Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:53 am, sunset 6:28 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 35 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.
Sharp-eyed duo Deb and Dan discovered a SNIPE at 5:45 pm today at the inlet to the Lagoon by the Benny Benson Memorial. I caught a glimpse of the stocky shorebird around 6 pm as it flew across the road then disappeared in the gathering twilight.
This is an area more likely frequented by a Dipper, especially in winter. A Snipe in early March in Seward is a marvel; where did it come from and how has it survived our severe winds, snow, and cold temperatures?
Earlier in the sunny afternoon, I enjoyed watching the RUSTY BLACKBIRDS (4) and the female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD gobble down millet and cracked corn at the usual spot in the alley south of Marathon Drive. A fluffy SONG SPARROW hopped around territorially but mostly let the other birds, including the WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and DARK-EYED JUNCOS feed.
Next stop, I watched a small mixed flock of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES flit through a dense spruce stand, flicking out the tiny spruce seeds to eat. They hung upside-down without a care, or perched sideways on the cones, sometimes doing the splits to get at those seeds. Occasionally some seeds got loose and gently whirled down like tiny helicopters.
I had no idea my bird-day would end with a Snipe!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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