Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:08 am, sunset 6:16 pm for a total day length of TEN hours and 7 minutes. Woo-woo! So much light! Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 28 seconds longer.
Fabulous day today! The ever-higher sun beamed benignly in a rare blue sky, unperturbed by trifling clouds as the temperature steadily rose to 41 by early afternoon. The north wind uncharacteristically dwindled to a light breeze. It felt like Spring popped in to visit Winter. February is returning to normal with snow showers in the forecast starting tonight, and yes, a strong north wind will speak on Sunday.
This morning in Two Lakes Park, I first heard the high octave “see-see” calls. I looked up to find four bark-colored BROWN CREEPERS steadily ascending a large spruce tree. They paused to inspect the cracks and crevices, probing under the potato-chip bark for invertebrates, then magically continued upwards. Or outwards on the undersides of the branches, defying gravity. Such an amazing species!
This afternoon on a whim, I checked out the alley feeder south of Marathon Drive. I immediately heard the creaking conversation of a RUSTY BLACKBIRD in a nearby cottonwood. I also spied the stripy female BLACK-WINGED BLACKBIRD concealed in the tangle.
As I waited and watched from my car blind, a few DARK-EYED JUNCOS plopped down to glean sunflower seeds from the bare ground under the spruce trees. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW cautiously joined them. Then three Rusty Blackbirds, giants by comparison, eagerly pecked millet out of the ice. A flash of orange! The male BRAMBLING joined the party, snacking on sunflower seeds. My, how he glowed in the sunshine!
I haven’t seen the Blackbirds or Brambling in many weeks; what a pleasure!
Over at the Harbor Uplands, the immature GLAUCOUS GULL perched on top of the small mountain of stored snow with GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and a few HERRING GULLS (or hybrids). It seems to be a regular here or nearby, in the company and security of the other gulls.
Just before the sun regretfully bid farewell, a sensational, almost full moon rose majestically above the snowy peak of Mt Alice. What a day!
Other reports:
The SIBERIAN ACCENTOR has not been reported since February 10.
Local birders Deb and Dan photographed the female KING EIDER on February 20 from Tonsina Beach, and watched her eat a crab! Then they were buzzed by about 40 SNOW BUNTINGS.
Robin C photographed a MCKAY’S BUNTING with 9 Snow Buntings at Tonsina on February 22.
After an absence since early February, I watched about 70 PINE SISKINS swirl from spruce top to spruce top on February 24. Many bird feeder hosts commented on their sudden disappearance. Redpolls are scarce as well.
A ROBIN, two HAIRY WOODPECKERS and two DOWNY WOODPECKERS were reported at a feeder in Forest Acres recently.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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