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