Date: 11/5/24 10:09 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Tuesday, November 5, 2024 Thick-billed Murre (carcass)
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 Thick-billed Murre (carcass)
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:33 am, sunset 4:51 pm for a total day length of 8 hours and 18 minutes. Tomorrow will be five minutes and 4 seconds shorter.
Wild weather this afternoon including hard rain, hail, lightning and thunder (extremely rare in Seward), wind, and brief interludes in quiet anticipation of the next squall. Temp ranged from 32 to 35, wind SSE 7-16 with gusts to 39 mph.
However, during a cloudy and calm interlude around noon, I ventured out to the beach with a friend. To our surprise, we found a recently washed up MURRE at the wrack line. Initially, I thought it was a Common Murre, but Sulli (thanks so much!) verified it as a THICK-BILLED MURRE.
Nonbreeding adult/immature Thick-billed Murres have a dark face and shorter, thicker bill (hence the name). The nonbreeding Common Murre has a whiter face with a black line leading to the eye.
This individual is likely the Pacific race, Uria lomvia subspecies arra, which is larger than the Atlantic race.
In the breeding season, Thick-billed Murres are a much-sought after species in the Chiswell Island and other cliff-side rookeries at the mouth of Resurrection Bay and the Gulf of Alaska. In winter, they range into the Pacific as a true pelagic (open ocean) bird with no need to return to land.
The huge storm that is hammering Alaska likely caused its death and delivered it to Seward’s shores, along with several herring.
I collected data and documented this amazing seabird for COASST (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team) where it may contribute to science.
RIP Thick-billed Murre. It was amazing to see you up close.
