Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 10:03 am, sunset 3: 58 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 55 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 28 seconds LONGER.
After a week of piercing cold mixed with strong north winds, the past few overcast days seemed balmy, hovering around freezing and calm. Roads remain icy and treacherous. The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Alert for this weekend as another series of storms is predicted to hit South-central this weekend.
Equipped with ice grippers that will likely stay on until May, I checked out the tidelands for the afternoon walk. Chaotic blocks of ice piled up in the estuary pond, leaving several areas of open water where MALLARDS and a few GADWALL paddled and dabbled, and BUFFLEHEAD dove.
I found the ROCK SANDPIPER flock with DUNLINS feeding intently at the receding tide’s edge. About 50 Gulls, likely Short-billed and Glaucous-winged (too far without a scope), rested on the flats. The fierce cry of an adult BALD EAGLE rang out from its perch at the very top of a tall red crane in the adjacent industrial area to the west.
Suddenly, I heard an odd, almost muffled honking and turned to find an adult TRUMPETER SWAN flying from the east to an open area of the pond. It soon settled down to feed among the ducks. What a relief to have access to food after that cold spell!
Then, to my joy, I spotted a SHORT-EARED OWL wafting over the tide-washed sedges, hunting for unsuspecting voles. A RAVEN took time out of its busy schedule to harass it, so the Owl kept moving and was soon out of my sight.
The Seward Christmas Bird Count is on Saturday; I invited all these birds to participate and bring their friends.
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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