Date: 1/4/26 9:13 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Sunday, January 4, 2026 Steaming Bay and Tough Birds
Sunday, January 4, 2026 Steaming Bay and Tough Birds
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 10:00 am, sunset 4:07 pm for a total day length of 6 hours and 7 minutes. Tomorrow will be 2 minutes and 29 seconds longer.
December’s cold snap (hardly snappy) extended into the New Year with cold, clear skies and temps in the low teens and single digits. Stuck in a rut, the north wind roared with gusts to 28 mph.
Resurrection Bay released its warmth to the cold air in ghostly sea smoke. The wind scoured the snow off the surrounding mountains revealing bare rock. By late afternoon today, however, the wind dropped, clouds slunk in, and 3-4” snow was in the forecast for tonight.
I spotted two nanny Mountain Goats and four adorable kids today, driven off the mountain into the trees and browsing by the landslide along Lowell Point Road. At Lowell Point Beach, almost out of the wind, three BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES and two AMERICAN CROWS patrolled the frozen wrack line gleaning tidbits. They paused to watch me, perched on driftwood, all fluffed up, feet tucked under feathers.
The brilliant but short-lived sun shone a spotlight on the sea birds sheltering in the harbor. A raft of COMMON MERGANSERS and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS paddled and dove in synchrony, pursuing fishy prey with a few BARROW’S and COMMON GOLDENEYES. PELAGIC CORMORANTS, mostly solo, fished on their fringes. A stealthy Harbor Seal popped up in the sea ice on the south side, looked around, and as quietly disappeared.
The suet and sunflower seeds in my feeder have hardly been touched by the Nuthatches, Chickadees, Song Sparrow, and Juncos in the first days of 2026. I hope they survived the Polar Express and will soon return.
The 126th Audubon Homer Christmas Bird Count was conducted on Saturday,
December 20, 2025 after a month-long cold spell, which resulted in
extensive sea ice buildup along the northern shoreline of Kachemak Bay and
the eastern side of the Homer Spit. The weather on Count Day was below
freezing temperatures, clear skies, and little wind. Viewing conditions
were good to excellent.
On morning of count day, 31 volunteers gathered at the Alaska Maritime
National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters (formerly the Islands and Ocean
Visitor Center) at 8:30 AM to divide into teams. After an organizational
meeting, each team then departed to identify and count all birds within
their assigned count areas within the Homer Count Circle, a 15-mile
diameter circle centered at the base of the Homer Spit. The teams met back
at Headquarters at 4:30 PM to add up the results of the all-day count. An
additional 12 other volunteers, referred to as feeder-watchers, stayed at
home to monitor their bird feeders and recorded the maximum number of each
species that visited their bird feeders throughout the day. Two volunteers
from Eagle River and two from Palmer came down specifically to help with
our bird count.
*Total number of species for Count Day was 69, above the average for the
last twenty years (65). Key highlights for the count included:*
*· first record of a Wilson’s snipe, *
*· third occurrence of a fork-tailed storm-petrel, *
*· five species of woodpeckers, and*
*· **four species of owls*
*Four additional species were recorded during Count Week,* the 3-days
before and after Count Day. *Total individual birds totaled 4,144*,* half
of the number seen last year*. Numbers of individual birds on count day can
vary among years depending on the weather and presence or absence of key
species, such as waterfowl or shorebirds.
Heavy sea ice conditions in the inner bay were a large factor in the
relatively low number of birds for the count. Mallard and greater scaup,
typically some of the most abundant birds on the count, were largely
absent, due to sea ice covering much of their prime foraging habitat. *We
found no greater scaup and only one mallard (Count Week) on this year’s
count. *Overall, bird numbers in upland areas around Homer were also low in
comparison to previous years. Twelve species on Count Day were represented
by only one individual bird.
The most abundant species was the American crow (875), quite common
throughout town, followed by the rock sandpiper (562), which typically
roosts in the Homer Harbor during high water. The relatively low number of
rock sandpipers in comparison to previous years is likely the tidal stage
during the count and sea ice cover of their typical roosting areas. Black
scoters (407) were the most abundant waterfowl.
White-winged crossbill (20) numbers are still low after a major influx two
years ago. No red crossbills were found this year. Pine siskins (109) were
dispersed in small flocks throughout the count area, but numbers were low.
A big thanks go out to all the volunteers, both in the field and at
feeders, who contributed to the success of this year’s count. Special
thanks also goes out to Carol Harding who coordinated the Feeder Watchers,
the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and staff, and
especially Lora Haller, for providing the meeting place and cosponsoring
the event. Other sponsors include the National Audubon Society and the
Kachemak Bay Birders.
Dave Erikson
*As an important footnote, we Kachemak Bay Birders would like to say a big
THANK YOU to Dave Erikson for coordinating and compiling the CBC for 49
consecutive years here in Homer! *
Date: 12/29/25 10:50 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Monday, December 29, 2025 Bohemian Waxwings, Pine Grosbeaks, Robins
Monday, December 29, 2025 Bohemian Waxwings, Pine Grosbeaks, Robins
Seward, Alaska
The north wind howled all night and most of the day, spinning my wind vane in dizzy circles with gusts to 36 mph. The temperature rose from an overnight low of 7, to 13 by noon, and then 24 by evening. Snow scudded from the low gray clouds and twirled into snownadoes. White-capped waves pounded the bay and the harbor. It was a miserable dark winter day.
The only birds who seemed to relish the wind were the RAVENS. A dozen soared and spiraled high above the Lagoon, doing tricks and showing off. Irrepressible Ravens!
Today, for the first time since October 19, I did not see the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD. I will watch diligently tomorrow and hope for the reappearance/resurrection of that little sprite. Last night and this morning were the toughest conditions yet. How could he fly in such conditions?
Despite the depressing weather, I found joy this afternoon in the bright colors and music of a mixed flock of PINE GROSBEAKS, ROBINS, and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.
I watched the Pine Grosbeaks struggle to keep their balance while juicing the Mt Ash berries, letting the hulls and seeds drizzle down their fronts. They plucked them from the trees and also from the frozen grass, mostly bare of the powder snow now blown into small drifts. Their warm, sunset hues glowed even in the dim light.
Chunky Robins hopped among them or clung to the tree twigs, tossing the whole frozen berries down the hatch. They sighed and occasionally clucked; no singing today.
Tinkling chimes rang from the Mt Ash trees where about 20 Bohemian Waxwings fought the strong wind to reach the berry clusters and eat them whole. Several elegant birds landed on the ground, not to eat berries, but to gobble up beakfuls of snow. I have never observed this interesting behavior before. They seemed to relish the cold refreshment.
Even a diminutive CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE plucked a few berries and ate them one after the other.
I looked without luck for Cedar Waxwings, Starlings, Hermit Thrushes, and any other unusual species for Count Week. Tomorrow is the final day. While a rarity would be sweet, the return of the Hummingbird would be the sweetest sighting of all.
Date: 12/28/25 6:35 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Saturday, December 27, 2025 Mission Accomplished
Saturday, December 27, 2025 Mission Accomplished, Seward, Alaska
Seward Christmas Bird Count today!
Sunrise 10:03 am, sunset 3:56 pm, for a total day length of 5 hours and 53 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 10 seconds longer.
Civil twilight 9:05 am rise, 3:56 pm set.
Cloudy, north winds 7-13 with gusts to 23 increasing to 31 mph in the evening; temps hovered around 24 most of the day, dropping to 11 overnight. The strong north wind and white-capped waves canceled the survey of Resurrection Bay by the boat crew, a significant loss for the Count.
My CBC mission today was to tally the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD. After 4” of powder snow on Friday, a failed hummingbird heater that turned the sugar water into a slushy, and continuing cold, wind, and long nights, I was worried. Would this unlikely winter resident make it through another night?
I set out the warmed feeder in the dark at 9 am and waited and watched with binoculars from inside. At 9:21 am, in the dim light before dawn, a small dark shape materialized at the feeder and sat for two minutes. Yay! He seemed alert and perky. He fed and then flew up into the nearby spruce tree presumably to hunt for cold spiders.
He zoomed back to feed at 10:30, 11:25, and noon. I then left to find the KILLDEER, 35 TRUMPETER SWANS, and a photo-bomb BELTED KINGFISHER at Afognak Beach, a drake LONG-TAILED DUCK at Spring Creek Beach, a GREAT BLUE HERON flying over Nash Road, two COMMON MURRES with the pair of Long-tailed Ducks, two RED-NECKED GREBES, and 10 MARBLED MURRELETS at the Lowell Point seafood processing plant with the usual sea ducks.
I happened to see the Hummer feeding at 3 pm during a brief stop, then at 4:12-4:14 pm in the dusk and finally at 4:18-4:22 pm, tanking up for the night.
Bird feeder watchers and field counters are still uploading their data to the Google document. It will be fascinating to learn what others found on this blustery winter day. I was thrilled with my tally that included a nickel-weight bird with an astounding will to live.
Date: 12/22/25 6:14 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Monday, December 22, 2025 Killdeer, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Sea Ducks
Monday, December 22, 2025 Killdeer, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Sea Ducks
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 10:12 am, sunset 3:52 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 50 minutes. Tomorrow will be 15 seconds LONGER.
Clear, cold, and windy conditions continued with a low of minus 1 this morning around dawn, rising slowly during the short day to a high of 8 by late evening. NNW winds 7 mph with gusts to 17. The warming trend predicted for the next three days with a high of 20 on Wednesday is welcome.
The intrepid ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD landed on the heated feeder this morning at 9:11 am in the dusky dark. He sat and sat, warming up, then sat and sipped over the next seven minutes, before flying to the spruce.
I spotted him throughout the day, only feeding for a minute at a time. At 4 pm he sat and sipped for ten minutes in the dusky twilight, tanking up for the night, then zoomed off towards the spruce and maybe beyond. He’s tough!!!
Robin C alerted me to the discovery by Tim J of another intrepid bird: the KILLDEER! Last seen by me on December 3, I refound the lone shorebird at Afognak Beach, standing on one foot at the high tide line. He too, faces another long cold, windy night.
In recent days along Lowell Point Road by the now-quiet seafood processing plant, I enjoyed watching small rafts of sea ducks patrol along the shoreline: SURF SCOTERS, a pair of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, a pair of LONG-TAILED DUCKS, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, COMMON MERGANSERS, and BARROW’S GOLDENEYES. Also, a few PELAGIC CORMORANTS, and MARBLED MURRELETS. Beautiful birds all.
Date: 12/17/25 10:06 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Anna’s Hummingbird survives another night!
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Anna’s Hummingbird survives another night!
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:59 am, sunset 3:51 pm for a total day length of 5 hours and 51 minutes. Tomorrow will be a negligible 40 seconds shorter as we approach the Winter Solstice on Sunday, December 21 at 6:03 am.
The Polar Express worsened this week. Yesterday, a Special Weather Statement warned of continued colder than average temperatures and strong northerly winds. It advised caution when traveling outside and to wear appropriate clothing for very cold temperatures during outdoor activities.
Indeed, today was 17 degrees colder than the normal average daily high with a low of 8 and a high of 10. The north wind at 12 mph with gusts to 30 roared and rattled the trees, roiled the bay into frothy whitecaps and whisked away the escaping steam.
This morning in the dark at 8:35 am, aided by a headlamp, I took out the heated hummingbird feeder and plugged it in. Then I waited and watched from my kitchen window, nervous that the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD did not survive another cold, 18-hours-long, windy winter night.
At 9:15 am, I thought I saw a dim shape at the feeder, but I needed binoculars to pierce the predawn gloom. Was it possible? YES! Incredible! He sat quietly for about five minutes as the feeder swayed in the wind, probably thawing out at the 60º feeder. He finally sipped some breakfast and thus fueled up, zoomed off to the nearby spruce tree.
The first RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH appeared at 9:22 am, until the SONG SPARROW chased it away at 9:44 am to hog the suet feeder. At 9:55 am, the Anna’s returned acting much more alert, looking around, and active. He fed for only a minute and then flew in the opposite direction from before.
Although sunrise was at 9:59 am, the sun actually cleared the Kenai Mountains at 10:30 am and took its sweet time to briefly dispel the cold shadows in town.
I was unable to monitor the feeder consistently throughout the day, but did see him feed at 1:11 pm, 2:48 pm heralding by ticking, and at 3:30 pm when it was again getting dusky.
At 6:45 pm, when I hoped he was safely tucked in for the night spent in torpor, I brought it the feeder. The sugar solution still registered around 60 degrees. I was very impressed!
The forecast calls for similar cold temps and strong winds until another plunge this weekend to really, really cold temperatures down to ZERO. And another plunge next Friday to MINUS 3. Can this tiny marvel survive these brutal temps wearing only his pajamas???
Date: 12/11/25 10:40 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Thursday, December 11, 2025 Yellow-billed Loon, and Anna’s Hummingbird!
Thursday, December 11, 2025 Yellow-billed Loon, and Anna’s Hummingbird!
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:52 am, sunset 3:52 pm, for a total day length of 5 hours and 59 minutes. Tomorrow will be 1 minute and 44 seconds shorter.
Due to the disruption of the Polar Vortex and subsequent Polar Express, sunny, cold, and windy conditions continued with a low of 9 and a high of 13 F. North winds 5-12 with gusts to 27 mph.
This may seem relatively balmy compared to the extreme, frigid Arctic air in the Interior and parts of eastern Lower 48, thanks to the “ocean effect” of steaming Resurrection Bay, but it’s cold for Seward. The weekend forecast predicts single-digit temps and winds gusting to 44 mph. There is no relief in sight.
Every morning before dawn, I put out the heated feeder and start watching for that tiny, miraculous ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD. Did he somehow survive another 18-hour night in the intense cold and wind?
It was still dusky dark at 9:10 this morning when I caught a ghostly movement at the heated feeder. Using binocs to piece the gloom, I saw him, perched on the feeder sipping breakfast like it was summer!
Unlike more southern Hummers, he had shivered himself out of torpor in the coldest temperatures of the day without benefit of the sun’s warming rays. How does he do it?
Throughout the day when I could watch, he visited about every 10-20 minutes, often ticking loudly, a lively little sprite zooming around and carefree. As twilight returned, his short day and feeding also ended early, around 4 pm. Then, off to his secret shelter for the long, long, cold night.
This afternoon, I received another gift, a YELLOW-BILLED LOON! As I watched a few HORNED GREBES and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS from the harbor uplands, the beautiful Loon swam in from the bay. He paused in front of the boat harbor to preen and stretch before resuming his dives. Unfortunately, the cold sapped my camera batteries (both of them!) and I couldn’t take any more photos.
On the way home, dozens of ROBINS flew across the road in the 500 block of Second Ave, likely part of the flock of 40. PINE GROSBEAKS fly and feed with them in the ever-diminishing stock of Mt Ash berries. It’s lovely to hear their melodies from the treetops, especially uplifting in the wind and cold.
On Monday, December 8, I heard a SAW-WHET OWL beeping from the mountainside about 10:30 pm. On Tuesday, I counted a pair of TRUMPETER SWANS with 4 cygnets by the Afognak Beach rock, and another 26 Swans in the distance by the eelgrass beds: 30 Swans!
Date: 12/11/25 6:31 pm From: Joanie Kirk via groups.io <joaniekirk...> Subject: [AKBirding] Snowy Owl Glenn Highway east side of Matanuska Bridge
1545 December 11, 2026
Driving northbound on the Glenn Highway.
On the east side of the highway, SNOWY OWL seen in tree along the river.
Traffic was heavy I didn't stop..gorgeous!
5 bald eagles seen between Eagle River and Palmer fairgrounds
Joanie Kirk
Palmer
