Seward, Alaska
Somehow, Seward soared to a high of 54º yesterday and 52º today. Suddenly, huge leads developed in frozen ponds and wetlands, attracting TRUMPETER SWANS and ducks to the newly revealed food sources.
I discovered the resident Trumpeter Swan family with three cygnets all cozy together again at the back of the Nash Road wetlands today. Their previous separation remains inexplicable. Another family with one cygnet occupied another small open area nearby, also feeding on the soggy vegetation.
At Fourth of July Beach, two First of Season LAPLAND LONGSPURS flitted ahead of me in the beach rye grass, a sure sign of spring. I spotted a PIGEON GUILLEMOT in breeding plumage with the usual PELAGIC CORMORANT, HARLEQUINS, and BARROW’S GOLDENEYES.
100s of dead and dry Euphasids, a type of krill, lined up at the high tide line. This is a spring phenomenon as well. I also found a dead Herring with beautiful blue dots along its back.
Overhead, three HERRING GULLS called plaintively. These may be new migrants as the species is fairly scarce in the winter.
Though there may be a lot of snow and ice left, the appearance of huge puddles, meltwater, widening leads, pussy willows bursting from their buds, blooming crocuses, and a trickle of new migrants speaks loudly of Spring.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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