Date: 3/30/25 10:53 am From: Velton Cason via groups.io <vlcason...> Subject: [AKBirding] Golden Eagles 3/29/25 West Anchorage
Early afternoon near Lake Hood Elementary, a raven escorted 3 Golden Eagles circling low at first, but gained altitude steadily in the thermal until almost lost in a developing haze. The eagles drifted southwest as they rose out of sight while the raven returned to base.
Date: 3/27/25 10:49 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Thursday, March 27, 2025 Sea Ducks
Seward, Alaska
The forecast erred in our favor! Sunny with haze and a brisk north wind!
Around 10:45 am I walked into dawn as the sun lumbered up above the nearby mountains at Fourth of July Beach. Small rafts of sea ducks dove along the beach just offshore on the rising tide, initially in the shade and then in the brilliant sunshine.
BARROW’S GOLDENEYES raised their bills high in courtship and males chased each other, some attacking from underwater. Similarly, HARLEQUIN DUCKS chased, courted, and preened. A single LONG-TAILED DUCK chose to hang out with Harlequins. Such a delight to see this handsome duck up close as the raft eased warily closer to the beach where I stood concealed.
A bit farther out, a raft of about 12 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS snorkeled and dove. Nearby, three HORNED GREBES paddled about.
This was the largest variety of sea ducks that I have seen here in a long time, even considering the absence of Surf Scoters.
All of these sea ducks overwinter in Resurrection Bay, but most of them migrate to freshwater ponds and rivers to breed. Their disappearance will be yet another sign of Spring.
Date: 3/26/25 11:10 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Great Blue Herons, Swans, Western Screech Owl
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Great Blue Herons, Swans, Western Screech Owl
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:41 am, sunset 8:28 pm, for a total day length of 12 hours and 29 seconds. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.
Light wind and rain this morning then overcast with temps in the low to high 30s. More of the same for the next few days then a bit of sunshine in the forecast. Snow is melting fast and ice on local ponds is soft and shrinking.
Many Sitka willows are in bloom; buds swell on blueberry and elderberry bushes. Green beach ryegrass spears poke through last year’s skeletons. Spring is easing her way into the landscape.
Today at the old coal dock I found seven GREAT BLUE HERONS preening and napping. Six were lined up side by side on one railing while the seventh stood apart like a supervisor. Where do these large, secretive herons go when they are not hanging out here in plain sight? Birds of mystery.
Migratory gulls including GLAUCOUS-WINGED, a few HERRING GULLS, and KITTIWAKES, have arrived to join the resident SHORT-BILLED GULLS. BALD EAGLES are only too happy to do a nonchalant fly-over to stir them up and raise the decibels of their cries.
Sounds of Spring!
TRUMPETER SWANS linger at the mouth of creeks and, to the surprise of many new observers, paddle in the bay. Somehow, they found food including eelgrass to sustain them through the winter. It’s wonderful to see the nine-month-old cygnets thriving and as large as their parents.
A friend reported a WESTERN SCREECH OWL hooting at 2:30 am at Mile 7 Seward Highway. A tad late/early for me, but worth a try on Exit Glacier Road past the locked gate, on Old Exit Glacier Road, or in the Lost Lake Subdivision.
Now is the ‘tween time as we wait, watch, and listen expectantly for migrants to arrive and fill our hearts with joy. Any day, any day…
Date: 3/20/25 11:23 am From: George Matz via groups.io <geomatz41...> Subject: [AKBirding] 2025 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project
They (shorebirds) have sent me emails saying that they are on their way and expect to stopover in Kachemak Bay to feed and rest and their ETA is the same as before.
So, it is time for us to get ready..
Earlier, I sent out the dates and times for our nine monitoring sessions. Now is the time to start filling in the blanks.Attached is the list of names from last year,which is a good start. A few have already given me their availability dates. Hope you can join us this year.
Date: 3/17/25 10:28 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Monday, March 17, 2025 Singing Shrike
Monday, March 17, 2025 Singing Shrike
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:08 am, sunset 8:06 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 57 minutes as we approach SPRING EQUINOX on March 20. Looks like we will exceed equal night and day sooner with 5 minutes and 30 seconds more day length tomorrow.
March returned us from spring to winter with scattered snow showers and more seasonal temperatures in the mid-teens to mid-20s. Snow is forecast for the rest of the week but may well be sn’rain as temps rise above freezing. Whatever it is, it won’t last long. Crocuses are up and ready to bloom no matter what.
This morning, in bright sunshine and a chilly north breeze, I heard and then found a cheery NORTHERN SHRIKE singing in an alder, sheltered from the wind in the lee of a spruce woods. On and on it sang, a bubbly tune, casting all cares to the wind. What a treat to be a guest (tolerated) to the performance.
A few days ago, on a calm day, I watched as a handsome drake BUFFLEHEAD flew several feet above a mirrored reflection of snowy mountains in a stream. As he passed over the water, ripples radiated in his wake, the mighty mountains shimmering in response without being touched, invisibly connected to the small duck.
Date: 3/8/25 11:20 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Thursday, March 6, 2025 Sunshine, Rock Sandpipers and one Dunlin
Thursday, March 6, 2025 Sunshine, Rock Sandpipers and one Dunlin
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:41 am, sunset 6:38 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 57 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.
After a week of rain, sn’rain, slush, and yesterday, about 4” of wet snow, today dawned bright. Gauzy clouds lingered against the snowy mountains, reluctant to leave. Welcome, warm sunshine illuminated the spectacular scenery all around. The wind napped, resting up for tomorrow’s forecasted NNW winds 10-20 mph, and clouds.
Midday low tides opened up access to Afognak Beach where I enjoyed watching 24 ROCK SANDPIPERS and one DUNLIN chitter and forage along the ebbing tideline. They stuck together like grannies at a garage sale, anxious to see what treasures everyone else was finding, worried about missing out. A few SHORT-BILLED GULLS wandered among them, towering over the busy shorebirds.
MALLARDS dabbled in the intertidal streams and a horde of AMERICAN CROWS plundered the freshly washed tidelands. An adult BALD EAGLE cried stridently from a treetop. All seemed to rejoice in the gorgeous, calm day and reprieve from the dismal weather.
