Date: 10/11/25 11:27 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Saturday, October 11, 2025 Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Saw-whet Owl
Saturday, October 11, 2025 Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Saw-whet Owl
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:29 am, sunrise 7:01 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 32 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds shorter.
Welcome sunshine returned on Thursday even as low temps slid into the mid-30s. I refound the lone LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, steadily feeding with two GREEN-WINGED TEAL at the estuary pond. It probed deeply, head almost submerged, and then emerged with a mud-covered meal; a marine worm? Good eats, and fresh!
I watched the fat waning moon fall across the blue sky in graceful slow motion. As it approached the rocky profile of Mt Benson, it seemed to accelerate, briefly balanced on the edge, and then quickly slipped like a bright coin into a hidden slot and vanished.
As deep mountain shadows crept over town, I headed to Fourth of July Beach, eager to grab a few more precious rays of late afternoon sunshine. In the silt-laden plume from Godwin Glacier, I watched six BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES dive with noisy excitement. Suddenly, a Loon popped up, fishing in their midst. Squinting into the glaring sunshine, I saw the white throat and chin strap of a PACIFIC LOON!
I was unable to look for the Loon until today. Instead of a Pacific Loon, I found an adult COMMON LOON, partially changed into its drab winter plumage. The Loon snorkeled, head submerged, and dove several times. Then, it dove and resurfaced with a flailing fish! It held the fish headfirst for just a few seconds then tossed it down the hatch. I don’t doubt that it continued to wriggle all the way down. The moving meal didn’t seem to bother the diner, and without delay, it was again snorkeling and diving.
Last night, the neighborhood SAW-WHET OWL beeped hopefully from the mountainside. Whether inspired or confused by the photoperiod, it is always a pleasure to listen to the wild nighttime solo.
