Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 6:36 am, sunset 9:20 pm for a total day length of 14 hours and 44 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 25 seconds longer.
Spring is gently pushing Winter off-stage with temps below freezing at night rising to the high 30s by day. I am grateful for the slow breakup and no flooding. Forecast is for some sunshine all week with a high of 47 midweek, then back to rain/snow showers for the weekend. The steady, strong, and chilly NNW wind remains to remind us to dress warmly.
Despite that NNW wind, migratory birds are trickling in. Today, I saw my first flock of SANDHILL CRANES, 49 (lucky number!), circling overhead, deciding whether to stop for a rest or push on, ever onwards north. They kept going. I also saw my FOS SNIPE, and my first FOS GREATER YELLOWLEGS, though one has been here about a week, and 7 were reported yesterday. A FOS HARLAN’S HAWK was reported by the Three Bridges.
Two DUSKY GEESE, likely headed to nest by Snow River at Mile 18, stopped over a few days ago and are continuing to feed in the sedges. A larger population breeds in Cordova.
Three adult TUNDRA SWANS, flanked by a bevy of eager ducks, fed steadily at the wide-open estuary pond. Just a few days ago, it was still frozen, then gray-slushy with open leads.
NORTHERN PINTAILS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, MALLARDS, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, EURASIAN WIGEON, and GREEN-WINGED TEAL joined the resident Mallards, BUFFLEHEAD, and COMMON MERGANSERS. Many of the ducks napped, heads tucked under wing, exhausted from their travels.
LAPLAND LONGSPURS continue to pulse through; I spotted about 15 today.
The most numerous, loudest, and most conspicuous migrants are Gulls: GLAUCOUS-WINGED, SHORT-BILLED, HERRING, and KITTIWAKES. They scream all day with energy to scream in the dark after 10:30 pm. The fish “waste” outfall pipe near the harbor entrance attracts a cloud of gulls as does the fish processor on Lowell Point Road.
A SLATY-BACKED GULL was spotted on April 14; still looking for it.
Also dining along Lowell Point Road are SURF SCOTERS, BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, one drake LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON MERGANSERS, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, and PELAGIC CORMORANTS.
At least 10 BALD EAGLES festooned the nearby spruce trees like Christmas ornaments, lurking and watching, then descending to create havoc among the already chaotic Gull scene. If one got a fish scrap, the chase was on! Stoking powerfully, several Eagles harassed the food-bearer until the prize was dropped or the lucky one managed to outfly, outmaneuver, and outlast its pursuers. Despite their size and bulk, Eagles are remarkably agile.
I was quite surprised to find a DIPPER on a barnacle-encrusted rock just offshore. They usually prefer fresh water streams, not salt water. I didn’t observe it diving, just dipping, until it flew farther south.
Another sign of spring was a PACIFIC WREN singing its long, intricate song, joyous for this beautiful day.
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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