Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:12 am, sunset 5:12 pm for a total day length of 8 hours, zero minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 2 seconds longer.
While neighbors to the north experienced below zero temperatures, Seward remained relatively balmy with an overnight low of 5 and daytime high of 21. The raging north wind, at 20 to 30 mph, whisked away any actual heat from the bright sunshine, leaving only the psychological boost.
Our sunny interlude is forecast to be interrupted tomorrow with a chance of snow by evening, then alternate between snow showers and sunshine.
Even the sea birds sought refuge from the wind. A toasty raft of COMMON MERGANSERS preened and bobbed in the lee of the Uplands breakwater. GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and a few MEW GULLS joined them on the rocks.
In the blast by the Mariner’s Memorial, hungry NW CROWS (aka AMERICAN CROWS) braved the elements for handouts. A smattering of Gulls joined them, then sat down facing north, hunkered down on the ice and frozen snow. Among them was a first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL, first spotted nearby yesterday by Sulli and Dave S.
Sulli and Dave also refound the BRAMBLING at the usual location in the Marathon Drive alley, and the female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD with the five RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.
The SIBERIAN ACCENTOR continues at Second and Madison, but requires patience and luck. The female ROBIN that dined on freeze-dried Mt Ash berries among the decorative greens in the window box and on the door wreath, was apparently nailed by a hungrier SHARP-SHINNED HAWK moments after Sulli and Dave saw it. Sure wish Pigeon was on the menu instead.
Swirling in the wind, small flocks of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS managed to land in the tops of the swaying spruce trees to dine on the cone seeds.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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