Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 4:34 am, sunset 11:28 pm for a total day length of 18 hours and 53 minutes. Tomorrow will be 42 seconds shorter. Clouds lowered the temp to the mid-40s today with showers in the forecast.
Civil twilight began at 2:45 am; a ROBIN heralded the new day around 3 am, joined by an exuberant FOX SPARROW. They don’t get much sleep!
At the head of the bay, I saw 3 SNIPE winnowing and calling. A SAVANNAH SPARROW adorned a blue Large-leaf Lupine flower spike, likely nervous about its hidden youngsters. A LINCOLN SPARROW and an ALDER FLYCATCHER sang from the bushes.
Also heard in the trees, YELLOW-RUMPED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, a DOWNY WOODPECKER, and HERMIT THRUSH. TREE SWALLOWS zipped up and down a creek nabbing flying insects for their babies.
Suddenly, a flock of 10 LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew over, softly calling “tu, tu, tu”. Fortunately, they landed and I was able to get a few photos. I haven’t seen Least Yellowlegs for a while and wonder if they are already starting to migrate south. Two LEAST SANDPIPERS poked along the beach with them. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS foraged nearby.
This evening, I chanced to see a female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD feeding on my pansies under the hummer feeder. I wonder if she too has babies waiting for her?
Exciting but perilous times for fledglings as the innocents venture into the world.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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