Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 5:57 am, sunset 10:11 pm for a total day length of 16 hours and 13 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 7 seconds shorter.
Thick clouds shrouding the surrounding mountains finally lifted by mid-afternoon, slipping through the rugged ridges and lingering in wisps. Then came light rain alternating with heavy downpours. The temperature dipped into the mid-50s with more heavy rain forecast for Sunday.
I lucked out on a walk at the tidelands before the heavy rain hit. First a pair of BELTED KINGFISHERS rattled and circled ahead of me, noisily chasing each other. The female flew over the wetland pond, hovered and swooped, then dove in for a fish, perhaps a three-spined stickleback.
Two juvenile BALD EAGLES chased ducks along the stream, then rested on driftwood, drying their wings. Suddenly, a flash as a PEREGRINE FALCON tore past, flying low across the flats. Fortunately for me, instead of vanishing as before, it landed on a snag to look around. What a magnificent bird! No mistaking this large bird with its dark helmet, fierce eyes, white neck, gold feet, and proud stance!
I rounded a corner and spied a small shorebird with a thin black bill, all by itself, poking about the water’s edge. A juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE! This species is more commonly seen farther out in the bay. Maybe bad weather brought it in. It seemed tired and frequently closed its eyes for a quick nap. Quite a target for hungry predators lurking close by!
A GREATER YELLOWLEGS landed, teetering on those long yellow stilt legs. It slowly walked right past the Phalarope without any response. I hope this little shorebird will find the food, rest, shelter, and friends it needs to survive.
I headed back, past the Eagle still drying its wings, the Kingfisher hovering and fishing, and watched unsuccessfully for the mighty Peregrine. A small flock of SAVANNAH SPARROWS and one juvenile WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW flitted ahead, nabbing flies on the green wrack. An unseen COMMON LOON yodeled as it flew over the bay! Wow!
This rainy day without expectations turned into quite a remarkable afternoon!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
No comments:
Post a Comment