Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:26 am, sunset 8:39 pm for a total day length of 13 hours and 13 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.
Winter is slow to cede to Spring as overnight temperatures dip below 20 at night and barely rise above freezing in the day. Most ponds and still water remain frozen. The sun blazes brightly, trying hard, but gives off scant warmth against the chilly north wind.
These last few weeks of March, despite the cold and wind, brought joy:
a handsome WHITE-WINGED SCOTER bobbing in the waves off Lowell Point Road on March 21;
a final view of a flock of 8 SNOW BUNTINGS walking right towards me as they busily gleaned seeds from the exposed grass on March 22;
an enterprising male ROBIN wading in an intertidal pool at Afognak Beach, snagging invertebrates (possibly amphipods) on March 23;
BUFFLEHEAD, BARROW’S and COMMON GOLDENEYES, COMMON MERGANSERS fishing in the harbor on March 25;
a LONG-TAILED DUCK swimming with a Common Goldeneye, three HORNED GREBES, a mixed flock of two SURF SCOTERS and HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and two COMMON LOONS preening and diving much farther out at Spring Creek Beach on March 26.
Still, there are a few signs of Spring. The most exciting was an AMERICAN GOSHAWK who flew quietly and swiftly directly overhead at Two Lakes Park, on March 24. He landed in a spruce tree, wondering why all the chattering Red Squirrels were suddenly silent.
A PIGEON GUILLEMOT in breeding plumage popped up at Waterfall Beach on March 28.
Today, I caught a flash of a First of Season LAPLAND LONGSPUR erupting from the beach ryegrass. Several 100s of Gulls, many newly arrived, swarmed the tidelands, a boisterous gathering. The occasional BALD EAGLE flyover stirred them into flight resembling a ruptured down pillow. Ten GADWALL dabbled in intertidal streams, overwintered or possibly new arrivals.
Robin C reported a ruckus of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES feeding at the seafood processing fish outfall south of the Harbor Uplands a few days ago.
The annual spring die-off of Euphausiids (krill) washed up along the beaches last week. An empty Skate Mermaid’s Purse washed up on Sunday, the tiny skate hatched from its marvelous and tough egg case.
Yesterday, I heard my first VARIED THRUSH singing!
Like it or not, Winter’s long, cold reign is over. Spring is definitely on her way!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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