant, Eurasian Wigeon, and other Ducks

Seward, Alaska

Cloudy, windy, 25º, snow flurries.

Still hoping for Short-eared Owls, I once again checked the tide flats, but in the afternoon. The tide crept in inexorably, reclaiming its territory, bubbling merrily through holes in the ice pans covering the shore.

This time, the ducks were much closer: MALLARDS, GADWALL, PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON, and EURASIAN WIGEON, at least three drakes and two hens. Two BRANT fed among them; seems like the flock split into smaller groups.

Knowing how hungry they were, I managed to avoid making them fly as I detoured around them on the crusty snow. Tough times for birds.

No Owls or Buntings, but what a treat to see the handsome Eurasian Wigeons and the other waterfowl!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter