Date: 11/21/24 8:46 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Thursday, November 21, 2024 Swan-day!
Thursday, November 21, 2024 Swan-day!
Seward, Alaska
The cold snap snapped! Though still windy, the temp rose from 34 at dawn and kept rising to an almost-balmy 40 by midafternoon.
The warmer temps took the sting out of the wind so I headed to the beach this morning. After only seeing a RAVEN blowing overhead, I finally saw a gleaming white TRUMPETER SWAN, calling from an intertidal creek. Soon, its mate flew in and, to my surprise, kept flying towards me, lowered its giant webbed feet, and splashed to a landing nearby. What a magnificent bird!
It slowly paddled back downstream with dignity, now both trumpeting, one low, one higher, until they were united. I turned and walked away to leave them in peace. Unfortunately, even though I was a couple blocks down the beach, the wary Swans decided to leave and took off with a great flapping of wings and pattering of feet.
About an hour later, I checked Afognak Beach for the Killdeer without success. It had been seen yesterday.
Giant webbed tracks in the sand looked like a herd of dinosaurs had walked past. As I glassed the bay, I found several pairs of Swans, then small groups, a family with three cygnets, another family with four cygnets (likely our Nash Road swans), more, and more! I recounted several times: FORTY-ONE SWANS! This little bay has very productive eelgrass beds and the flats have nutritious green algae.
Only about a month until the Seward Audubon Christmas Bird Count. I hope these astounding Swans stay to be counted!
