Seward, Alaska
As Typhoon Halong slammed catastrophically into Western Alaska, Seward dozed under a misty gray cloud blanket with temps in the mid 40s and calm. About 2” of rain is forecast for Wednesday, with rain for a week (possibly snow on Sunday.)
The lone CACKLING GOOSE, the smallest and darkest subspecies minima, remained at the estuary pond, possibly lost from its flock. Tasha thought there's still hope that it may attach to other migrating geese as juveniles do not know the way instinctively.
Overwintering seabirds continue to return to Resurrection Bay. I was excited to find two COMMON LOONS fishing at the Harbor Uplands. One caught a very slender, long fish that could be a Bay Pipefish. The fish was much thinner than a sand lance.
A juvenile RED-NECKED GREBE, still sporting camouflage stripes on its head paddled and dove nearby. I haven’t seen this species in a long time, much less a zebra-striped juvie.
10 red-eyed HORNED GREBES in their black and white winter plumage dove in a loose raft. Their numbers are steadily increasing. A single handsome drake BUFFLEHEAD foraged by itself.
There might be a bait ball here attracting BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, PELAGIC CORMORMANTS and the other seabirds.
Though the light was dim, the birds sure brightened my day!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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