Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 10:02 am, sunset 3:52 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 50 minutes. Tomorrow will be 7 seconds LONGER! (Haven’t written that for 6 months!)
As a huge low lumbered across the Gulf of Alaska towards the eastern Kenai Peninsula, the temperature steadily rose from 25 this morning to 37 by evening, transforming the steady snowfall to sn’rain.
The National Weather Service issued an unusual trio of Hazardous Weather Conditions: high winds and blizzard conditions especially Moose Pass north through Tuesday, and a flood advisory for Seward to Moose Pass through Wednesday. A good time to hunker down!
On my morning walk, a dozen chirring BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS converged on a crabapple tree with apples too big to toss back as usual. The hungry birds pecked at the shrunken fruit, hopefully finding some calories to sustain them.
I braved the flat light conditions midday, trying to follow others’ tracks just to drive along the Waterfront and to the Harbor Uplands. A somber gray curtain of snow melded with the calm gray waters of the bay, obliterating the surrounding mountains in a monochrome land and seascape.
At the Uplands, a hunched GREAT BLUE HERON perched stoically on the coal dipper in the snowstorm. At least 50 COMMON MERGANSERS and about 7 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS skittered over the surface then dove almost simultaneously. I wondered what they found to eat and what app alerted them to the location?
One tiny black and white MARBLED MURRELET chose to dine alone. Four SURF SCOTERS placidly drifted nearby; the males’ whimsical orange and white bills shone like beacons. All the birds sported white spots and dots until they shook off or dove.
A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and a likely GLAUCOUS-WINGED X HERRING GULL hybrid with dark eyes and some black primaries patrolled nearby, watching closely, ready to squabble over any findings. More seabirds paddled along farther out, too dim and obscured to identify.
I spied a new species for Count Week perched on the roof of the Craftsman-style restroom: a THAYER’S GULL juvenile, with a rounded head, slender bill, darker brown primaries, and pinkish legs. This lookout seems to be popular with the Gulls (except on Count Day) and a good place to check.
The storm may indeed bring in some fabulous Asian rarities; I hope someone will find them in time for the last day of Count Week tomorrow. I’ll be trying!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
No comments:
Post a Comment