Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:16 am, sunset 5:08 pm for a total day length of 7 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 57 seconds longer.
Seward only received about 5” of light snow after the Sunday night storm. Sunny skies prevailed today with strong NNW wind 10-13 mph and gusts to 31 mph. Continued cold with a low of minus 5 at 8:30 am, “warmed up” to zero at noon and then rolled back down. Colder and clear in the forecast for Thursday and Friday. Beautiful but brrrrrrrrr!
The bay continued to steam, sending ghosts streaming before the wind. Somewhat in the lee, I found a cooperative RED-BREASTED MERGANSER hen feeding along the shoreline at Lowell Point Beach. She seemed to find food by merely snorkeling and rarely dove. The water may have been shallow enough to pluck gunnels or other prey off the submerged beach but I could not determine what she found. When she emerged, water flowed off the waterproof duck like a transparent cloak.
Far offshore, I spied a COMMON LOON. Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS bobbed in the waves near a PELAGIC CORMORANT, almost obscured by the steam. A raft of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES dove near a small group of COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS near shore. A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL attacked a drake Red-Breasted Mergansers, driving him away from the prey.
The boat harbor was frozen at both ends, an unusual sight. I found two HORNED GREBES fishing in a small open area, their red eyes gleaming in the sunshine.
Ava’s hotspot was hopping with hungry birds. I found two RED CROSSBILL females cracking open sunflower seeds in the porch trays with COMMON REDPOLLS, PINE SISKINS, and a PINE GROSBEAK. DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS pecked at the peanut butter logs. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and an OREGON JUNCO darted in an out grabbing seeds where they could.
When I got home and looked at my photos, I realized one of the Red Crossbills sported a silver metal band on its right leg, possibly from 2023. Fun to see! I hope to learn more soon.
Farewell, January 2024. What a dramatic month you were!
Happy Birrrrding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
Update: Tasha DiMarzio banded that Red Crossbill on August 8, 2023 as a hatch year bird. Tasha was very pleased to know she is alive and looking strong. So cool!
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