Saturday, March 7, 2020 Audubon Anchorage-Seward Field Trip

Seward, Alaska

Finally! The wind stopped just in time for the annual Audubon Anchorage-Seward Field trip led by Andrew Fischer. Ten adventurous birders detoured to Cooper Landing to nail the TUFTED DUCK, then joined locals Robin, Jonah, and me for a “Ring the Bay” tour.

The temperature obligingly rose from 20º at the 10 am start to 32º at the 3 pm end; the sun shone briefly in the morning then made way for clouds sprinkling occasional light snow. It was the best day for birding in a long time! 

Some highlights:

At the Harbor Uplands, an immature THAYER’S GULL paddled right in front of us. After many weeks of absence, Andrew caught a glimpse of a GREAT BLUE HERON landing at the top of the coal dipper. It quickly disappeared behind the superstructure, leaving only a bit of the bird visible if one looked hard. 

Ava’s Place did not disappoint. As soon as we got out of the cars, we heard the racket of PINE SISKINS festooned in the trees and feeders. PINE GROSBEAKS enjoyed the railing feeders. We spotted both DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS, CHESTNUT-BACKED and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. 

Andrew phished a sulky GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW out of a dense spruce tree for a quick ID. A BELTED KINGFISHER flew down adjacent Salmon Creek; a BALD EAGLE perched in a distant tree.

The pond-calm bay permitted excellent views of seabirds, including many tiny MARBLED MURRELETS, frequently in pairs and calling to each other. In white-capped waves, they disappear completely. A first of season PIGEON GUILLEMOT in breeding plumage in binocular range paddled off Lowell Point Beach.  A few BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES circled over a small bait ball that attracted PELAGIC CORMORANTS, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, MEW GULLS, COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, MARBLED MURRELETS, and SURF SCOTERS.

All three Merganser species were seen, including the female HOODED MERGANSER at Clear Creek. 

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, two bright red males and a yellowish female, popped up in a cottonwood tree at Lowell Point Beach, the first seen in a long time.

TRUMPETER SWANS, BRANT, GADWALL, and EURASIAN WIGEON were found at Afognak Beach after the tide receded a bit. Also, the only BROWN CREEPER and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS with more Chestnut-backed Chickadees. 

Those who checked Clear Creek were rewarded with the female HOODED MERGANSER and female NORTHERN PINTAIL.

Everyone’s list and numbers were probably a bit different, but here’s a summary of the 42 species most saw using Jonah’s list and numbers:

Brant 44

Trumpeter Swan 23

Gadwall 3

Eurasian Wigeon 2

American Wigeon 4

Mallard 46

Northern Pintail 1

Harlequin Duck 6

Surf Scoter 11

Bufflehead 3

Common Goldeneye 19

Barrow’s Goldeneye 83

Hooded Merganser 1

Common Merganser 30

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Horned Grebe 2

Pelagic Cormorant 14

Great Blue Heron 1

Bald Eagle 10

Black-legged Kittiwake 7

Mew Gull 29

Thayer’s Gull 1

Glaucous-winged Gull 31

Pigeon Guillemot 1

Marbled Murrelet 28

Belted Kingfisher 2

Downy Woodpecker 4

Hairy Woodpecker 3

Black-billed Magpie 1

Northwestern Crow 80

Common Raven 5

Black-capped Chickadee 2

Chestnut-backed Chickadee 9

Golden-crowned Kinglets 3

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1

Brown Creeper 1

Golden-crowned Sparrow 1

Dark-eyed Junco 7

Pine Grosbeak 35

White-winged Crossbill 6

Pine Siskin 80

Rock Pigeon 63

Thanks to all who came, and especially to Andrew for organizing the trip and for the gift of 40# of black oil sunflower seeds and suet for Ava’s birds!

PS I received a photo documenting a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on a dead PIGEON on Ballaine. Good choice for dinner!

PPS Now that the wind died down, the SAW-WHET OWLS can be heard calling from the slopes of Bear Mt, Mt Marathon, and in Forest Acres.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter