Sunday, December 30, 2007

Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report

Sunrise 10:02 am, sunset 3:58 pm, length of day 5 hours, 56 minutes; tomorrow will be 1 minute and 40 seconds longer.
Weather: Alpenglow just before dawn on the snowy peaks of the mountains west of Seward foretold a very promising day. Though the unusual presence of the sun didn’t last an hour, it was a great day for birding. Temperatures hovered in the low 20s, and the north wind barreled down the valley at a steady 15 mph with occasional gusts to 30.
Snow and snow showers are in the forecast, so be sure your suet and bird feeders are full for our hungry feathered friends.

The dark sprightly form of an AMERICAN DIPPER bobbed in Spring Creek, at Mile 5 Nash Road, disappearing as quickly from view, reminding me that there is a lot of luck to birding.

Sheltered in the birdmobile (or more accurately, dogmobile), a quick scan of the boat basin at the Seward Marine Industrial Center at Mile 5.3 revealed a single COMMON GOLDENEYE male with the large “Os” on each side of his face, a raft of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES with a darker body and crescent face markings, 10 HORNED GREBES sporting jaunty black caps, one COMMON LOON, one female LONG-TAILED DUCK, several PELAGIC CORMORANTS, four sitting on their favorite piling perch, a few default GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, MEW GULLS, and a flock of birds just offshore riding the waves. The scope picked up a beautiful long-tailed male surrounded by 6 female Long-tails, a small raft of SURF SCOTERS decked out with their gaudy head patterns, a few more Horned Grebes and default gulls.

Fourth of July Beach: the north wind miraculously stopped though the surf curled in around the dock, booming rhythmically. Another Common Loon dove right off shore. Six HARLEQUIN DUCKS swam nearby. Just offshore, another raft of Barrow’s Goldeneyes mixed with Surf Scoters dove in choreographed unison, one right after the other, popping back up in reverse order. A Harbor Seal watched us, curious and unafraid of the disinterested dogs.

While admiring a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, a spinning display of tail, head, and paws at the mouth of Fourth of July Creek suddenly untangled and sauntered across a short stretch of cobble beach, its rear high in the air and long tail trailing behind: a River Otter! Usually this guy is seen with at least 2 to 4 others.

Suddenly, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew down the creek and disappeared into a spruce tree where it remained for several minutes before striking off farther down the coast. As we headed back to the van, a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE sailed past on a secret mission involving either food or harassing raptors, or perhaps both.

The tidelands beckoned with a low tide around noon, corresponding with daylight for a change. A BALD EAGLE tittered from the spruce trees near the salt marsh; the ponds frozen today. About 40 SNOW BUNTINGS swirled and landed amidst the beach rye and sedges, flashing their distinctive black and white. RAVENS patrolled the beach as usual, leaving their knobby toe prints in the snow. Suprisingly free of black-feathered escorts, a SHORT-EARED OWL floated into view, flapping lazily over the flattened sedge meadow, looking for rodents. He gave us several great views, even perching on a snag long enough to get the scope focused on his beautiful face, glancing back at us.

Three GREEN-WING TEAL and six BUFFLEHEAD startled in the artesian-fed stream flew off nervously while flocks of MALLARDS and black-butt GADWALL swam together right along the tide line.

Back to civilization, we visited LeVan’s famous feeder and were not disappointed. A plump, long-tailed WHITE-THROATED SPARROW called loudly from the young spruce tree next to the feeder, then hopped down to show the two dark stripes on its head with the white strip on the top, white eyebrow stripes ending in yellow by the eye, a gray bill, and a sharply defined white throat. This bird showed streaking on the sides and front, with a very faint center spot, much like the 1st winter bird in Sibley’s.

30 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES perched in the top of the cottonwood across the street, and then decided to join the two DARK-EYED JUNCOS at the feeder. Meanwhile, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK landed in another cottonwood to survey for a snack before dark.

Lowell Point Road had several small rafts of birds including glaucous-winged gulls, COMMON MERGANSERS, Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Pelagic Cormorants, a Common Loon, two COMMON MURRES, 8 MARBLED MURRELETS, and a RED-NECKED GREBE. Five Steller sea lions, another harbor seal, and a sea otter rounded out the marine mammal count.

While scanning the spruce trees at Lowell Point State Recreation Area beach, two GREAT BLUE HERONS erupted from their shelter, flew in a tight circle and instantly disappeared into their evergreen shelter. I doubt if the beach walkers ever saw them, it was so quick. A flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS chirred from nearby trees and then took flight.

Toss in a few more Ravens and Bald Eagles, a bunch of NORTHWESTERN CROWS, and a couple dozen ROCK PIGEONS, and you have a pretty good idea of the Seward winter “Ring of the Bay” tour.

Camelot reported the return of a juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK around 9:30 am.

Friday, December 28: female NORTHERN SHOVELER at thawed salt marsh pond; her bill looks like a long carrot! 30 SNOW BUNTINGS, 12 BUFFLEHEAD, 55 NORTHWESTERN CROWS, 12 GADWALL, 15 MALLARDS, 5 COMMON MERGANSERS.

Thursday, December 27 at the salt-marsh: five Ravens alerted me to a SHORT-EARED OWL, harassing it as it flew higher and higher until the ravens lost interest. Shortly thereafter they resumed taking snow baths, 11 Ravens lying on their sides, snuggling into the wet snow, fluffing and flapping, and generally looking ridiculous. One GREAT BLUE HERON hunted fish in the slough. 32 ROBINS perched in the Mt Ash trees by AVTEC on Second Ave.

Wishing you a very birdy New Year!
Carol Griswold
Sporadic Bird Report reporter
Seward, Alaska