Friday, July 31, 2020 Greater Yellowlegs hunting

Seward, Alaska

After not seeing any GREATER YELLOWLEGS for several weeks, two waded into view along the shore of a wetlands and continued hunting. I immediately sat down to watch, camera at the ready. 

Wading up to their bellies and probing past their eyeballs into the decomposing leafy sediment, they gobbled up small invertebrates. I held still, amazed, as one continued to approached closely, unconcerned. 

The long bill plunged underwater as it caught another one, then thrashed the prize back and forth in the water. I snapped a photo of the de-cased caddisfly larva just before it went down the hatch. Who knew there were caddisfly larvae here in this tidally-inundated water?

According to field guides, adults in non-breeding plumage and juveniles both have a bi-colored bill with a paler base and mostly clear white flanks and belly. Juveniles have more streaking on the neck, crisper markings, and a browner back. If any experts would like to help clarify the plumages, please do.

The two shorebirds lit up the overcast day, not only with their long yellow legs, but by letting me observe them and trusting that all was well.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, July 30, 2020 Trumpeter Swan update

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 5:36 am, sunset 10:34 pm for a total day length of 16 hours and 58 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 49 seconds shorter.

Cloudy skies returned today after several days of sunshine, veiled by the haze of catastrophic wildfire smoke from Siberia. Today’s high crept up to 60 from a low of 54 at 6 am. Showers in the forecast for the next week; we need the rain.

I caught a glimpse today of the elusive Nash Road TRUMPETER SWAN family, paddling across the far side of the pond. The remaining two of the original four cygnets are growing fast, about two-thirds the size of their parents with ever-longer necks.

Last year’s three cygnets have found an unlikely home at Preacher Pond where at least two can reliably be found peacefully paddling or tip-up feeding. Sometimes, they walk up the denuded shore to feed like geese and rest amid the stubble of the clear-cut alders, willows. 

One thoroughly preened this afternoon while standing in shallow water; delicate white feathers fell like autumn leaves and gently floated away. Its reflection, heads almost touching, made a lovely, looping shape. The year-old Swan bodies are mostly white, but the head and neck retain many gray-brown feathers. Next year, I probably won’t be able to discern them from adults.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, July 9, 2020 Sorrow to Elation!

Seward, Alaska

My worst fears about the loss of the three TRUMPETER SWAN cygnets were recently confirmed by another birder. He saw two BALD EAGLES sitting near the Nash Road nest site on Monday afternoon, June 29, eating something. He could see a bit of white in the grasses, likely a cygnet. The parents swam back and forth around them without being aggressive; no cygnets were seen, or other Swans. At one point, one of the Eagles took off with talons full of vegetation and quite possibly a cygnet carcass. So, so sad.

What a bleak week without the family! One day, three 2-year olds napped on the wetlands on the east side of the road, and another day, a single Swan fed in the main pond. But overall, the pond, so recently filled with the joy of new life, then the distress of the five invading siblings, followed by the two marauding Eagles, now seemed abandoned.

When I drove past this morning, nothing had changed. Quiet and empty. Sigh.

But when I drove past in the early afternoon, I couldn’t believe my eyes! I turned around as soon as safely possible and starting taking photos of the unbelievable sight of two cygnets steaming across the pond accompanied by the mom. Where had they been hiding all week???

I watched anxiously for the dad, who soon paddled into view. Was the third cygnet with him? As he paddled across to join the family, it soon became clear that alas, the third cygnet had indeed perished. The confirmation dimmed my joy, but I felt so ecstatic that two survived. Two babies to watch as they grow bigger and become more competent. Two to stretch ever longer necks and wings, and learn to fly. Two to learn how to survive a long Alaskan winter.

The future is never certain, but now one can hope!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, July 3, 2020 Trumpeter Swan Update

Seward, Alaska

I checked the Nash Road wetlands on Monday, June 29 and only saw two adult TRUMPETER SWANS, hanging out on the nest site. Tall vegetation may have hidden the nearby cygnets. A single adult Swan fed quietly far to the side of the pond.

The massive weekend eviction of the five unwelcome two-year olds must have been an incredible battle, given the ineffectiveness of all previous attempts. Wish I had witnessed it!

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday drive-bys and quick checks failed to find or count cygnets. The casual behavior of the Swan pair was not normal for parents; no adorable babies paddling close by, no watchful guarding with them bookended front and rear, no careful guidance to the choicest water horsetails or tidbits raised from the deep. I became worried.

Today, I stopped and really searched for those precious babies.  Still, just three adults: one swan fed on the far side of the pond, the pair claimed the main center section. 

On this hot sunny day, one enjoyed a very thorough and serious bath. Huge black webbed feet stabbed the air and wings flailed underwater as the undignified Swan soaked upside down. Then flipped back upright to flap one wing underwater then the other. Head and neck dips, tail shimmies, stretches, shakes, fluffs, you name it. That Swan must have been happily soaked to the skin! Eventually, the pair retreated to the nest site to preen and stretch together. No sign of the cygnets eagerly waiting there either.

The Swans seemed to be on vacation, relaxing, taking a spa, paddling leisurely without a care in the world. I don’t even know if they are the parents. Who is that third Swan? Who drove off who?

This entire time, I did not see any cygnets. I can only hope they were happily feeding independently in the vegetation, but fear something tragic has happened. Sure hope I am wrong.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thursday, July 2, 2020 Kingfisher Altruism

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 4:42 am, sunset 11:24 pm, for a total daylength of 18 hours and 42 minutes. Tomorrow will be 2 minutes and 7 seconds shorter. 

Sunny skies continued all week. Today’s low at 6 am dipped to 54º; the high peaked at 78º at 5 pm. The heat seemed sweltering to this Alaskan, but fortunately a brisk north wind with gusts to 15 mph eased the stress. More sunshine forecast for the Fourth of July weekend. Note: the celebration was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns with crowds: no fireworks, Mt Marathon Race, parade, or street vendors. 

While swimming the good dog whose hot fur coat does not zip off, I spied two BELTED KINGFISHERS sitting on an alder branch over the water. The female proudly held a fish in her powerful beak, a large fish, about ¾ her length. I think it was a salmon smolt. She held it, and held it, and held it. I saw absolutely no movement from the fish, long since suffocated. 

The other Kingfisher, a male, sat quietly on his branch, looking around, down at the water, and up at a passing Bald Eagle. He looked at the female and the fish too, but made no moves towards this feast.

Occasionally the female juggled it with finesse, flipping it around, repositioning it, I presumed, to eat it head first. But no, she only continued to hold it, and hold it, and hold it, as if making a very big decision. Finally, she flew a short ways deeper into the alder where I lost sight.

The male flew to her previous perch and waited. Soon, the female returned, still carrying her prize. When I heard a soft, rattling, begging, I realized this was her son, and would he ever like something to eat!

Mom seemed to have had a little chat with her better self, and finally edged closer to her beloved offspring. His begging grew louder and more insistent until she could not resist and plunged the fish, headfirst into his waiting bill. 

She flew off, presumably to fish for her lunch, while he dealt with the monster sticking in his throat. It took some time, but finally, he managed to chug it down. What a fish! He had to wait at least 25 minutes to get it, but he’ll probably never forget that lunch with mom!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter