Date: 3/20/25 11:23 am From: George Matz via groups.io <geomatz41...> Subject: [AKBirding] 2025 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project
They (shorebirds) have sent me emails saying that they are on their way and expect to stopover in Kachemak Bay to feed and rest and their ETA is the same as before.
So, it is time for us to get ready..
Earlier, I sent out the dates and times for our nine monitoring sessions. Now is the time to start filling in the blanks.Attached is the list of names from last year,which is a good start. A few have already given me their availability dates. Hope you can join us this year.
Date: 3/17/25 10:28 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Monday, March 17, 2025 Singing Shrike
Monday, March 17, 2025 Singing Shrike
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:08 am, sunset 8:06 pm for a total day length of 11 hours and 57 minutes as we approach SPRING EQUINOX on March 20. Looks like we will exceed equal night and day sooner with 5 minutes and 30 seconds more day length tomorrow.
March returned us from spring to winter with scattered snow showers and more seasonal temperatures in the mid-teens to mid-20s. Snow is forecast for the rest of the week but may well be sn’rain as temps rise above freezing. Whatever it is, it won’t last long. Crocuses are up and ready to bloom no matter what.
This morning, in bright sunshine and a chilly north breeze, I heard and then found a cheery NORTHERN SHRIKE singing in an alder, sheltered from the wind in the lee of a spruce woods. On and on it sang, a bubbly tune, casting all cares to the wind. What a treat to be a guest (tolerated) to the performance.
A few days ago, on a calm day, I watched as a handsome drake BUFFLEHEAD flew several feet above a mirrored reflection of snowy mountains in a stream. As he passed over the water, ripples radiated in his wake, the mighty mountains shimmering in response without being touched, invisibly connected to the small duck.
Date: 3/8/25 11:20 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Thursday, March 6, 2025 Sunshine, Rock Sandpipers and one Dunlin
Thursday, March 6, 2025 Sunshine, Rock Sandpipers and one Dunlin
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 7:41 am, sunset 6:38 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 57 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 29 seconds longer.
After a week of rain, sn’rain, slush, and yesterday, about 4” of wet snow, today dawned bright. Gauzy clouds lingered against the snowy mountains, reluctant to leave. Welcome, warm sunshine illuminated the spectacular scenery all around. The wind napped, resting up for tomorrow’s forecasted NNW winds 10-20 mph, and clouds.
Midday low tides opened up access to Afognak Beach where I enjoyed watching 24 ROCK SANDPIPERS and one DUNLIN chitter and forage along the ebbing tideline. They stuck together like grannies at a garage sale, anxious to see what treasures everyone else was finding, worried about missing out. A few SHORT-BILLED GULLS wandered among them, towering over the busy shorebirds.
MALLARDS dabbled in the intertidal streams and a horde of AMERICAN CROWS plundered the freshly washed tidelands. An adult BALD EAGLE cried stridently from a treetop. All seemed to rejoice in the gorgeous, calm day and reprieve from the dismal weather.
Date: 2/26/25 6:36 am From: John P Valentik via groups.io <jpatvalentik...> Subject: Re: [AKBirding] Monday, February 24, 2025 Eagle swimming!
Great post
On Wed, Feb 26, 2025, 1:10 AM rainyday via groups.io <c_griz=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Monday, February 24, 2025 Eagle swimming!
>
> Seward, Alaska
>
>
>
> Sunrise 8:11 am, sunset 6:13 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 2
> minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 27 seconds longer.
>
>
>
> Mild April-like weather continued today with calm wind and temps between
> 28 around sunrise and a high of 36 by mid-afternoon. New ice glittered on
> puddles, a reminder that it is actually still supposed to be winter, then
> melted before noon. The pewter-gray clouds tossed down a few sprinkles that
> didn’t amount to anything, not even an annoyance. The ground is snow-free
> and soggy.
>
>
>
> While scanning the flat-calm waters with my binoculars for whales, I
> noticed two dark shapes about a mile away, appearing and disappearing,
> about in the same place. Otters playing? No, the pattern kept repeating
> like waves hitting a shoal but not quite. Intrigued, I took photos and
> zoomed in. To my amazement, I made out the tiny white head and dark wings
> of an adult BALD EAGLE steadily stroking, far from shore. Far, far from
> shore. O my! Poor thing! Would it make it? No rescue for this bird!
>
>
>
> Slowly, ever so slowly, stroke by ponderous stroke, it inched its way
> closer to shore, fighting the out-going tide as well. A hundred AMERICAN
> CROWS watched with interest from the nearest spit of emerging beach. What
> an irritating welcome! As the Eagle finally swam closer, several Crows
> launched to harass it, sounding the alarm and nose-diving without touching
> it.
>
>
>
> Onward, ever onward, until finally its feet touched the submerged ground.
> Then it hopped, flapping its wings through the gentle waves. Then I saw one
> foot firmly holding a fish! It dragged the fish with it, what a prize! to
> higher ground, and immediately began tearing into the hard-won lunch. Wow!
> What a champion!
>
>
>
> No one seemed impressed by this feat except me. The Crows hovered nearby,
> cawing and carrying on, hoping to snag a morsel. Then an immature Bald
> Eagle flew in and tussled with the fisher who shrouded the catch and kept
> ripping into it. More Bald Eagles flew in until there were eight angling
> for a chance to steal the fish or grab a bite. What a sight! What a racket!
>
>
>
> From then on, dining turned to defending. I lost sight of the fisher and
> fish in the flurry of wings, screeching, and cawing. Then suddenly, the
> party was over and all the Eagles flew off towards the trees, leaving the
> Crows to scavenge and brag about their bravery.
>
>
>
> Whew! Tough job getting a bite to eat!
>
>
>
> For photos, edits, and updates, please visit my blog at
> https://sporadicbird.blogspot.com >
>
>
> Happy Birding!
>
> Carol Griswold
>
> Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 2/25/25 11:10 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Monday, February 24, 2025 Eagle swimming!
Monday, February 24, 2025 Eagle swimming!
Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:11 am, sunset 6:13 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 2 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 27 seconds longer.
Mild April-like weather continued today with calm wind and temps between 28 around sunrise and a high of 36 by mid-afternoon. New ice glittered on puddles, a reminder that it is actually still supposed to be winter, then melted before noon. The pewter-gray clouds tossed down a few sprinkles that didn’t amount to anything, not even an annoyance. The ground is snow-free and soggy.
While scanning the flat-calm waters with my binoculars for whales, I noticed two dark shapes about a mile away, appearing and disappearing, about in the same place. Otters playing? No, the pattern kept repeating like waves hitting a shoal but not quite. Intrigued, I took photos and zoomed in. To my amazement, I made out the tiny white head and dark wings of an adult BALD EAGLE steadily stroking, far from shore. Far, far from shore. O my! Poor thing! Would it make it? No rescue for this bird!
Slowly, ever so slowly, stroke by ponderous stroke, it inched its way closer to shore, fighting the out-going tide as well. A hundred AMERICAN CROWS watched with interest from the nearest spit of emerging beach. What an irritating welcome! As the Eagle finally swam closer, several Crows launched to harass it, sounding the alarm and nose-diving without touching it.
Onward, ever onward, until finally its feet touched the submerged ground. Then it hopped, flapping its wings through the gentle waves. Then I saw one foot firmly holding a fish! It dragged the fish with it, what a prize! to higher ground, and immediately began tearing into the hard-won lunch. Wow! What a champion!
No one seemed impressed by this feat except me. The Crows hovered nearby, cawing and carrying on, hoping to snag a morsel. Then an immature Bald Eagle flew in and tussled with the fisher who shrouded the catch and kept ripping into it. More Bald Eagles flew in until there were eight angling for a chance to steal the fish or grab a bite. What a sight! What a racket!
From then on, dining turned to defending. I lost sight of the fisher and fish in the flurry of wings, screeching, and cawing. Then suddenly, the party was over and all the Eagles flew off towards the trees, leaving the Crows to scavenge and brag about their bravery.
