Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:59 am, sunset 3:51 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be a negligible 40 seconds shorter as we approach the Winter Solstice on Sunday, December 21 at 6:03 am.
The Polar Express worsened this week. Yesterday, a Special Weather Statement warned of continued colder than average temperatures and strong northerly winds. It advised caution when traveling outside and to wear appropriate clothing for very cold temperatures during outdoor activities.
Indeed, today was 17 degrees colder than the normal average daily high with a low of 8 and a high of 10. The north wind at 12 mph with gusts to 30 roared and rattled the trees, roiled the bay into frothy whitecaps and whisked away the escaping steam.
This morning in the dark at 8:35 am, aided by a headlamp, I took out the heated hummingbird feeder and plugged it in. Then I waited and watched from my kitchen window, nervous that the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD did not survive another cold, 18-hours-long, windy winter night.
At 9:15 am, I thought I saw a dim shape at the feeder, but I needed binoculars to pierce the predawn gloom. Was it possible? YES! Incredible! He sat quietly for about five minutes as the feeder swayed in the wind, probably thawing out at the 60ยบ feeder. He finally sipped some breakfast and thus fueled up, zoomed off to the nearby spruce tree.
The first RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH appeared at 9:22 am, then the SONG SPARROW chased it away at 9:44 am to hog the suet feeder. At 9:55 am, the Anna’s returned acting much more alert, looking around, and active. He fed for only a minute and then flew in the opposite direction from before.
Although sunrise was at 9:59 am, the sun actually cleared the Kenai Mountains at 10:30 am and took its sweet time to briefly dispel the cold shadows in town.
I was unable to monitor the feeder consistently throughout the day, but did see him feed at 1:11 pm, 2:48 pm heralding by ticking, and at 3:30 pm when it was again getting dusky.
At 6:45 pm, when I hoped he was safely tucked in for the night spent in torpor, I brought it the feeder. The sugar solution still registered around 60 degrees. I was very impressed!
The forecast calls for similar cold temps and strong winds until another plunge this weekend to really, really cold temperatures down to ZERO. And another plunge next Friday to MINUS 3. Can this tiny marvel survive these brutal temps wearing only his pajamas???
Fingers double-crossed!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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