Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:40 am, sunset 3:58 pm for a total day length of 6 hours and 18 minutes. Tomorrow will be 2 minutes and 54 seconds shorter.
Seward has nothing to complain about the weather considering the horrific landslides and flooding that hit Southeast Alaska and Haines in particular. Unseasonably warm temperatures and rain melted away last week’s snow dump in open areas exposing the ground; possibly good news for owls and bad news for voles.
Then the wind shifted to the north and temperatures dropped to a more normal mid-20s. If the forecast can be believed, we may actually see the sun for the next few days before another warm cycle with rain, sn’rain, and snow showers returns.
Yesterday after another squally morning, an immature SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (yellow eyes) took a little bath in a puddle in my driveway then flew to a cottonwood across the alley to hang its wings and spread its tail to dry. It’s hard to look fierce when all fluffed up and hanging out, but afterwards, it took a little victory lap overhead in case anyone was watching.
I was, but so were about 30 PINE SISKINS (with possibly one COMMON REDPOLL), 40 or so BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and a dozen PINE GROSBEAKS. The silence was deafening until the coast was clear, and then the birds resumed their zipping, chirring, and whistling as they feasted on Mt Ash berries.
This morning, I checked the tidelands in a light snow flurry. As I walked along, six magnificent adult TRUMPETER SWANS calling softly, stroked across Resurrection Bay and huge webbed feet outstretched, splashed down in the gentle waves. Two more arrived a short time later, and another two checked out a watery lead in the pond ice. Ten! What a stirring sight and sounds!
Two shorebirds zig-zagged over the beach ryegrass and landed on a finger of sand far out. My best guess is two ROCK SANDPIPERS, but they were distant and flighty.
As I came around the point, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR and a SNOW BUNTING flushed up but soon landed to glean fallen beach rye grass seeds together.
The birds brightened the desolate landscape and dampened the chilly north wind. I felt so enriched!
Along the town waterfront by the Founder’s Monument, a tight raft of about 40 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES gathered. The males tried some courtship moves, throwing their heads back and extending them in front. The hens seemed more interested in fishing and often disappeared during the display leaving the drakes to follow somewhat belatedly. Such beautiful ducks!
Robin C alerted me to dozens of NORTHWESTERN (aka AMERICAN) CROWS feeding on insect larvae on the Marine Science Center lawn near the community garden. I have never seen this before: hundreds of small larvae lay scattered across the remaining snow and in the sodden grass. The Crows marched along, plucking the protein packets as they went. I assume the rain flooded them out of the ground, but oddly no earthworms were present. The feast may sustain thrushes, sparrows, and other birds; a good spot to check.
I braved the falling rock and avalanche zones on Lowell Point Road to walk the beach at Lowell Point State Recreation Area. (Yay public land!) I spotted the YELLOW-BILLED LOON slipping gracefully underwater by Pinnacle Rock. A pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS, a single HORNED GREBE, one PELAGIC CORMORANT, and a small raft of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES dove nearby.
Beauty, entertainment, music, mystery, and magic. Birds never fail to inspire.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
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