Thursday, April 30, 2020 Flying Loons, and Shorebirds!

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 5:56 am, sunset 9:55 pm for a total day length of 15 hours and 45 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 13 seconds longer.

Spring is well underway! A whole week of sunny weather with temperatures inching up to 56 melted most of the remaining snow. Night-time temperatures in the low 30s ensured “breakup” was slow. The lovely weather, however, meant many migratory birds skipped Seward as a rest stop and appeared on eBird reports in Kenai, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.

A most amazing event stopped me in my tracks this morning, the wild, thrilling, flight calls of COMMON LOONS! I looked up in astonishment to see a pair stoking powerfully with their long, slender wings, legs trailing behind, heading to Resurrection Bay. After not seeing any Loons since last fall, I only recently found one far out in the bay on Tuesday. Now two, flying! I watched and listened in awe until they vanished.

Seven CANADA-type GEESE nibbled at the new shoots of beach rye grass. One CACKLING GOOSE with a white neck ring balanced on one leg in a yoga pose. They glanced up, but soon resumed breakfast.

Ahead, a loose flock of a dozen gold-spangled PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS methodically roved through the dead grasses and rocky beach, gleaning invisible nutrition. Glancing down, I saw nothing edible. It is fortunate I am not dependent on my inadequate foraging skills.

In a shallow intertidal puddle, I spied my first-of-year Sandpipers. A dozen WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS slowly waded along, paired with their reflections. One snapped up an amphipod, likely their preferred prey. Some probed almost up to their eyeballs, feeling underwater with their sensitive bill tips.

After such a long winter, it was fun to verify the yellowish legs of the Least Sandpiper, and the black legs, chevrons, and rusty patches on the Western.  

Five LAPLAND LONGSPURS called from the beach rye grass then shot up and away. After hearing snatches of songs, I finally saw two SAVANNAH SPARROWS picking off beach flies. 

I heard a familiar “Chew-EET!” I’m looking forward to seeing my first-of-season Semipalmated Plover.

So many gifts this spring, and so much to look forward to!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Bald Eagle with unusual cargo

Seward, Alaska

I’m lucky to see BALD EAGLES just about every day. Nonetheless, I still feel compelled to whip out my camera and take yet another photo.

Today, an adult clutched unusual cargo in its sharp talons as it flew from the tideline to the forest. Was it nesting material? A fish? A bird?

When I checked on my computer, I discovered the bundle had long skinny legs festooned with suckers. A Giant Pacific Octopus! 

How the Eagle managed to catch an octopus is beyond me.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Monday, April 27, 2020 American Pipit and Black-bellied Plovers and a Surprise

Seward, Alaska

First-of-season AMERICAN PIPIT today, all alone. A few more  BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, such elegant birds!, fed at the tideline.

I spotted some WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS picking on algae on an old intertidal stump. While standing quietly, waiting for an opportunity to take a photo, five burst into flight. To my great surprise, a female landed on my hat! I froze, savoring the moment and her slight weight. After a second or two, she lightly lifted off and joined her companions.

I felt so very fortunate to be chosen, even if I was mistaken for another driftwood log.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Friday, April 24, 2020 Arctic Terns, Pacific Golden-Plovers

Seward, Alaska

The Seward Harbor is a great place to watch birds and other wildlife. The exuberant ARCTIC TERNS reclaimed the skies, pursue courtship, and plunge after tiny salmon fry. They noisily careen around the tall sailboat masts and perch on the pointy bird-excluder cones on top of the harbor pilings. 

I caught a harbor seal napping with a grin on its face, so relaxed! A PIGEON GUILLEMOT in breeding plumage dove nearby. 

At the tidelands, I found my first-of-season PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, flying and calling from a distance. Her belly had such interesting large, black spots.

A pair of GREATER YELLOWLEGS called as they flew from one feeding spot to the next. NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GADWALL, NORTHERN PINTAILS, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARDS, and GREEN-WING TEAL numbers increase daily. 

At home, a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE inspected a swallow nest box. I hope a happy couple finds it to their liking!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, April 23, 2020 Mystery Bird Solved!

Seward, Alaska

Many thanks to everyone who offered suggestions for the identity of the mystery bird that was driving me nuts. The extremely enlarged photos of the little bird singing 50’ up in the cottonwood cinched the ID not as a rare migrant but as a DARK-EYED JUNCO.

Neither I, nor anyone who responded, has ever heard a Junco sing anything like that. It’s so interesting that two males within two to three blocks in town sang the same short, sweet, descending “Tew, tew, tew, tew.”

It’s a pleasure to be able to connect with such a supportive and helpful community of birders! Thank you for your help!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter 

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Mystery Bird photos

Seward, Alaska

Happy Earth Day!

This morning, my mystery bird sang his little heart out, high up in a cottonwood tree. “Tew, tew, tew, tew!” The same, sweet, descending short notes followed by a pause. Another bird answered farther away. He obligingly gave me time to walk the remaining block home and drive back with the camera and telephoto lens.

The lighting was terrible and the view was mostly of his light-colored, unstreaked belly, dark throat/breast, dark round head, dark eye, pale beak (yellowish?), longish tail, and unmarked wing. 

He’s a bit bigger than a Pine Siskin. I’m thinking Junco-type, but cannot find any song that matches.

I still can’t figure it out.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Reporter

Monday, April 20, 2020 Greater White-fronted Geese, Sandhill Cranes!

Overcast continues with light rain, mostly calm, low 40s

Twenty GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew overhead at 2:45 pm. After a clear deliberation of whether to continue or rest, they voted with their wings and kept going. Still plenty of time to get to the next rest stop, maybe the Kenai Flats.

While photographing one of three BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, I happened to also include a SANDERLING that Robin C discovered on Sunday. Seward very infrequently hosts this species, especially one that arrived so early it is still in winter plumage. The DUSKY CANADA GOOSE continued, notable for its dark plumage and large size.

I heard an immature MEW GULL squawking and carrying on more than normal. A pair of adults, presumably its once devoted parents, were trying to drive it away with close flybys, false charges, and then actual bill to body contact. The youngster finally got the unbelievable message and relative peace resumed.

A couple PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS were reported; I'm still hoping to see one.

Over at Spring Creek Beach, about 24 HARLEQUIN DUCKS in breeding plumage rested on the little rock jetty, almost covering the rocks with their chestnut and brown coloration. About 40 SURF SCOTERS bunched up along the tide’s edge at Fourth of July Creek. It seems that these ducks may be gathering in anticipation of migrating to newly thawed streams and lakes to nest.

BALD EAGLES have reclaimed their nests, often one perched at the nest tree and the other nearby. No incubation yet.

Around 6:30 pm, I heard the first faint, magical bugling of SANDHILL CRANES! High overhead flew a mixed flock of 44 SANDHILL CRANES and Geese. I was somewhat surprised to see the Geese totally intermixed with the Cranes in the undulating line. A few minutes later, another high flock of 25 SANDHILL CRANES flew over. A friend saw flocks heading up the Resurrection River Valley, also possibly heading to the Kenai flats. 

Around 7 pm, I happened to look up and saw a large bird silently soaring past, high up, barely stroking. My first thought was Bald Eagle, but a closer look revealed a single SANDHILL CRANE. Who knows if it was ahead or behind; it was just unusual to see it all alone. I hope it found its flock!

Another large flock of over 200 Geese passed overhead around 7:30 pm. Some friends reported being woken around 2 am by a noisy flock of Geese; not sure if they were having a party or flying overhead.  

Here’s a link to a good article on Canadian Geese flying at night:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/533976/why-do-canadian-geese-fly-night

Pinch me, it’s really Spring! The Cranes and Geese are here!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Tuesday, April 21, 2020 More Geese and Cranes

Seward, Alaska

Friends in town by the waterfront were greeted this morning by the wonderful sight of five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and one CANADA GOOSE breakfasting on recently emerged grass.

Seven SANDHILL CRANES also ravenously ate breakfast at the saltmarsh pond. Three TRUMPETER SWANS preened and fed at a more leisurely pace, not having flown any great distance.

The five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE with one CACKLING and one LESSER CANADA GEESE flew in and landed at mid-afternoon. Shortly afterwards, a flock of 13, then another of about 26 Greater White-fronted Geese flew in. The nickname “Speckle-belly” is certainly well-deserved!

I heard my FOS SAVANNAH SPARROW singing today and saw another WILSON'S SNIPE. Hopefully, there will be more of each soon.

A SONG SPARROW briefly attacked my car’s side mirror then proclaimed his territory from a nearby rock with a beautiful song.

The first mosquitoes emerged on Saturday. For the past three days, I’ve heard but not seen Swallows.  Could be wishful thinking, but one can hope! 

If you didn’t already clean out your Swallow nest boxes, now is the time. If there’s a cute little dowel perch below the entrance hole, please remove it. Predatory birds like Magpies and Steller Jays use the perch to grab the precious baby birds stuck inside the box. Adult Swallows/Chickadees/Nuthatches do not need a perch.

Several more flocks of Cranes and Geese flew high overhead this evening. North! North! 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter