Date: 9/16/25 10:34 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Saturday, September 13, 2025 Bonaparte’s Gull, Usual Suspects, Sunshine and a Gibbous Moon
Saturday, September 13, 2025 Bonaparte’s Gull, Usual Suspects, Sunshine and a Gibbous Moon
Seward, Alaska
The clouds lifted for a glorious day revealing termination dust on Mt Alice and fall colors on the mountainsides. A waning gibbous moon hung in the western sky almost 230,000 miles away, a rare sight lately with all the storms.
At the beach I found a single, dainty, adult BONAPARTE’S GULL in its non-breeding pure white plumage with black wingtips. It stood reflected in the calm water of an intertidal stream.
A FOX SPARROW popped up on the beach driftwood in the territory of the resident Song Sparrow, interrupted from picking off dancing beach flies warmed by the sun. Momentarily, a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW photo-bombed the background then flitted away.
The juvenile NORTHERN HARRIER continued to patrol the area and harassed a flock of perturbed ducks without making a meal. Three adult TRUMPETER SWANS nearby continued to feed, unconcerned.
Two GREAT BLUE HERONS cruised past on their mysterious mission. The juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON vaulted two of the four LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS into flight. A male BELTED KINGFISHER hovered over the pond, calculating, watching, then diving.
Hidden in the sedges, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR flushed as I approached calling once as it vanished.
I photographed one of the last Dragonflies of the year basking in the sun, a phenomenal insect whose adult lifespan is all too short.
We all savored this reprieve from the wind and rain.
