Thursday, November 13, 2025 Rock Sandpipers, Common Loons, Grebes, Sea Ducks, and a Hummingbird

Seward, Alaska 

Sunrise 8:53 am, sunrise 4:33 pm for a total day length of 7 hours and 39 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 45 seconds shorter.

Partly cloudy and cold with a low of 20 and a high of 27, north wind 4-6 mph with gusts to 15. The low sun, when it peeked out, shone like a spotlight on this winter day.

17 First of Season ROCK SANDPIPERS materialized this morning at the tidelands, feeding at the edge of the ebbing tide. Rock Sandpipers generally overwinter in Resurrection Bay in small numbers up to around 40; may their numbers soon increase.

The boat harbor bustled with activity today: two COMMON LOONS, a juvenile and adult RED-NECKED GREBE, nine HORNED GREBES, a large raft of COMMON MERGANSERS, COMMON GOLDENEYES and BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, a few PELAGIC CORMORANTS, BELTED KINGFISHER, SHORT-BILLED and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, and BALD EAGLES.

The Mt Ash berries in the 500-block of First again attracted ROBINS, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and a VARIED THRUSH. The birds flew back and forth from the shelter of the dense spruce forest in the backyards, or perched high in a cottonwood across the street.

Best of all, the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD survived another 16+ hour cold winter night! 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Bohemian Waxwings, and Robins

Seward, Alaska

The 500 Block of First and Second Avenues were hopping today with the First of Season BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and lingering (or newly arrived) ROBINS!

 

I first saw about a dozen Bohemian Waxwings perched high in a cottonwood tree, silhouetted against the cloudy sky. A neighboring tree hosted about as many Robins. Individuals and twos and threes shot off the branches and sailed to nearby Mt Ash trees to pluck and gobble the juicy red berries whole. 

 

The Waxwings chimed their tiny bell-like songs, a sound I did not have the pleasure of hearing at all last winter. Robins clucked and a few unleashed a full spring-time song, so marvelous to hear on a cold winter day.

 

Counting these active foragers proved difficult as they zipped between First Ave, the alley, and Second, but I’d estimate about 20 each, maybe more.

 

The Mt Ash trees in town are loaded with berries for their dining pleasure. I hope they stick around for a better count and further search for a Cedar Waxwing or other uncommon companions in their midst. 

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, November 9, 2025 Snow Buntings, Killdeer, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Anna's

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 8:43 am, sunset 4:42 pm for a total day length of 7 hours and 59 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 56 seconds shorter.

Clear, cold, and windy conditions continued today with a low of 23 at 8 am and a high of 28 at 2 pm. Creeks and ponds were mostly frozen. The north wind, gusting to 24 mph, blew away the loose snow on the ground then reached to the mountain tops to shoot snow streamers to the moon.

Yesterday, I rejoiced to find that the KILLDEER survived the recent winter storms as well as at least two SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS. No Cackling Geese seen since Tuesday; maybe they finally did blow south.

The juvenile male ANNA’S hummingbird also survived the winter storms and another long, cold, windy winter night, appearing at my heated feeder at 9:33 this morning and again in the twilight around 4:30 pm. 

I checked but did not find the Killdeer or Sharp-tailed Sandpipers today. Instead of one SNOW BUNTING, a flock of about 20 rose up from the beach rye grass and as quickly vanished into the grasses. 

One called and rose above me, its pure white body and bold black wing tips flashing against the brilliant blue sky. He was close and o so beautiful but the wind wrestled with my camera, leaving me with only the fleeting memory.

Salud to these tough feathered survivors!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, November 7, 2025 Crested Auklet!

Seward, Alaska 

Sunrise 8:38 am, sunset 4:47 pm, for a total day length of 8 hours and 9 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 0 seconds shorter.

 

Yesterday’s winter storm hit with ground blizzards, howling north winds gusting to 32 mph, and temps ranging from a low of 27 to a high of 29. After all that, only about 2” of snow fell in town. The north wind continued today with a low of 23, a high of 31 and scattered snow showers. Saturday is forecast to be partly cloudy with similar temps and north wind.

 

While trying to avoid the ground blizzards where exposed to the north wind, I found several ROBINS and one VARIED THRUSH eating Mt Ash berries on Second Ave. I heard a few PINE GROSBEAKS as well.

 

Then I headed out Lowell Point Road where the king tide of 13.55 feet peaked at 1:41pm, bringing the seabirds close to the road. On the way back from Lowell Point Beach, I spotted a small, dark seabird that was not a Murrelet. Two plumes stuck up from its forehead marking it as either a WHISKERED AUKLET or a CRESTED AUKLET!

 

I pulled over, grabbed my camera, opened the window, and tried to get some shots from inside the car. The wild auklet didn’t hang around to pose. Pattering along the surface and stroking mightily, it finally lifted off and veered out to the bay.

 

When I checked my photos, terrible as they were, the Crested Auklet winter adult most closely resembled the description and underside pattern shown in the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Thanks to Tasha for the verification!

 

The recent storms must have blown this plump seabird from the North Pacific Ocean or around Kodiak Island where they are reported to overwinter regularly.

 

Who knows what else may have blown in with these winter storms? Keep looking!

 

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 Snow Bunting, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Dunlins, and Cackling Geese

Seward, Alaska

 

Calm today with a low of 26 and a high of 32.  Though the snow line is descending on the mountains, there is still no snow on the ground. Yet.

Tides this week were among the highest of the year (king tides) thanks to the influence of the stunning Beaver Moon, the closest, largest, and brightest supermoon of the year.

 

This morning, I refound two of the SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS feeding in shallows of the estuary pond with the two DUNLINS. The five CACKLING GEESE foraged on the edges until flushed by a BALD EAGLE. 

 

Two NORTHERN SHOVELERS filtered the water with their amazing large, orange, spatula-shaped bills. All these birds, (except the Eagle) seem late and might consider booking the next flight south, first class.

 

The highlight of the day on the ebbing tide was a single, handsome, SNOW BUNTING, foraging along the high tideline. Normally found in flocks, I wondered if his buddies would soon join him.

 

A dozen PINE SISKINS flittered through the alders by the road, hanging upside down on the cones and feasting on the tiny seeds. Siskins and Redpolls have been scarce this past winter; it’s nice to see them again.

 

Over at the harbor uplands, an enthusiastic Steller’s Sea Lion ripped into a large silver salmon, flinging fish scraps for the equally frenzied Gulls. Quite the show!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter