Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:13 am, sunset 4:16 pm for a total day length of 7 hours and 3 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 13 seconds shorter.
Wintery weather continues with the overnight low of 6 and daytime high of 21, actually a bit warmer than the past week. However, that north wind sucked out the joy of the sunny day (and heat), howling at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 36 mph. Brrrrr! Monday’s forecast is down to 10 daytime high and 3 overnight low with north winds 15-25 mph.
The bay at a remarkably warm 50ยบ transformed into a steaming cauldron of racing streamers and white caps as its heat escaped into the cold air. Birding in the wind was brutal, but fortunately the Alaska Sealife Center aviary provided an escape.
Recently, a handsome pair of SPECTACLED EIDERS joined the aviary. The KING EIDERS and SMEW now have some competition! All the birds are fascinating to observe up close, whether preening, diving underwater, or just paddling about. Dress warm if you want to hang out there, as it’s still outside.
David J reported a HOODED MERGANSER from the outside viewing platform. I only spotted a SURF SCOTER, COMMON MERGANSERS, a small frenzy of various Gulls, PELAGIC CORMORANTS, and a SONG SPARROW. David also spotted a SLATY-BACKED GULL near the seafood processing plant.
The Beaver Moon partial lunar eclipse on November 18 was spectacular! To think that the Earth’s shadow stretches somewhere in the Universe to infinity and beyond, 24/7, and only occasionally is intercepted by the moon for us to see!
I watched as the Earth’s shadow appeared like a dark, wispy cloud in the upper left side, then turned into a small but definite bite, then crept across the face. At the halfway point, the shadow covered all but a bright crescent at the bottom and suddenly the rest of the shadowed moon popped into view in a dull coppery color. I missed the gradual sliding of the shadow across the face as I was about frozen and had to go inside to thaw out.
Steaming bay, lunar eclipse, Spectacled Eiders! Another amazing week!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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