Sunday, October 25, 2020 Western Tanager, and Common Loon

Seward, Alaska 

Sunrise 9:05 am, sunset 6:20 pm for a total day length of 9 hours and 14 minutes. Tomorrow will be five minutes and 18 seconds shorter.

Low of 34, high of 41, and calm. Gloomy clouds and rain, heavy at times, made the day seem even darker. More rain in the forecast until Wednesday, then night-time temps in the low teens for the next several days will freeze area ponds and lakes, concentrating some water birds in the remaining open water and moving others along.

The WESTERN TANAGER (assuming there’s only one) relocated from Clearview to the 500-block residential areas between Madison and Monroe west of Third Ave. I spotted it this morning with a few Robins in the same scraggly Mt Ash where the Cedar Waxwing was first seen. Apparently, the few remaining berries beckoned.

A few hours later, it was refound up the alley by Madison, joining about 20 Robins to feast on Mt Ash and Mayday tree berries. No sign of the Hermit Thrush reported here on Thursday.

Thanks to the warm soil, Robins actively hunted in a nearby yard for invertebrates, hopping along, easily whisking away the concealing moss and leaves to reveal their prize.

Robin C found a COMMON LOON south of the Harbor Uplands; I haven’t seen one for a month or more. This one, now in winter plumage, snorkled for fish, then slid smoothly underwater and emerged quite a distance away. I was lucky to get a closer look as it approached before heading back out. Ancient, mystical loon.

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Update: After careful photo scrutiny, Sulli determined that there are TWO Western Tanagers in Seward! Thanks, Sulli!

"Photo analysis has revealed that the first WETA is much brighter than the current bird in town, so there are two individuals so far this season! Pretty exciting. Compare the breast coloration, and also note how the upper wing bar is yellow on the brighter individual, but white on the duller one. Another difference is that the duller individual has a somewhat subtle grayish patch in the middle of its face, not shown by the brighter bird. I suspect the brighter bird is a young male, but I am not certain and need to do more research."