Seward, Alaska
Unsettled day after the big storm last night, but gradually the weather calmed down and the sun even dared to peek out.
I headed to Fourth of July Beach this morning. The booming surf pounded onto the beach, rearranging the gravel contours. Bundles of seaweed, still firmly attached to their host rock, rolled loose among broken cockle shells. The sea remained restless and roiled with Godwin Glacier silt from raging Fourth of July Creek.
Scanning the far edges of the beach, I found a single BLACK OYSTERCATCHER resting just out of reach of the surf. Normally, I would expect them to be migrating to SE Alaska and British Columbia by now. But maybe last night’s strong south wind blew it north. I hadn’t yet seen one this year, so that was a treat.
The resident BALD EAGLE family successfully fledged two youngsters this summer. The chocolate-brown Eaglets stood on the shore, probably wondering where food came from, or exactly how to catch a pink salmon. One of the parents perched above the nest, watching.
Then a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL ruined the peaceful scene. It spent a great deal of time and effort circling while screaming the whole time, dive-bombing the adult who ducked and yelled at it to no avail. The Eagle seemed pretty frustrated to be harassed while just quietly resting. All in the life of a predator.
Later, at the head of the bay, I startled a flock of AMERICAN WIGEONS into flight, salad still in beaks. Soon after they relanded, they again took off, but this time chased by the immature PEREGRINE FALCON, last seen on August 19.
For what seemed an interminable time, the young Falcon circled and hovered, dove and pulled up, trying to nab a duck. I was busy tracking the Falcon, but I think those ducks somehow submerged and whipped out snorkels to breathe. They were there, somewhere, but not in reach of the Peregrine.
A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL swooped in several times and tried to drive the Falcon away, just like at Fourth of July Beach. At least it wasn’t quite as persistent. Finally, the tired Peregrine flew back to the beach to rest and reconnoiter.
I checked the time stamp on my photos when I got home. Three and a half minutes of strenuous flying and maneuvering, and no lunch. All in the life of a predator as well.
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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