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 54ยบ, 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.
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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