July 29: Gavin Bieber and Jake Mohlmann on the main section of their recent tour, Alaska: Majesty of the North
Our Alaska Majesty Tour found above average temperatures and a very advanced spring throughout the state, with remarkably nice weather for the entire trip. We started around Nome, which was, as ever, amazing; an excellent wildflower show, point blank views of birds like Rock Ptarmigan, Harlequin Duck, Gyrfalcon, Aleutian Tern, and the dazzling Bluethroat (still in its active song flight courtship stage) as well as a good showing by a pair of Bristle-thighed Curlews on the Kougarok Road.
Wildflowers in Nome
Rock Ptarmigan
Harlequin Duck
Aleutian Tern
We then moved inland, traveling through the amazingly scenic Alaska range and the Denali region. Here we found Smith’s Longspurs on territory, a cooperative (with quite a bit of searching) Northern Hawk Owl perched atop a roadside spruce tree and both Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers lurking in a recent burn.
An Alaska scene
Smith's Longspur
Northern Hawk Owl
Our final area for the main tour was Seward, where we found the beautiful Resurrection Bay under full sun, with flying Humpback Whales, many close Orca, and an amazing 10 species of alcids including more than a dozen Kittlitz’s Murrelets.
Resurrection Bay
Hump-backed Whale
In all we tallied about 166 species on the main tour, and 189 including the extensions to Saint Paul Island and Barrow. The variety and abundance of birdlife and wildlands on this tour is staggering, and make it arguably the most exhilarating birding and natural history tour available in North America if not the world.
Posted: July 29, 2019