Date: 5/22/26 10:01 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Tuesday, May 19, 2026 More photos of Bar-tailed Godwits, Long-billed Dowitchers, Wandering Tattler and Friday May 22 update
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 More photos of Bar-tailed Godwits, Long-billed Dowitchers, Wandering Tattler
Seward, Alaska
The dismal weather may have encouraged a handsome pair of BAR-TAILED GODWITS, about 13 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and at least one WANDERING TATTLER to linger. What a pleasure to study and photograph these long-distance migrants!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
Friday, May 22, 2026 Pipits, Geese, Whimbrels, Tattler
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 5:04 am, sunset 10:47 pm for a total day length of 17 hours and 42 minutes. Tomorrow will be 4 minutes and 12 seconds longer.
The cool, rainy May weather is stuck and getting monotonous: an overnight low of 33 today with a high of 38. Fresh dusting of snow on the mountains and rain at sea level. Nonetheless, even cold rain is the color green as evidenced by greening grass and emerging leaves.
I last spotted the BAR-TAILED GODWITS, DOWITCHERS, and DUNLINS on May 19.
But the slow, cool spring may have contributed to the lingering 85 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and 25 CACKLING GEESE.
Surprisingly, six HUDSONIAN WHIMBRELS and one WANDERING TATTLER probed among the rocks and wrack at Scheffler Creek despite the human and dog disturbances. A tiny male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER flitted among them for flies.
New today, a large pulse of about 50 AMERICAN PIPITS popped up from the grasses in the upper field along the Airport Road.
The TRUMPETER SWAN is sitting on her nest at the Mile 1 Nash Road. I hope they built this year’s nest high enough to keep the eggs out of the frigid water.
About 10 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS swooped about catching some of the numerous insects. I saw a few TREE SWALLOWS but Swallow numbers seem quite low.
The SAW-WHET OWL has been beeping from lower Mt Marathon as early as 9 am. (!)
No sign of “my” Hummingbird since the first sighting last week. Hmmmm.
