Friday, January 15, 2021 Northern Pintail, Pacific Loon, Eagle action, and a bit of blue sky

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 9:46 am, sunset 4:30 pm, for a total day length of 6 hours and 43 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 54 seconds longer.

 

Finally! The relentless precipitation in its many variations ranging from fog, rain, drizzle, sn’rain, sleet, and snow held off until a touch-up light freezing rain in the evening. The landscape is white, but it’s a deceptive, heavy, sloppy two-plus feet of snow. The sun peeked out this afternoon, illuminating the stunning mountains on the east side of Resurrection Bay, reminding me of why I love to live here.

 

More precipitation in the forecast for the next week with temps reaching 38 for the next few days. Maybe we’ll see some sun by next weekend.


First reported by Robin C, a handsome drake NORTHERN PINTAIL showed up, unbelievably early on January 10. I refound him on January 12 standing on ice at the airport pond among dozens of MALLARDS, calmly preening in a light snow. He'll have to wait several months for his true love to migrate north!

 

The SIBERIAN ACCENTOR at Madison and Second continues to be seen by some, but has proven elusive for me. As I searched yet again in vain, I was reminded of the song wherein an Eagle hauls off a Dove, and the Accentor can’t be found: “Love the One You’re With” by Crosby, Stills & Nash. 

 

Yes, it’s astonishing how PINE SISKINS can crack open a hard sunflower seed hull and extract the meat with only a tiny, thin bill, manipulating the seed with their tongue while standing on snow. I observed a lot of this action while waiting. 

 

I haven’t seen the Brambling in a while either, but the 5 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and single female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD preened and chatted high in a cottonwood during a brief sunny break on January 13, still in the alley behind Marathon Drive. Update: BRAMBLING reported today in same location.

 

On January 3, I saw an odd-looking Loon in the gloom just outside the boat harbor entrance. It had a large white patch on its right side that was not snow. 


Today, I got a better look from Lowell Point Road. The left side was normal, and turned the bird into a PACIFIC LOON with a wing injury. Tasha refound it and said the injured wing is not resting in the correct position so the white side is now visible. She was concerned about the amount of time the Loon was preening, likely due to the injury, as that is time away from feeding and also a signal to predators like Eagles. She thought the body condition looked good, which is hopeful.

 

It was so peaceful watching and listening to the many MARBLED MURRELETS whistling to each other as they paddled on the calm bay backdropped by the scenic snow-clad mountains. Tasha estimated about 40. 


As I finally drove off, I saw a BALD EAGLE suddenly swoop down over a pair. I hope they both dove in time, but the Eagle seemed to have something in its talons as it flew off. Though I pulled over to watch the Eagle after it landed on the road snow berm ahead, I never saw it eat, so maybe the Murrelet escaped. 

 

The high tide attracted small rafts of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES to steam directly towards the road, then dive in synchrony up close. In reverse synchrony, they popped up facing the bay and paddled off a short way. Then the group turned 180 and headed back to repeat the show. In and out like a feathered tide. Such beautiful seabirds; I love their golden eyes and the males’ dramatic black and white pattern. The Eagle, now suspiciously perched above in a spruce tree, was also watching, but I didn’t see any attempts to nab one.

 

After I tore myself away, I almost immediately pulled over again to take photos of unusual wavy clouds. They may be Kelvin-Helmholtz Clouds aka billow clouds, formed when two horizontal winds meet. The higher velocity wind on the top picks up a layer of clouds and forms wave-like rolls. https://www.thoughtco.com/kelvin-helmholtz-clouds-3443792

 

All in all, a very interesting and uplifting day!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

















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