Tour Narrative
The Fall 2011 Gambell, Alaska, tour was highlighted by the appearance of three juicy Asian landbird strays, several species of Asian shorebirds, and most of the regular “trans-Beringian” landbird migrants. After a several-hour weather delay of our Nome-to-Gambell flight, we settled in at the comfortable “Sivuqaq Lodge” for our 8-day stay. Following our ATV driving lessons, we were off! The first half-day was highlighted by good looks at Red-throated Pipit and White Wagtail, the first Arctic Warblers, Bluethroats, and Eastern Yellow Wagtails, and our first introduction to the myriads of alcids (of 10 species), Short-tailed Shearwaters, and other seabirds off the Point. The rarities would start the following day with the discovery of a fine “Siberian” Stonechat in the Near Boneyard, followed by a juvenile Lesser Sand-Plover on the runway. These were then topped the following day by the appearance of a Dusky Warbler in the Far Boneyard and—especially—by the young Pallas’s Bunting on a fence below Troutman Lake. Also during this period we enjoyed superb views of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers literally at our feet, a fly-by calling Gray-tailed Tattler, and a flock of Eurasian Wigeons. Good looks at a couple Steller’s Eiders, multiple Sabine’s Gulls right off the beach and more challenging Ancient Murrelets flying by farther offshore, a surprise and much-appreciated Kittlitz’s Murrelet, one Arctic Loon and just a single Slaty-backed Gull, beautiful point-blank adult Long-tailed Jaegers, many hundreds of Red Phalaropes feeding in the foam just off the beach, and finally the close fly-by of 2 Yellow-billed Loons rounded out the seabird show. Single “Red” Fox Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos were strays from the Alaska mainland. After three days of awful north winds, we finished the tour with a beautiful day highlighted by Northern Wheatears as well as a stunning white Gyrfalcon along the upper slopes of Sevuokuk Mountain. All this from the comfort of our 4-wheelers and after being stuffed with great food from the “Coates Kitchen.”
- Paul Lehman
Updated: September 2011