This will be my last entry until late August whilst I’m on holiday with the family!

21st July

Still the drizzle continued as we headed back to Anchorage, a stop at a roadside lake produced 20 Arctic Terns and several depressed looking juvenile Mew Gulls. We continued and whilst travelling around the coast just before Anchorage we saw 4 Dall’s Sheep up on the rocky sloops above the road. The weather finally cleared to leave a dry end to my time in Alaska and our final hike was one to the top of Flattop Mountain where great views over the city could be had. On the road up to the hill I was stopped in my tracks as a cow Moose was happily feeding away on the roadside verge.


Dall's Sheep

The hill was actually very quiet for birds but a couple Pika and Ground Squirrels were reward enough. On the decent however a large grey bird was seen in flight briefly before being seen again as it darted into a low bush. On close inspection it was a large female Goshawk that allowed us very close as she hide in the bush before taking to the air again. Bedtime came as I boarded my plane that departed 15 minutes before midnight heading back for Toronto after having a truly great time in Alaska, enjoyed ever minute!


Moose

20th July

The famous Seward drizzle remained as we spent the morning exploring the Alaska Sealife Center where we managed to see our first Steller’s and Spectacled Eider ducklings! These little cuties have been successfully hatched in their breeding program that is still in the trial stages. We then headed into town where we found 8 Northwestern Crows and a warbler flock containing 2 Townsend’s, Orange-crowned, Tennessee and Myrtle’s in the suburbs.


Bald Eagle

Following the coast south we counted up to 8 Bald Eagles that just rest on the street telegraph poles! Approaching Lowell Point we had a look along the coast where a flock of Glaucous-winged Gulls and Kittiwakes where washing. Ben immediately picked out a group of 12 Wandering Tattlers hiding in the rocks. Out at the gulls some ducks emerged from dead trees that were resting in the water. It was a group of 16 moulting Harlequin Ducks further out was a single male Surf Scoter and several Marbled Murrelets. Back at the car were a couple Steller’s Jays moving along the wooded hillside.


Wandering Tattler

For the evening we headed up to exit glacier that we couldn’t get anywhere near to due to the glacier being unstable and the river flooding the path to the toe! But whilst driving back down the road Ben spotted a Porcupine roosting in a roadside tree.

19th July

On the road again we travelled down the coast to Seward on a wet dull day seeing just a Varied Thrush and a Goshawk on route. Once in Seward we collected our tickets from Major Marine Tours for our full day pelagic out to Holgate Glacier in the Kenai Fjords. We boarded for our departure just prior to noon and started our journey out into a very sheltered, damp and misty Resurrection Bay straight away we pulled alongside a pair of Sea Otters minding their own business. Heading further out we started to see Marbled Murrelets followed by many Tufted Puffins, a group of 5 Ancient Murrelets (4 more later), then the first Horned Puffins that were only slightly less numerous than the Tufted of which both seem massive compared to our little Atlantic cousins! As we crossed the mouth of the bay we hit some noticeable swell that got a few people turning green but we carried on as a few ocean going birds appeared first a Short-tailed Shearwater rapidly followed by a Fork-tailed Petrel (minimum of 2 seen) and then a Northern Fulmar. As we approached the sheltered bay heading around towards the glacier I was a little upset that we had left the rough seas behind. On the bright side though I could try and get some photographs again that was proving very difficult with the dull grey light.


Sea Otter


Tufted Puffin


Horned Puffin

As we cruised into the bay we came across Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets. Icebergs appeared, as we got closer to the Holgate Glacier as numbers of Marbled Murrelets increased before finally we picked up 3 Kittlitz’s Murrelets! Sadly they were a little distant and flew well before the boat got anywhere near them. Arriving at the shockingly blue glacier we watched in amazement as we witness a calving of the glacier take place. After that spectacle we headed back out to open water but sadly the swell meant that we had to change our plans and headed over to Barwell Island where there were 60+ Steller’s Sea Lions hauled out on the rocks as well as thousands of Black-legged Kittiwakes and Common Murres (guillemots) nesting up the cliffs.


Marbled Murrelet

Heading a little past the island we saw the distant blow of a whale, investigation revealed it to be a Humpback Whale but sadly it only surfaced infrequently in the rough water! As did the agile, amazingly fast Dall’s Porpoise with its black and white body. We saw an estimate total of 18 with animals usual in 2’s-6’s with some even enjoying a bow ride, what fantastic creatures. Our final little adventure brought us into a bay where Glaucous-winged Gulls were feeding on a bait ball along with a few Pelagic and 4 Red-faced Cormorants. To finish off an amazing trip whilst travelling back to the harbour a Bald Eagle gave great views has he rested on a rocky point.


Dall's Porpoise

18th July

A partly cloudy start to the day as we cruised down Denali Highway well pottered down the rough dirt road may be more realistic. Not really knowing any hotspots we just made random stops every now and again reaching a tally of 35 species. As we passed small lakes and pools we found a total of 2 White-winged Scoters, 8 Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, 2 Bufflehead, Pintail, Long-tailed Duck, Common Loons, 6 Trumpeter Swan and 6 Red-necked Phalaropes.


American Tree Sparrow

Travelling through the forests passerines included 8 Bohemian Waxwings, Boreal Chickadees, Hermit Thrushes, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Wilson’s and Myrtle Warblers, American Tree Sparrows, Common Redpolls, etc. Mammals were few and far between but first on our list was a Moose crossing the road, then amazingly another Lynx briefly on the roadside before disappearing into the scrub and finally a small stream held a River Otter.


Bohemian Waxwing

For the last section of the road the terrain became hillier with tundra here we found 2 Golden Eagles, 1 Bald Eagle, Whimbrel, 4 Long-tailed Jaegers, Horned Lark, Buff-bellied Pipit and numerous Savannah Sparrows. Despite having a thorough search for Smith Longspur we drew a blank finding only 8 Lapland Longspurs. Finally finishing the long drive along the highway we just had a short 4.5+ hour drive back to Anchorage.

17th July

An early rise as we caught the 6am shuttle bus into the park heading to Eielson Visitor Center a 8 hour return trip. The bus is a great place to look for wildlife from but birds were hard to see. On the way out we got off to a good start with a cow Moose, then a distant Grizzly Bear followed by an exceptional view of a Lynx walking alongside the bus but sadly all to brief. Also seen were 6 Caribou, 18+ Dall’s Sheep, 4 Red Foxes and many Snowshoe Hares.


Caribou



Once at Eielson we left the bus to admire the amazing views of the majestic Mount McKinley on one of those rare clear days. We then took the hike up the alpine trail for even better views from the mountaintop where we got great views of 4+ Golden Eagles cruising along the ridge followed by 3 Long-tailed Jaegers. By time we had made our decent the mountain had been engulfed in cloud as the rest of the valley remained in glorious sunshine. We boarded a shuttle bus for the journey back on which we saw 3 distant Wolf cubs, a very distant sleeping Grizzly Bear, 2 Moose but the most excitement came when a Golden Eagle was seen being mobbed by a pair of Gyrfalcon’s. Back at base a walk in the woods found a couple Boreal Chickadees.


Golden Eagle

16th July

Eventually we made our minds up and headed out on the highway heading northeast, as we travelled we spotted an immature Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, 2 Trumpeter Swans, 2 Sandhill Cranes and a Hermit Thrush. After 4 plus hours we arrived at the entrance gate to Denali National Park with the sun still shining we carried on down the road as far as the public vehicles are allowed. The park road was relatively productive with 4 Gray Jays, Mew Gulls, stag Caribou and a few Snowshoe Hares.


Gray Jay

Once at the Savage River car park we hiked up to a rocky peak where 4 Arctic Ground Squirrels and a couple Pika lived. On the slope up were a family of Willow Ptarmigan dust bathing in the trail with 9 juveniles and higher up the mountain slopes we could see 7 Dall’s Sheep.


Willow Ptarmigan

15th July

Today Ben and myself left Barrow on the morning plane heading to Anchorage where we picked up a rental car and headed straight to downtown where we pulled up at Westchester Lake. The lake was covered with Red-necked Grebe families, Lesser Canada Geese, Greater Scaup and many Mew Gulls. Walking through to the coast we could view over the mudflats where lots of Long-billed and a few Short-billed Dowitchers were feeding on the waters edge along with 2 Hudsonian Godwits. Also roosting on the mud were Arctic Terns and Bonaparte’s Gulls.


Mew Gull

For the lovely sunny evening we headed south to Potter’s Marsh where we walked out on the Boardwalk where salmon could be seen in one of the rivers as were Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and a Musk Rat. Flying around we small numbers of Violet Green Swallows and the bushes held Lincoln’s Sparrows and Alder Flycatchers. At the end of the eastern boardwalk rested a pair of Bald Eagles in the large trees on the perimeter of the marsh.

July Week 2

14th July

Not a very exciting day as it mainly involved packing! We did however get out in the morning for a very quick nest search for an hour seeing just the usual American Golden Plovers, Long-billed Dowitchers, Semipalmated and Pectoral Sandpipers, Red Phalaropes and Lapland Longspur. On the way back to Narl we came across a female Snowy owl feeding on prey relatively close to the road. Tomorrow I leave Barrow heading to Anchorage for a week touring around before heading back to Ontario for a weeks holiday with the family so not sure if I will be able to keep up with postings (more of the same then!).

13th July

This morning Ben and myself were on a small loop (8km) revisiting 5 nests trying to reduce the number of active nests. Within the first few metres we could see a family of swans on the lake in front with 4 cygnets and as predicted the nest soon revealed 4 egg membranes. Next we carried onto a hatched White-front passing several young Semipalmated Sandpipers and Dunlin on the way that were close to fledging. Next was our last Pintail nest but sadly it had failed. Looking out over a open Elson Lagoon with very little ice in view produced a group of 7 Yellow-billed Loons, 40 Common Eider and a flock of 20 Thick-billed Murres flew past.


Tundra Swan

The Slough held three families of Black Brant. It was now after lunch and we were heading back to the road finishing off with a successful and a failed White-front nest. Heading back to the car I bumped into a new bird for our Barrow list, a spring overshoot in the form of a Hermit Thrush bringing the groups tally to 76 species. The rest of the afternoon was spent starting to back up some gear ready for our departure on Wednesday.

12th July

Record breaking temperatures today on a sunny day with light south easterly winds. This was our final day of nest searching and once again the area turned up no nest, not even any failed or finished nests But there was a Lemming. Early afternoon and we were off to revisit a few nests. Heading inland along Gaswell Road from the coast the temperature outside started to increase, arriving at our various locations the temperature peaked at a whopping 23 degrees Celsius!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This surely can’t be Barrow? Heading out on our 7km walk heading south into the wind was quiet pleasant, as for the nests all 3 White-fronts had hatched as had the Tundra Swan. Not too surprising there was a family of swans on the neighbouring lake along with another family on the next lake as well. In the distance there were 4 Sandhill Cranes calling from the Tundra. Now it was time for the hike back to the road, turning around and heading with the breeze meant that the mosquitoes that followed us all the way down seized their chance with a mass attack, thankfully I had a head net!

11th July

The week had passed and it was our day off once again. A morning walk around the back of Narl found two disturbing discoveries with both my Redpoll nest being destroyed. But on the bright the resident Semipalmated Sandpipers had brought in a Baird’s Sandpiper onto an area off rough ground.


Baird’s Sandpiper

Over lunch three of us headed to the south side of Barrow for a seawatch. Compared with last time the ice sat a little further out with no sea viewable beyond which meant all the birds were showing slightly closer. The main highlights noted were 1 male Spectacled Eider, 3 Red-necked Grebes, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and whilst glancing down to the shore a gull was spotted walking down the waters edge feeding. Straight away the black wing tips stood out ruling out yet another Glaucous, closer inspection noted the following features, short stubby deep pink legs and then its eye was dark. These two features lead me towards the id of a Thayer’s Gull rather than a Herring.


Thayer’s Gull

After the seawatch we got the ATV’s and took a cruise down the point where the sea had opened up massively from my last visit. Birds were plentiful with a Pelagic Cormorant being new, arriving at the carcass we couldn’t see any bears but a thorough scan of the gulls found what looks like a good 2 calendar year Glaucous-winged Gull. Hopefully I will become more familiar with these next week.


Glaucous-winged Gull

As the evening drew in we headed back south where we came across a female Harlequin Duck swimming along the shore. Listed below is some birds noted on the sea throughout the day:

Thick-billed Murre (500+)
Black Guillemot (16+)
King Eider (20+)
Common Eider (210+)
White-billed Loon (6)
Long-tailed Duck (c.1000)
Sabine’s Gull (30+)
Black-legged Kittiwake (60+)
Pomarine Jaeger (5)
Long-tailed Jaeger (2)

10th July

Rain returned and remained just as long. Mid afternoon came and we headed out in the drizzle to revisit a few nests that had to be checked. Dave and myself first visited a failed Brant nest followed by a still active nest. Continuing through the fog we arrived at the King Eider camera nest where she was still present so the battery and memory card was changed. Moving on we came across a female Snowy Owl before reaching our last Brant nest that had successfully hatched out 4 eggs. Finishing our 5km walk we arrived back at the road.

9th July

The day was put on hold as rain set in right through to 15:00hrs. As the rain stopped we managed to get out and cover a reasonable area to the northwest of footprint lake, as recent trends continue we found no nests but did see a Peregrine, Buff-breasted and 8 Western Sandpipers.

8th July

Today we were out nest searching again this time in the area around the gas works buildings with numerous electric wires all over the place. For all our efforts we failed to find any nests but enjoyed the numerous wader babies including Dunlin, Red Phalarope, Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpipers. But the best find by far were two pairs of legs, both from Snowy Owls and both yielding bands. Good news for the day came from a camera nest that revealed the Spectacled Eider had hatched here eggs and walked off with here 5 ducklings at 14:00hrs. SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!


Semipalmated Sandpiper

July Week 1

7th July

A foggy day today for the coast but once inland the weather was clearer with high cloud. We were out nest searching again and the slightest of warmth brought of the first butterflies for barrow in the form of a couple fritillary’s. The nest searching was very unproductive with just one failed Long-tailed Duck nest, also found was the remains of a drake Spectacled Eider.

6th July

The morning started off with a male Snowy Owl along Gaswell Road. Once we got to the end of the road we walked out to an area to nest search. Shortly after starting a group of 5 Caribou were spotted on the horizon to our left, the animals moved south quietly before disappearing from view. The nest searching picked up three failed Brant nests along a lakes shore but on a brighter not a Pacific and Red-throated Loon nest were discovered. This was soon eclipsed by mid afternoon when Ben came across a nesting eider, adjusting our position we identified the bird as a Spectacled Eider. Wow this was some achievement, our first actually active eider nest whilst nest searching for over two weeks now.

5th July

Back in the field on a calm warm day. We started by dropping the ATV’s of at our finishing point as Ben and myself where going to be walking along the Elson Lagoon coast revisiting 23 nests. On the return to our starting point we spotted a female Snowy Owl just off the road on a telegraph pole that showed well.


Snowy Owl

As we started our hike we first visited 3 Black Brants that were all still active, we also had a camera that was for a King Eider nest, approaching the spot we could see her so we got to work with the camera. Minutes after we finished a flock of 50 Long-tailed Jaegers moved through slowly along with a few Parasitic. Continuing on the next Pintail had failed but the next nest was a White-front where three goslings were seen walking off with the parents. Following down a slough we spotted a Yellow-billed Loon ahead whilst checking a female Pintail still incubating here eggs, as we headed inland we came across more successful geese nest with just a couple still sitting. Further in and the wind dropped and the temperature crept up to 13 degrees celsius which lead to the mass emergence of the long feared mosquitoes. Battling on I came across a nesting Pacific Loon on a small pond where I also stumbled over a new bird for the trip, a white-rumped Sandpiper alongside a Semipalmated.


White-rumped Sandpiper

Finishing off the route as our pace quicken to try and escape the mosquitoes were we glad that we could blast them away on the ATV’s whilst cooling down at the same time. Must not forget to mention that we also so a new mammal for myself, a long awaited Lemming! A stop alongside Middle Salt Lagoon produced a family of Ruddy Turnstones that have three youngsters.


Lemming

Once after our evening meal a couple of us headed down to the south side of Barrow for a seawatch. There was lots of activity on the water as the locals kept on passing by in their boat shooting at any poor seal they could find. From the shore there was clear water to half way out then a narrow band of ice with clear sea beyond and this is where most birds could be seen moving past distantly. Three new birds for the trip were recorded with 2 Tufted Puffin, 20+ Black-legged Kittiwake and c.350 Thick-billed Murres. Also noted were 6 Black Guillemots, 6 Common Eider, 1 King Eider and 2 Yellow-billed Loons.

4th July

Independence Day, so we got the day off. The weather had become cloudy with patchy fog first thing so a quiet morning. After noon we all had a cruise down south along the coast on the ATV’s down past Nunavak Bay. Not many birds were seen except for 2 distant Snowy Owls. The sea was a little more productive with many dead Jellyfish being washed up on shore. As we got a mile or so down a snow bank blocked our path so we continued on foot. The sea ice was getting thinner all the time until we reached the end of the sea ice. Birds over the water obviously included Long-tailed Ducks, Red-throated and Pacific Loons as well as 5 Black Guillemots, 5 King Eiders and 4 Yellow-billed Loons flew over.


Yellow-billed Loon

3rd July

The wind increased slightly making a cooler day as the sun continued to shine. We headed out to the end of Gaswell Road to a promising area of pools. Straight away a Pomarine Jaeger flew over the neighbouring lake shortly followed by a group of 6 female Spectacled Eiders. As we continued we found a failed spec and king eider nest before seeing a pair and single Spectacled Eider roosting on a small pool. At lunch a further 10 female Spectacled Eiders flew over or maybe some of the same? We finished the survey as we reached our Long-tailed Duck camera nest who was still sitting on her eggs. As we drove along the road to revisit a White-fronted Goose nest a large bird flew from a telegraph pole carrying something in its feet. Reaching to our binoculars we were watching an Osprey circle round before departing over the tundra. What the hell is an Osprey doing up here and where did it find his fish?

2nd July

The continued to shine as the Steller’s Eiders remain on Middle Salt Lagoon. Nest searching brought us upon the immature male King Eider that was happy feeding on some small pools showing very well. The tundra seems to be getting quieter no that all the birds have stopped singing as the first eggs are hatching. Today both Pectoral Sandpiper and Red Phalarope babies were seen. Mid afternoon we got a tip off from a shorebird researcher to the locality of a female Spectacled Eider close by. On investigation we couldn’t find the female but did find a failed eider nest. As the evening drew in we finished up searching at the edge of a large marshy basin where there were a few Glaucous Gulls mixed in a flock of 55 Long-tailed Jaegers all searching for food.


King Eider


Pectoral Sandpiper

1st July

Awoke to rain this morning as the new month started, this being the first rain since arriving. The rain cleared by noon to leave a glorious sunny day allowing an afternoon of nest searching. On the way out a quick scan over the inlet to Middle Salt Lagoon produced 3 male Steller’s Eiders (my first for some time). Not a great deal was happening out at the plot with a group of 3 female King Eiders and a Pacific Loon nest being the highlights.



In the evening two of the crew were crazy enough to go for a ‘polar dip’ swim in the sea. I just watched! As ducks passed by following the narrow strip of open water running along the coast. Mainly the flocks were of roughly twenty birds consisting entirely of Long-tailed Ducks. In the hour we watched an estimate of 150 flew by including two female King Eiders and then a single male Surf Scoter tagged along with a Long-tailed Duck flock. Further out on the sea ice 50+ Ringed Seals had hauled themselves out for a rest.

June Week 4

30th June

A much warmer day today with brief periods of fine drizzle first thing. We spent the morning nest searching finding very little for our efforts, just 5 female King Eiders. After dinner Ben and myself broke off again to revisit some nests as follows, failed Pintail and Brant Goose, active Tundra Swan then a failed and active White-fronted Goose. We then had a dilemma, which way around the largest lake in the Barrow area do we go to our final nest. Right probably the slightly shorter way? Or left the slightly longer way exploring new country with the slight chance of not being able to get around?

You guessed it, we headed left around the mostly frozen lake, once on the southern edge the water opened out with 40 Arctic Terns feeding over the surface continuing on we decided to cut across the bay in our hip boots as there was visible vegetation (therefore shallow right?). We were halfway across as the uneven ice floor along with increased depth meant we could go no further! Maybe the 3 pairs of Pacific Loons should have indicated deep water. Thankfully however just a further 20m down we found a passable route across. Reaching the other side we found a large flooded marshy area with at least four Sabine’s Gulls flying around including birds harassing Glaucous Gulls as they passed. A few minutes later we spotted a bird on a nest, we had to investigate closer and as we did over they came warning us off their eggs.

We moved back to the north ticking off the final active goose nest before spotting my first 2 White-fronted goslings out on the ice in the lake. Minutes later I was shocked to be watching a pair of Barn Swallows fly past, they apparently only just reach the far south of the state so why on earth are the all the way up here. Finally after a 20km hike we arrived back at the car and headed home for a late evening meal.

29th June

The sun was out once again so I got out of bed earlier and had a walk around the back of Narl seeing all the residents with the addition of the Lesser Yellowlegs and a Varied Thrush. Cutting through the buildings to the coast and on the narrow ice free band of water that runs up the beach were three birds, immediately identifying them as a new bird for my North American list, a bird that I’m familiar with from back at home. The Black Guillemots moved along the coast playing. Scanning out over the sea ice lots of black dots could be seen that were in fact Ringed Seals.


Black Guillemot

A trip south of Barrow checking two nests, a failed Pintail and active White-front also produced a flock of 8 King Eiders on the sea ice as 4 Pomarine Jaegers flew over. Once after dinner three of us headed out for some nest searching picking up 3 new White-fronted Geese nests and a Glaucous Gull nest. The team size decreased down to eight people today as the first volunteers start departing.

28th June

A day consistently switching between sunshine and fog. The whole group comprising of 8 people nest searched the south and west sides of Footprint lake. Getting off to a cracking start with a Green-winged Teal nest in the first ten minutes hopes for a successful day were high but as the next 14km unfolded all were could muster was a single White-fronted Goose nest. Very little notable birds were seen with a Pomarine Jaeger being the best except for a flock of 100 Red Phalaropes (mostly females) already preparing for their journey south!

Three of us remained to search an area just to the south seeing a group of 4 female King Eiders. On the way home we spotted a male Snowy Owl sat on the snow fence.


King Eider

27th June

The day started off bright and sunny and since it was our day off Ben and I went for a cruise on the ATV’s down Gaswell Road in search of some photographic objects. First not photographable was a distant white blob across Footprint Lake in the form of a Snowy Owl. The roadside verge held the usual American Golden Plovers, Pectoral & Semipalmated Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher, Red Phalaropes and Lapland Longspurs. Halfway down Gaswell we found on a small pool an immature male King Eider (first immature eider seen). A short walk near the landfill revealed a distant male Spectacled Eider lost in the haze.


Red Phalarope


Long-billed Dowitcher

Back in town and a festival was taking place in celebration of a successful whale hunt earlier in the spring. There was a variety of food being passed around but I chickened out of the fermented whale meat in blood however I did try the smallest piece of raw skin and blubber. (once!) Also had some caribou stew that was horrendously fatty but I missed the goose soup. We returned at night for the blanket toss where the sealskin from the successful whale catching boat is used to thrust someone into the air. In historic times this technique was used to search for whales once out on the sea ice.







‘Midnight sun’ well 01:00 hrs actually as this is the lowest point!

26th June

Back south of the Landfill searching an area filled with pools on yet another cloudy day. Nests were once again hard to find with the only active nests being 2 White-fronted Geese however we did find a failed nest of both Spectacled and King Eider. Also present were 4 Western & 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and the first fledged Lapland Longspurs, the evening approached as the skies cleared, on the finale stretch of our survey we noted a nesting Red-throated Loon with a group of 3 approachable Spectacled Eiders (1 male) on the same pond.


Spectacled Eider

On return to the house a walk around in the evening sun was rewarded with fledged Snow Buntings, the finding of a sitting Hoary (Arctic) Redpoll, Green-winged Teal and a Lesser Yellowlegs.


Hoary Redpoll

25th June

I was time to start doing some nest searching today. We headed out to the landfill and searched areas close to the road. We just found a single nest of note belonging to a Pintail. Birds recorded included 1m & 4f Spectacled Eider, the white Ruff and a flyover Yellow-billed Loon.


Ruff

After dinner I switched groups moving over to Freshwater Lake where we found just a single new White-fronted Goose nest. A small pool held a pair of King Eiders along with 4 female Spectacled.

24th June

The day got off to a slightly late start due to snow flurries but by noon Ben and myself were off to check 17 nests on a lengthy walk along the Beaufort Sea. First was a failed Pintail with an active Brant Goose nest next and whilst on route we found 3 Long-billed Dowitcher nests. As we continued we ticked off the White-fronted Geese along with 2 Pintail and a Tundra Swan nest but the Long-tailed Duck had failed.

Highlights from the walk were a Western Sandpiper and a pair of Long-tailed Jaegers along with the first baby Lapland Longspurs hatching out.


Western Sandpiper

23rd June

The weather remains cool with a consistent northeasterly wind and foggy conditions. The day for three of us was not spent nest searching but revisiting some waterfowl nests found during the foot surveys. In the mourning the plan was to visit a Long-tailed Duck, Spectacled and King Eider nest with a camera each to monitor them. Arriving at the Long-tailed Duck nest in the southeast end of the recording area an Arctic Fox was spotted patrolling the tundra a hundred metres away. There was no sign of the female but the eggs were covered up so we placed the camera in place and left. Moving on we arrived at an empty Spectacled nest followed by the same story at the King nest. (This was soon to become a common outcome for most duck nests)

After dinner we visited 7 nests, an active Tundra Swan, failed King Eider, failed Long-tailed Duck and 2 active White-fronted Goose nests out of 4. Whilst on our walk around the east side of Freshwater Lake we also saw 5 Spectacled and 16 King Eiders of which females are starting to out number the males, never a good sign. A flock of 13 Snow Geese flew over as did a Pomarine Jaeger and we came across 3 Dunlin nests.


Tundra Swan

22nd June

Today involved very little birding as the priority was training for the nest searching that will commence tomorrow. The main aim of the nest searching is to thoroughly check areas that either eiders were seen in during the foot surveys or areas where steller’s nested last year.