Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:54 am, sunset 3:51 pm for a total of 5 hours and 57 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 33 seconds shorter as we approach the Winter Solstice next Tuesday, December 21.
Due to over 16-24” of snow and treacherous roads, Kenai Peninsula schools were closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and started 2 hours late on Friday, except Moose Pass which remained closed all day.
Cold weather continued this weekend with an overnight low of 2 and daytime high of 12º today. Going outside, the house door could be mistaken for a walk-in freezer door. The howling north wind at 25-35 mph screamed through town, blowing snow into streamers and piling it into deep drifts. The bay continued to release heat in wind-flattened steam streamers, now around 46º.
Fortunately, the forecast calls for gradual warming by Saturday to 30º with a few inches of snow throughout the week and diminishing (but still brisk) wind.
The Seward Christmas Bird Count Week starts on Wednesday, December 15 and runs through Tuesday, December 21 with Count Day on Saturday, December 18 (and the full moon).
Friday, December 3: I spotted a flock of about 30 COMMON REDPOLLS gleaning seeds from the alders at Lowell Point State Recreation Site. They have been scarce this winter, and I haven’t seen any since.
Monday, December 6, during the second day of heavy rain, 22 mph SE wind, and unseasonal temps to 36º, Tasha reported that Ravens stirred up two WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN at the airport. She noted that she would not have seen them otherwise.
Tuesday, December 7: I counted 14 PINE GROSBEAKS feeding on Mt Ash berries in my yard. It’s always nice to hear their melodious calls in the predawn twilight and see them in the daylight.
Wednesday, December 8, the wind switched to north and moderated, resulting in a lovely winter day. A BELTED KINGFISHER flashed by and hovered for a long minute above an open creek at the tidelands. I hope it found tasty little fish to eat. In the distance a BALD EAGLE flushed the overwintering TRUMPETER SWANS, about 20.
Thursday, December 9 it snowed over 16”. I refound a VARIED THRUSH at First Lake, hanging out by the open water in the inlet stream to the lake. Robin C. reported six ROBINS in the Mt Ashes and under the spruce trees on Second Ave; I refound them and possibly up to 12 total.
Around 10 pm, I wandered around the yard, whacking heavy snow off sagging branches. I gave my deck post a little shake to free the anemometer on top from its snowy shroud. Immediately, a small bird shot out of the swallow box sharing the post and clearly called, “CHICK-A-DEE!” as the BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE landed in a nearby Mt Ash. Whoops! I had no idea the nest box was also a roost box, but I should have suspected as much. I hope it found a sheltered alternative for the rest of the cold night. I put a bunch of sunflower seeds in the nest box for a midnight snack the next night as an apology.
Friday, December 10: The 21-mph north wind returned. Robin C. spotted a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Madison and Second.
Saturday, December 11: 30 mph north wind and 12-29º. While watching a slow RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH cling to the suet feeder, an enormous (by comparison) female HAIRY WOODPECKED zoomed in and landed with confidence on the swinging feeder. The Nuthatch either vaporized or zipped off, suddenly energized. The woodpecker fed for several minutes, then just as abruptly, flew off.
Sunday, December 12: So cold and windy! Only the RAVENS seems to be enjoying the wind. I hightailed it to the Alaska Sealife Center to enjoy watching the COMMON MURRES, HORNED PUFFINS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and KING EIDERS fly/paddle gracefully underwater after flung fish, air bubbles trailing. A substantial layer of ice covered the viewing window by the gallery. Several aviary birds seemed to enjoy nibbling on the ice.
On the way home looking for the Robins, I innocently drove down a neighborhood alley and got stuck in a solid drift posing as fluff. It took some effort with my trusty snow shovel to dig the car out.
As daylight waned around 3 pm, an intrepid snowshoer found a VARIED THRUSH, possibly the same one from First Lake, at the upper end of the inlet creek (Marathon Creek) by the open water of the reservoir at the start of the Bench Trail.
For more information on the incredible Grunt Sculpins, please visit The Marine Detective at https://themarinedetective.com/2012/10/21/grunt-so-happy-to-see-you
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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