Date: 1/18/26 7:09 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Sunday, January 18, 2026 Yellow-billed Loon! And Sea Ducks
Sunday, January 18, 2026 Yellow-billed Loon! And Sea Ducks
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:42 am, sunset 4:36 pm, for a total day length of 6 hours and 54 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 10 seconds longer.
The weather gods smiled beatifically today as if in apology for the treacherous rain-on-ice conditions delivered the past several days. The sun felt warm with a high of 35º, the wind snoozed; the day was indescribably lovely.
On Wednesday, before the dismal rain, I happened to spot the elusive YELLOW-BILLED LOON at the harbor entrance, apparently heading inside. Through complex computations and clever maneuvering, ie luck, I intersected with the majestic bird when it popped up just feet away from where I stood waiting on the dock. Wow! To be that close to a rock star! Click, click, click went the paparazza!
A COMMON LOON also surfaced, farther away, for a nice comparison of the head coloration, bill shape, and color. Both sported the crisp scalloping of immature birds; full adult plumage is not achieved until they are 3 years old.
Skipping over the intervening days we would all like to forget, I looked for the celebrity again today. I enjoying the parade of gorgeous RED-BREASTED and COMMON MERGANSERS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, and HORNED GREBES paddling by, and the wary PELAGIC CORMORANT with green eyes.
Suddenly, with a soft blip! the Yellow-billed Loon surfaced nearby and just looked at me straight on for a few heart-stopping seconds and then calmly dove. Though I waited, listened, and looked, it had vanished like a mirage.
A bit later, I heard the alarm yodel of a Loon at the entrance to the harbor as a BALD EAGLE swooped low over the water. I sure hope Loon is not on anyone’s menu!
