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
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