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Sporadic Bird Report: Brrrrrirds!

Posted on: November 17, 2009 | Sporadic Bird | Comments Off | Print Article | Rate Post:

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Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report

November 17, 2009

Sunrise 9:02 am, sunset 4:22 pm, length of day 7 hours, 19 minutes; tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 31 seconds shorter.

Weather: Cold and clear this past week with a terrific north wind howling out of the arctic. Resurrection Bay is smoking as it releases heat to the frigid air. By early afternoon, a dark gray blanket drew up from the Gulf of Alaska and snuffed out the sun. Cold temperatures expected to remain in the teens with the possibility of snow and the hope of lighter winds. Only a trace of snow, now mostly rutted ice, remains on the ground.

Now is a great time to keep those sunflower and suet feeders full, and the heated water dishes flowing if you are so lucky to have one. The birds are hungry AND thirsty, fighting the cold and wind 24/7.

Today I sought refuge from the wind at Lowell Point. A SONG-SPARROW flitted across the road while a sea otter bobbed on its back in the surf, totally unconcerned, surrounded by sea smoke. NORTHWESTERN CROWS flocked along the shoreline or bee-lined above the waves through the wavering curls of steam to the next fuel stop. Three RED-NECKED GREBES, 3 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, a few PELAGIC CORMORANTS, and small groups of both BARROW’S and COMMON GOLDENEYES, and COMMON MERGANSERS fished just off shore amid a raft of GLAUCOUS-WINGED and MEW GULLS. As I was leaving, a GREAT BLUE HERON laboriously flew from one spruce to its neighbor. It always special, no matter how odd, to find this ungainly, giant wading bird up high in a spruce tree. Two pairs of MALLARDS dabbled in the sewage pond. Yummmm!

Back home, a BROWN CREEPER worked its way up and around my spruce tree, gleaning tiny frozen insects hidden in the bark furrows. A dapper male DOWNY WOODPECKER enjoyed the suet feeder while BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, and the noisy RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES selected sunflower seeds from the feeder. STELLER’S JAYS popped in and out, finding treats on the ground.

Camelot reports a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW for the past few days, feeding on the ground with a FOX SPARROW, and a bunch of DARK-EYED JUNCOS.

November 16: A NORTHERN GOSHAWK dives at a flock of pigeons and misses, on 4th Ave. I wish it luck! NE Beach, another somewhat sheltered waterway, featured a MARBLED MURRELET, PELAGIC CORMORANT, and 3 river otters. A few more pelagic cormorants rested on the docks. COMMON MERGANSERS, BARROW’S and COMMON GOLDENEYES dove frequently in the harbor; I wonder if there are herring or salmon smolt for them now? Crafty RAVENS pillaged the dumpsters. There were several rabbits around that area too; hopefully they will attract some winged predators to thin the population.

Nov 15: GREAT BLUE HERON reported at airport looking very cold.

The first 3 ROSY-CROWNED FINCHES showed up at LeVan’s on November 14th. For the past 9 years, they have always arrived in November. Last year they didn’t show up until January 31st, 2009, whereas October 30, 2006 was the earliest arrival. The resident SONG SPARROW pops up to greet them, and then tries to run them off.

Also on November 14th, Robin C reported the male HOODED MERGANSER at the Stash and Store Pond, Mile 3.5 Seward Highway. I saw a BROWN CREEPER at Second Lake, and heard a few PINE SISKINS above the wind, possibly residents. RED-NECKED GREBE along the Greenbelt.

Nov 13: Robin also reported an adult GOSHAWK working over the pigeons by the waterfalls, a DIPPER at the Lagoon, and a male KINGFISHER at Old Nash Road.

Nov 10: VARIED THRUSH in Mt Ash tree, looking beautiful, but cold.

Jerry O reported an exciting day last week: first a DIPPER flew down to the creek behind his house, about 20’ away from him. Then a WINTER WREN!!! landed about 2’ from the dipper, and when he turned around, there was a BROWN CREEPER! A very special trio! Keep an eye for all three at the 2009 Christmas Bird Count!

Speaking of the CBC, the Seward CBC will be December 19th. Field observers will
meet at the Seaview Plaza conference center at Mile 0/ Third Ave at 9 am to confirm and receive routes. Afterwards, meet at Resurrect Art Coffee House Gallery at 4 pm to share stories and tally results. Bird feeder watchers are welcome too! More information later.

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Sporadic Bird Report reporter
Seward, Alaska

Category: Announcement

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