Seward, Alaska
Sunrise, a leisurely 9:53 am, sunset 3:52, for a total day length of 5 hours and 36 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 36 seconds shorter as we approach the Winter Solstice next week on December 21.
Mostly sunny for those precious daylight hours after several dark, stormy days. Schools, including Seward, were closed across South Central today, mostly due to impassable roads. Town only received about 8-10 inches of crusty snow, whereas farther north, the storm dumped several feet. The fierce NNW wind boiled and blew snow off the surrounding mountains, 13-16 mph with gusts to 38. Fortunately, the temp rose from a low of 14 to 34 by midday, taking out the sting.
I crunched through billows of crusty snow to the beach, pushed enthusiastically by the wind. Suddenly, a flock of about 20 SNOW BUNTINGS swirled past like snow flurries. They landed in the snow, pecking at loose ryegrass seeds as they strode into the wind, then flew a short way to glean more seeds from protruding stalks. After a minute, off they blew, out of sight.
I marched on, escaping to the snow-free, tide-washed beach. A single DUNLIN poked and probed along the tide’s edge near four SHORT-BILLED GULLS. I searched for the usual winter flock of Rock Sandpipers without success. Small rafts of ducks surfed in the waves, mostly MALLARDS with a few BUFFLEHEAD.
On my return, I heard the sonorous honking of TRUMPETER SWANS. I spun around and followed them, stroking into the wind, veering towards the rugged, snowy mountains until they disappeared, white into white.
A shaft of sunshine, a surprise of snow birds, snow streamers and spectacular scenery: a sweet Seward song.
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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