Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels!

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:03 am, sunset 7:33 pm, for a total day length of 11 hours and 30 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 25 seconds shorter.

Another HUGE storm hit Seward today with SE winds at 10 to 20 mph. The wind is forecast to increase to 35 to 45 mph tonight. NOAA issued a flood watch in effect from this afternoon until Sunday afternoon October 4, with heavy rain leading to a sharp rise in local rivers and creeks, and large amounts of gravel and sediment transport. 

NOAA noted this series of storms is similar to the October 2018 event.

We’ll be watching for flooding at the Seward Airport, and washouts along other streams. Lowell Creek is surging brown as it cascades over the Diversion Tunnel exit. Thanks to all the workers who keep us safe with the power and water on and roads clear! 

Fortunately, the temperature is quite mild, with lows in the upper 40s and highs in the low 50s.

Super-saturated steep slopes caused a large rock slide that closed Lowell Point Road this afternoon just south of the usual big land slide zone. Due to slope instability, it will not be cleared until tomorrow, safety permitting for the crews. 

Full moon tomorrow but there’s no chance of seeing it.

And the silver lining of this angry dark cloud? FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS!

Hurricane force winds in the Gulf outside Resurrection Bay blew these little butterflies into close view from the Seward Harbor Uplands.

As the green surf surged against the breakwater and white spray erupted, the Storm-petrels glided along, daintily dipping their tube-nosed bills into the water to snatch a morsel. At times, they demonstrated how they seemingly “walk on water”, dancing along the surface. 

This behavior gave them the name “Petrel” after St Peter who was said to have walked on water. Luckily, these birds have wings for assist as needed.

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, MEW GULLS, and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS also targeted this seething cauldron, but with less grace. A HARBOR SEAL popped up and got smacked in the head with a wave, but didn’t seem to mind. More birds, including DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, worked the waves farther out. 

In a brief interlude between the rain, Tasha spotted a SAVANNAH SPARROW blowing across the parking lot, too quick to snap a photo.

The rain is tough on optics but the storm sure is exciting to witness. 

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

Thursday, September 24, 2020 Western Sandpiper

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:49 am, sunset 7:52 pm for a total day length of 12 hours and 2 minutes, (much closer to equal day and night than the official Fall Equinox!) Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 25 seconds shorter.

Yesterday’s high reached a surprisingly warm 56º; today’s high was 52º with an overnight low of 45. Northerly breeze and overcast with sprinkles. More of the same in the forecast for the next week, but windier by Sunday.

Termination dust tops the tallest peaks like a crown above the lovely cloak of scarlet, red, yellow, and gold fall colors spilling down the mountainsides to town. Mt Ash berries glow red, waiting for the feathered fruit lovers.

Today at the green and gold saltwater estuary, a GREAT BLUE HERON stalked the pond for small flounders. Last Wednesday about 8 pm, a Great Blue Heron was reported at mile 7, croaking near the creek, likely roosting nearby for the night. They sure get around, these stealthy and mysterious birds.

MEW GULLS worked the small intertidal freshwater streams, stirring up a frenzy when one caught a small fish. A few GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and a single HERRING GULL or hybrid postured over fish scraps.

I almost overlooked a small sandpiper, all by itself, probing in the silt next to a stream. At first, it seemed so light, I thought it was a Sanderling, but a closer look showed a hind toe which the Sanderling lacks. So, I think it’s a WESTERN SANDPIPER in mostly winter plumage, with its black legs, slightly drooping bill and reddish back feathers. 

Birds always provide a stimulating experience and often a challenge.

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

Sunday, September 20, 2020 mystery shorebirds, Peregrine Falcon, sparrows, and swans

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 7:40 am, sunset 8:04 pm for a total day length of 12 hours and 24 minutes as we approach Fall Equinox on September 22 at 5:30 am. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 28 seconds shorter.

High today of 54º, calm, overcast; a welcome change from the big rain and windstorm last week. Showers/rain in the forecast for next week.

The Nash Road wetlands TRUMPETER SWAN family fed voraciously on water horsetails close to the road today. I wonder if the two cygnets, now almost 4 months old, have tried to fly yet. It’s time to explore other dining options in the area as this one closes for the winter.

At the tidelands, two distant shorebirds flew high but remained unidentified. Then I heard the “tew, tew” and rattle of LAPLAND LONGSPURS and counted about 15 as they too became specks in the gray sky. 

I had no sooner shifted my focus back to the beach when the flash of the immature PEREGRINE FALCON caught my eye. A light-colored, long-winged shorebird flew for its life and apparently succeeded. The Falcon gave a quick chase then broke off, first flying along the edge of the tide, then lifted up and quickly stroked for town. I hope it found a plump Pigeon for lunch instead.

Yet another mystery shorebird with a very long bill flew high overhead. So hard for me to identify these specks in such poor light, even when enlarged on the computer. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Two LINCOLN’S SPARROWS chased each other around the dried cow parsnip stalks and drying beach rye grasses. There may have been three.

Three or four SAVANNAH SPARROWS popped up on driftwood to check me out. So nice to see them as it’s time for them to migrate soon.

Two immature BALD EAGLES briefly tussled for a coveted perch on top of an old piling. The victor enjoyed the view of the salmon stream below while the loser perched on a low snag too far from the stream. When the Eagle blinked, the surprising blue nictitating membrane shuttered its eyes for an instant. Pretty cool.

As I left, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS called as it flew, unseen. Nice to hear a familiar call on this day of mystery shorebirds.

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, September 11, 2020 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers

Seward, Alaska

Delightful, clear weather continued with temperatures in the 50s at night and 60 daytime and calm. 

The distressed good dog roused me from a deep sleep at 1:30 this morning. I grumbled as I stumbled out the door in my nightie until I saw the night sky. The infinite Milky Way with its billions of stars stretched overhead; bright constellations glittered in their early winter positions. Red Mars chased the earlier appearances of Jupiter and Saturn. What a heavenly night!

I almost hated to go inside, but luckily, out we went at 5 am. Orion the Mighty Hunter now strode over the eastern mountains, forever chasing Taurus the Bull, a preview of the November sky. The Big Dipper had rotated and Arcturus had long since set behind Mt Marathon. 

At 6:30 am, the stars began to dim and luminous Venus heralded the dawn. I was then finally allowed to sleep uninterrupted for a few hours.

Today turned out to be SANDHILL CRANE migration day. While I waited expectantly in town, wave after wave, thousands! flew east across the mountains just north of town. I received reports, but never saw or heard a one. With such fine weather, they just kept going.

Six TRUMPETER SWANS, likely a combo of the three resident 1-year olds and 2-year olds, fed amicably at the Airport Pond. This loose group has also been feeding in the eel grass beds near Afognak Beach, and sometimes the Lagoon. It took a while for the siblings to merge but as winter approaches, they will tolerate the presence of others.

The tide flats seemed quiet until I spied three shorebirds probing through the silt for invertebrates at the edge of an intertidal stream. With their yellowish legs, bright pattern, reddish cap, and strong white eyebrow, they sure looked like juvenile SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS. 

I have seen this species in Seward before, but not every fall. They breed in wet Siberian tundra and winter in Australia and New Zealand. Some cross the Bering Strait into Alaska and migrate down the coast to the Pacific NW before heading out to sea on their long flight south.

http://birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/sharp-tailed_sandpiper

I checked out the Swans on the way back and then sat down to watch a family of three GREAT BLUE HERONS fishing nearby. These normally wary birds seemed unconcerned, especially the youngster, as they slowly walked through the shallow water, fishing. Target acquired, they imperceptibly lowered that mighty spear and then POW! grabbed the fish and down, down, down, the long, bulging neck. Most of the fish seemed to be small flat flounders.

The Herons gradually waded over past the Swans who continued to nap and preen. Twelve long necks! Quite a sight!

It was quite an amazing, long day but it wasn’t over yet. At 10 pm on the dog walk, I heard a little SAW WHET OWL beeping from the forest on Mt Marathon. Whooo knows if he was fooled by the day length, or just inspired by another fabulous day in Paradise. I sure was!

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

For photos, please visit my blog at https://sporadicbird.blogspot.com