Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 10:03 am, sunset 3:54 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be 43 seconds longer.
Sunny skies but UV Index still stuck at zero; serious north wind 12 mph with gusts to 27 mph; overnight high of 14 at midnight, hovered around 7 midday, then dropped to 4 at 9 pm; wind chill minus 12. In summary, a very bright, cold, windy, and beautiful birdy Christmas day.
On this fifth day of the Seward Count Week, I again searched in vain for the Townsend’s Solitaire at Lowell Point Beach State Recreation Site. Though the high tide limited access to the beach, the trip was worth it to see colorful holiday decorations dancing in the wind, an annual tradition for a local family. I heard WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, saw PINE SISKINS and COMMON REDPOLLS, STELLER’S JAYS, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES, and a VARIED THRUSH.
Two Lakes Park was already in the shadows though it was only 12:30 pm. A VARIED THRUSH perched in the parking lot, a great start! I found two AMERICAN DIPPERS territorially feeding in separate sections of the inlet creek at First Lake, and another in the outlet creek of Second Lake. Diving and splashing in the freezing water as if it were summer. Brrr!
At Second Lake, two BALD EAGLES basked in the sunshine high in a spruce, protected from the wind. Everything below endured cold shade and a chilly breeze including an elusive PACIFIC WREN that darted past into the gloom and disappeared. I haven’t seen a Wren in a long time!
Not ready to remain in the town shadows, I drove back into the sunshine to Ava’s Hot Spot off Nash Road. What a good choice! I enjoyed watching a bouquet of beautiful birds as they hungrily feasted on sunflower seeds, peanut butter, and suet. Their colors glowed in the low sunlight: red and olive-green PINE GROSBEAKS, a brilliant blue STELLER’S JAY, raspberry-breasted COMMON REDPOLLS, and red-capped male HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKERS. Plus PINE SISKINS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, AND DARK-EYED JUNCOS.
Suddenly, the BRAMBLING flew in and watched the show from a tangle of branches. He really glowed! It was exciting when he finally perched in the clear and posed for a few seconds.
Then I heard the familiar honking of TRUMPETER SWANS and bolted out of the car to watch the parents with one cygnet flying low over the trees, circling over Salmon Creek. Great yard bird, Ava!
I reluctantly left around 2:30 pm and headed home, back into the shadows. An hour later, I raced down to the waterfront to catch the almost full moon rising over Tiehacker and 6182' Hearth as alpenglow tinged the snowy mountains pink then lavender, and deep purple as the sun set. What a spectacular finale to this Christmas Day Special!
Happy Birrrrding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Reporter
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