Date: 4/28/25 11:12 pm From: rainyday via groups.io <c_griz...> Subject: [AKBirding] Saturday, April 26, 2025 Cranes! Geese! Godwits! Dowitchers!
Saturday, April 26, 2025 Cranes! Geese! Godwits! Dowitchers!
Seward, Alaska
A tremendous surge of long-awaited feathered migrants pulsed through the cloudy skies today, thrilling onlookers with their joyous cries. Skeins of SANDHILL CRANES, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, CACKLING GEESE and ducks stroked northwards high overhead. It seemed the flocks took turns; as soon as one flock shrank to specks to the north, another flock announced its arrival from the south, grew in size and volume, passed overhead, and again diminished.
Some chose to land, much to our delight. At least a hundred Sandhill Cranes fed ravenously on the long-vacant sedge wetlands, these giant, unbelievable birds. Serving as decoys, more and more Cranes spiraled down, bugling loudly with long legs outstretched, to a high count of 239. (Thanks to Tasha for the exact count.)
Nearby, flocks of similarly hungry Cackling and Greater White-fronted Geese mowed through the vegetation like machines. NORTHERN PINTAILS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, GADWALL, and MALLARDS dabbled in the shallow pond. A single BONAPARTE’S GULL growled from the middle of the pond. Whenever a BALD EAGLE cruised overhead, pandemonium ensued as all took flight with loud cries of alarm.
After feasting on the sights and sounds of the Cranes and Geese, I further scrutinized the pond scene. Five FOS HUDSONIAN GODWITS probed the pond mud with their long bills. Five FOS SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS stitched the mud nearby. Three DUNLIN in their distinctive breeding plumage shared the pond edge with two LEAST SANDPIPERS. Noisy GREATER YELLOWLEGS dashed thither and yon on their long legs, heads jerking. A WHIMBREL called. Eight BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS flew overhead.
A juvenile AMERICAN GOSHAWK added to the excitement, escorted away by ARCTIC TERNS and SHORT-BILLED GULLS, all screeching. A male and female NORTHERN HARRIER cruised the fields. Almost invisible, several SNIPE peacefully winnowed from the sky.
What a show stopper day!
Later, another surprise awaited at Two Lakes Park. At 5:15 pm, I recorded that lonely little SAW-WHET OWL beeping for a few minutes as I passed below his mountainside bachelor pad. Then the recently arrived VARIED THRUSHES resumed the more expected daytime serenade.
