Date: 11/19/24 11:34 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Tuesday, November 19, 2024 Killdeer! Starling, and Golden-crowned Sparrow
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 Killdeer! Starling, and Golden-crowned Sparrow
Seward, Alaska
Cold and windy continued today with cheerful sunshine providing a bright spotlight on the beauty all around.
Acting on a hot tip from a cold friend about a shorebird, I checked out Afognak Beach this morning. The hardy shorebird startled me as he flew past, calling dee-dee! I grabbed a blurry shot of his surprising red-orange rump, back, and coverts, like a warm sunset, as he landed. I also got glimpses of his eyes, outlined in ruby red, as he walked around. The two thick black breast bands resembled warm scarves wrapped around his neck.
This brave KILLDEER, likely the same one seen earlier, waded through the chilly, shallow water among washed-up jellies, picking up invisible-to-me tidbits. When stopped, he gently bobbed a few times, then continued wading and picking. Gusts of wind ruffled his feathers and threatened to knock him down, but he persevered.
This is a location favored by previous Killdeer, presuming they were different individuals over the years.
I left him to dine while I photographed the myriad frozen jellies lining the beach. Hundreds of candy-striped Northern Sea Nettles, a Lion’s Mane, and a smattering of Water Jellies sprinkled the intertidal area and the beach. That was a feast for my eyes! I can’t believe how stunning they are, these mysterious, alien animals from the ocean universe.
The incoming tide pushed me back to the beach. I left to seek sparrows.
The presumed White-throated Sparrow turned out to be a Golden-crowned Sparrow with a lot of yellow by the eyes (thanks, Todd for clearing that up!) Nice to see, nonetheless.
Not so nice to see was the gaudy STARLING, all spotty and speckly, hopping along the alley, gleaning seeds. At least there’s only one so far.
