Tuesday, January 20, 2015 Kingfisher and blowing snow

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 Kingfisher and blowing snow

Seward, Alaska

Clear skies today meant cooler temps in the 20s rising to 30s, and sunshine. Apparently the price to pay was wind and lots of it, barreling through from the north, at 13-26 mph with gusts to 34 mph. The spectacular scenery all around grabbed my attention, every mountain a shining sculpture, the wind whipping snow into streamers off every ridge and peak.

I found a plucky young female KINGFISHER clinging to the thick cable line at the Lagoon with her tiny feet. She peered diligently into the water as the wind played with her rakish crest then dove with a big splash and returned to the perch. At one point, she gagged big time, and coughed up something. I have never observed this before, and it makes me wonder if Kingfishers have pellets like owls, or just occasional rejections of foreign objects… She blew downwind, leaving the Lagoon to the quarrelsome MALLARDS.

Late last night, I heard a SAW-WHET OWL beeping very faintly in the mountains. I wonder if he’ll be courting tonight over the roar of the wind, under the alluring stars.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Update: Chris Maack noted that any bird that has indigestible material in its gizzard can cast a pellet. She speculated that kingfishers might make pellets out of fish scales. That would be an interesting find! Thanks, Chris.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Trumpeter Swans made my day

Seward, Alaska

Heavy rain all night, tapered to moderate rain all day, and general gloomy grayness. BUT, spotting the TRUMPETER SWAN family with their two remaining, precious cygnets made my day! With temperatures in the mid 40s, the ice at their Nash Road wetlands has partly melted again. There they stood (and sat) on the ice at the water's edge, their reflections shining back up at them, beauty doubled.

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Monday, January 15, 2015 First of Year Birds and then some

Seward, Alaska

Overcast with light sprinkles, north wind, and 48º today! This is a strange and scary winter: no snow, ice on lakes and ponds wavering between frozen and liquid, willows and alders are starting to bud out. Green grass is easy to find, and the rest of the landscape is shades of brown.

No Golden Eagle today for me, but the HOODED MERGANSER was back in the half open Lagoon, looking mighty pleased with himself, accompanied by an adoring COMMON GOLDENEYE female.

I added three species to my 2015 list today at the head of the bay: a single NORTHERN SHRIKE, just a glimpse and then gone; a single SNOW BUNTING, who should not be alone; and 7 ROCK SANDPIPERS feeding at the tide’s edge.

I capped off the dim but exciting afternoon with a visit to the Alaska Sealife Center. I felt like Aladdin in Ali Baba’s cave, so many riches and all mine for the taking! The pair of SMEWs are so interesting to look at; the male is simply stunning. And the KING EIDER is, a one little visitor called him, a “rainbow bird.” He purred and cooed like a dove, though the lovely females were not impressed. What a great place to see the adorable LONG-TAILED DUCKS up close, and watch the antics of the puffins.

I had to skip the seals and sea lions, (like Aladdin I couldn’t see everything), but the moon jellies were mesmerizing. What a tremendous, inspirational facility; the wonders of the ocean universe await your visit.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Sunday, January 11, 2015 Golden Eagle juvenile

Seward, Alaska

The unusual GOLDEN EAGLE juvenile, beautiful and sleek, sat on a thick cable below the power line just yards from the highway north of the Lagoon this afternoon. What a joy to admire this raptor so close!

The perfect gold-tipped feathers on the head would be the envy of a professional hair stylist. Its dark brown eyes were alert but calm, studying the surroundings. Its wings hung limp but slightly outstretched, drying like laundry on a line, the white underwing patches matching the white tail with its dark border. Bold yellow talons casually gripped the cable, their power temporarily at ease.

A disheveled young BALD EAGLE perched in a spruce a short distance away, out of sight behind the row of intervening trees and shrubs. It called out, every now and then, as if to announce its presence to the young intruder.

Perhaps it knows that this is Bald Eagle country, of ocean, rivers, and salmon. The Golden bird of the mountains and open country did not migrate, and is now forced to scrounge out a living eating salmon bones and whatever else it can find until spring. For once, I hope there are enough feral rabbits still around to feed this magnificent being.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Friday, January 9, 2015 Purple Finch and Steller's Eider still here

Seward, Alaska

Sunrise 9:54 am, sunset 4:15 pm for a total day length of 6 hours and 21 minutes. Tomorrow will be 3 minutes and 14 seconds longer.

The wind completely vanished today, permitting the ghostly fog people to rise and leisurely drape their silky gray scarves through the waiting trees undisturbed. At 39º, puddles appeared, transformed into mirrors reflecting the snowy mountains. The Lagoon is once again breaking up, cycling through a rapid series of freeze-thaws in a winter masquerading as spring.

Around 9:15 am in the predawn walk around the block, I heard a distinctive 3-chip call like the “S” in Morse code, from 3 separate PACIFIC WRENS! Wonder of wonders! I immediately stopped and peered through the twilight, but could see nothing. After several minutes, I moved a bit farther and froze. As if to confirm my identification, one was actually singing a shortened version of its long spring song! He sang again, paused, and yet again! I was stunned! What a great bird to start the day! A more usual RAVEN quickly piped up in time for second place.

I tested my luck at Ava’s later and found a lot of PINE GROSBEAKS and a small but growing number of PINE SISKINS. Then the PURPLE FINCH appeared, perched on a nearby branch with bits of suet still stuck to its fat, conical bill. After posing nicely, off he flew.

On a roll, I drove to SMIC at the end of Nash Road. There in the boat basin I found an oversized BARROW’S GOLDENEYE surrounded by several females in breeding plumage. Its bill was not yellow like theirs, but mostly dark with some orangish coloration. Other than the bill color and size, it closely resembled the more normal females. Hybrid? Very odd!

UPDATE: Thanks to Tasha who knows that male Barrow's Goldeneyes can be up to 200 g (7 oz) heavier than females. This one is a first year male and is one hunk of a fella! No wonder the ladies were circling!

Two HORNED GREBES paddled past, one with red eyes, the other with pale orange eyes. COMMON MERGANSERS and PELAGIC CORMORANTS fed on small fish. The lone drake LONG-TAILED DUCK swam and dove farther out.

On the way home, I stopped at an overlook and looked over. Sure enough, there was the male STELLER’S EIDER in the good company of his buddies, the HARLEQUIN DUCKS. He really stands out, however far away, with his mostly white plumage.

I looked for the Golden Eagle at the Lagoon, but only found BALD EAGLES and a tree full of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, chattering and preening. A pair of COMMON GOLDENEYES seemed to float in the gray sky, the male displaying to his demure companion. Several MALLARDS gleaned goodies from the stream; the drakes are really quite handsome, especially with that perky little duck tail.

From the rare to the common, it was fun to take a peek into these birds’ busy lives today and to share it with you.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

                                        The big one is a first year male Barrow's Goldeneye.