Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 10:03 am, sunset 3:55 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be zero minutes and 51 seconds longer.
I spent the day unwrapping presents. The first present was…it did not snow 5” as forecast and the day remained blissfully dry, calm, and mild with temps of 31-33. The low sun peeked above a belt of dark clouds to the south, beaming brightly on the surrounding snowy mountains and their long blue jagged shadows. I even saw my long shadow, briefly. Thank you, fine weather!
A RAVEN guided me to the next present, the immature AMERICAN GOSHAWK sitting in a spruce, hanging its wings out to dry. Thank you, Raven and Goshawk!
The ebbing tide left a bit of beach and lo, there was the resilient KILLDEER, walking in the puddles, finding breakfast. It let me watch for a bit, and did not fly when I eased past. Thank you, Killdeer!
MALLARDS, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, and BUFFLEHEAD fed in the ice-free pond. Two TRUMPETER SWANS took flight from the creek though I was far away, sorry! Thank you, waterfowl!
I watched about a hundred AMERICAN CROWS swarm the tidelands as two EAGLES stirred up about the same number of Gulls in the distance. A flock of hardy PIGEONS fluttered down to feed in the wet grasses, possibly a wilder bunch than the townies.
The Crows flew over to patrol the beach for edibles, downing seaweed with relish. One Crow had a deformed bill, the upper mandible longer than the lower. The Crows festooned every perch, allowing me to approach quite close, while a few Ravens chose perches farther away. Thank you, Corvids!
I heard, but did not find a whinnying MERLIN, but was thrilled to look. Thank you, Merlin, wherever you were!
Every puddle and pool held a spectacular, almost perfect reflection of Mt Marathon or Mt Benson. No finer mirror can be bought. Thank you, calm wind and open water!
My mind and camera full of presents, I nonetheless received a few more.
Fog rose from the open water of the Nash Road Mile 1 wetlands, concealing a large number of Swans in the back of the wetlands. To my delight, 16 Trumpeter Swans, including 7 cygnets, stood close to the road on the thin ice and paddled in the open water. One standing adult stuck its head through a hole in the ice like an ice fisherman, to reach vegetation below; it looked very funny. The Swans looked healthy; they probably appreciate the access to food and mild weather. Thank you, beautiful Swans!
Four GREAT BLUE HERONS napped on the former coal loading dock soaking up the last of the sunshine. Thank you, Great Blue Herons!
On my way home as the sun ducked behind the mountains, I checked out the Mt Ash trees in the 200 Block of Second Ave. More presents! A motherlode of ROBINS, 20? flew back and forth across the alley from spruce to Mt Ashes, clucking and plucking. At least one PINE GROSBEAK fed steadily; no time wasted flying around. Thank you, Robins and Grosbeak!
At twilight, the mountains and clouds turned a delicate pink then violet as alpenglow kissed the end of the day. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this glorious day!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
