Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:32 am, sunset 4:03 pm, for a total day length of 6 hours and 30 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 23 seconds shorter.
This last day of November sighed to a close with bright Jupiter in the eastern sky and the Big Dipper slowly rotating around Polaris. Is this an enticement to forget the rain followed by hail this afternoon? Or the overall rainy month with a cold snap in the middle?
Seward still has no snow on the ground (ephemeral white slush does not count). Today’s high was 34 around midafternoon, with a low of 28. The north wind shifted around noon to SE with gusts to 31 mph in the squally afternoon. The forecast calls for slightly cooler temperatures tomorrow and 30% chance of rain/slush in the morning.
I lucked out today at the tidelands with the break in the weather, only light rain and mild wind. Even at noon, however, the light was very dim due to the thick pewter-gray clouds all around.
As the tide rolled in, I spotted 26 ROCK SANDPIPERS and two DUNLIN feeding at the rapidly diminishing tideline. How fun to hear their chittering as they angled for a choice spot at the table! A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and the smaller SHORT-BILLED GULL stood companionably among them like giants.
Farther along the beach, a single female SNOW BUNTING popped up, possibly same bird I saw previously on November 17. She was very secretive and did not stop for a photo this time.
In the short time it took to walk the beach and return, the tide covered the table and the Sandpipers disappeared. Timing is everything; birding is serendipity.
I checked out the Blue Dipper by the harbor and found two GREAT BLUE HERONS standing on the platform looking glum in the rain and rising wind.
Despite the weather, several people were out walking the bike path with their dogs. I was relieved to see the SNOW GOOSE flying from the disturbance; it had not been invited to a Thanksgiving feast. It flew high and away but soon circled back and landed nearby.
The poor goose has an enlarged, knobby, distorted left leg, an injury that healed badly. The goose walks with a slight limp but uses the left foot frequently to scratch a persistent itch under its chin.
It’s strange to have a Snow Goose here so late, but the lack of snow means grass is available. It will be interesting to see how long it stays.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
