FieldGuidesTourReport

AlaskaII-PartTwo(Nome,Seward&Barrow)2019

Jun13,2019toJun23,2019TomJohnson&CoryGregory

This male Willow Ptarmigan showed off his breeding display over the tundra in Nome. Photo by leader Tom Johnson.

For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.

We’re back from our annual adventure around Alaska, North America’s wilderness playground, and there’s plenty to report this spring - as always! Thebirding was truly superb, with a selected highlights list of Bristle-thighed Curlew, Bluethroat, White & Eastern Yellow wagtails, Aleutian Terns, ArcticLoon, Kittlitz’s Murrelet, Hudsonian Godwit, Spectacled and Steller’s eiders, Yellow-billed Loon, Sabine’s Gull, and Little Stint. Though these marqueespecies were certainly welcome, I think most of us were excited just to visit places where we could see shorebirds doing breeding things in breedingplumage! Mammals were also top notch, with gripping sightings of Killer Whales, Moose, and Harbor, Spotted, Ringed, and Bearded seals, too! Formore information on particular species, please read below the introduction for an annotated list of birds & mammals.

Fair skies and warm weather (really warm!) dominated our excellent visits to Nome, Seward, and Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow) this spring. Weencountered 80°F days in Nome, and the mercury even reached 70°F on our first afternoon in Utqiagvik – this is an almost unbelievable temperature inthis far northern place where temperatures usually hover in the 30s in mid-June. Despite the warmth, we managed to avoid any issues from hatches ofbiting insects, and the days were very, very pleasant. The thermometer was a sobering reminder that we are currently bearing witness to a rapidlychanging climate, with Alaska directly in the crucible.

First, we left Anchorage and flew to Nome for three nights. In Nome, we had plenty of time to bird on the three major roads out of town: the CouncilRoad leading to Safety Sound and beyond, the Kougarok Road leading to the mystical hilly land of the Bristle-thighed Curlew, and the Nome-TellerHighway leading to, well, Teller (but we didn’t go that far, opting to spend our time along the road's river valleys and rocky tundra habitats). We madethe most out of our time in Nome with early morning departures and optional after-dinner outings to the Nome River Mouth and Safety Sound (with napbreaks strategically sprinkled into the afternoons). Quite memorable to me were the surprise Arctic Loon that snuck up behind us on the ocean adjacentto Safety Sound, the very showy pairs of Eastern Yellow Wagtails on the Teller Highway, the masses of nesting Aleutian Terns at the Nome RiverMouth, displaying Bluethroats, the sneaky Bristle-thighed Curlew that we nearly tripped over, and the rare and surprising Kittlitz’s Murrelets that Corypicked out offshore from town on our glassy calm final morning. Nesting Gyrfalcons, Rough-legged Hawks, and Golden Eagles weren't too shabby,either! Nome is probably my favorite non-Cape May birding destination in North America, and I was pleased that it was in its full glory during thisspring’s visit.

On to Seward! We returned by air to Anchorage, picked up our vans, and drove south along Turnagain Arm and then through the mountains to reachbeautiful Seward. This town, nestled along the rugged, spruce-lined shore of Resurrection Bay, was our home for two nights. Our main motivation forvisiting Seward is the chartered boat trip that we take into Kenai Fjords National Park. Once again, Captain Tanya Shober took us around Cape Aialik tothe Chiswell Islands and eventually the Aialik Glacier, helping us find a special assortment of marine birds and mammals including 9 species of Alcid(highlight species: Kittlitz’s & Marbled murrelets, Parakeet Auklets, Rhinoceros Auklets, and Ancient Murrelets), Black Oystercatchers, Killer Whalesup close (REALLY close), Humpback Whales, Sea Otters, and plenty of Steller’s Sea Lions. Guest leader Andrew Dreelin from the Cornell Lab ofOrnithology joined us for our boat trip to help point out key species, and he also kept our eBird lists for the day (not a simple task on long boat trips!).On our return trip from Seward to Anchorage, we visited birdfeeders and birded along a transect through forest habitats, finding Red and White-wingedcrossbills, Pine Grosbeak, Rufous Hummingbird, American Dipper, Trumpeter Swan, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, and more.

The final stage of this tour requires a flight north from Anchorage over the vast interior of Alaska and the impressive Brooks Range, that enormousArctic mountain chain that cuts east-west across the northern part of The Great Land. This air journey allows us to visit the coast of Utqiagvik (formerlycalled Barrow), the northernmost city in the United States of America. Here the icy sea meets the tundra and the animals are largely different from thosefound in other parts of Alaska. The native Alaskan community hunts whales and seals, but birders come here primarily to seek Arctic-breeding

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shorebirds and waterfowl. We were shocked by the warm air temperature and the vast amount of open water along the shoreline here (more than I’veseen here before in early-mid June), but it became clear that the open water made for great seawatching. Setting up our scopes on the beach across fromthe Top of the World Hotel, we were able to see migrating and commuting Yellow-billed Loons, Brant, Long-tailed Ducks, Thick-billed Murres, and allfour species of eiders. This was just an aperitif for the action we enjoyed on the coastal tundra, where we took in up-close views of Spectacled, Steller’s,and King eiders, nesting Sabine’s Gulls, a territorial Little Stint, breeding Pomarine and Parasitic jaegers, and pure white Snowy Owls. The breedingdisplays and fights of the Pectoral Sandpipers and Red Phalaropes also punctuated this fascinating landscape. Seals were surprisingly easy to see fromshore this year in Utqiagvik, with both Ringed (many) and Bearded (just three of these big guys) seals on offer on the nearshore ice. Once we soaked inas much of the birdlife of Utqiagvik, we made sure to visit the Inupiat Heritage Center to learn about the human history and culture of the area. **Aquick note on the name of this place - In October 2016, the city of Barrow held a vote, with voters deciding to officially change the name of the city to"Utqiagvik," an Inupiat word meaning roughly "the place where we gathered wild roots." We choose to honor the official native name of this place, butdo note that many people, including many native residents, still call the place "Barrow." **

Returning to Anchorage after such a thrilling experience in the true Arctic was bittersweet, but there was more birding left to do! In Anchorage, wemade our final attempt at Potter Marsh to see the oft-hidden Falcated Duck that had performed so nicely for us on our Part 1 tour (no luck this time), andthen put a bow on the birding with a lovely group of Hudsonian Godwits in the scope at Westchester Lagoon. One final dinner at the Flying MachineRestaurant helped us toast our favorite birds and beasts, and then we parted ways for the trip home.

Cory and I would like to offer thanks to all of the members of our group for helping to make this a memorable experience! Karen Turner anchored thelogistics of our operation from the Austin office and deserves much applause for her efforts. We also thank Andrew Dreelin for his help on the Sewardboat trip.

Until next time!

Tom

KEYS FOR THIS LISTOne of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a =austral migrant, b = boreal migrant

BIRDSAnatidae(Ducks,Geese,andWaterfowl)GREATERWHITE-FRONTEDGOOSE (Anseralbifrons) –WesawafewinNome,buttheyweredownrightcommononthetundraaround

Utqiagvik.BRANT(BLACK) (Brantaberniclanigricans) –WesawafewflocksnearthecoastinNome,butmanymorewereinUtqiagvik.Therewefound

plentyonthetundrabutalsolargeflocksmigratingnortheastalongthecoast.CACKLINGGOOSE (Brantahutchinsii) –WefoundsomeofthelargebreedingbirdsinNome(usuallyreferredtoas"Taverner's"CacklingGoose),

butwealsosawaflockof13presumed"minima"CacklingGeese,rareinNomeandscarcelylargerthantheAmericanWigeontheywerestandingalongside.

CANADAGOOSE (Brantacanadensis) –Thepopulationofodd,medium-sizedwhite-cheekedgeeseintheAnchorageareahaslongbeentreatedas"parvipes"CanadaGoose(alsocalled"LesserCanadaGoose"),buttherearesomeissueswiththattreatment.Inanycase,wesawplentyofthese"AnchorageGeese." [N]

TRUMPETERSWAN (Cygnusbuccinator) –SeveralpairsofthesebigswansswamonmarshesandlakesintheAnchoragearea,andalsoalongourroutebetweenAnchorageandSeward.

TUNDRASWAN(WHISTLING) (Cygnuscolumbianuscolumbianus) –SomewereonthetundraatUtqiagvik,butwesawhundredsalongSafetySoundnearNome.

NORTHERNSHOVELER (Spatulaclypeata) –Commonandwidespread;seenonalmosteverydayofthetour.GADWALL (Marecastrepera) –FairlycommononmarshesandlakesintheAnchoragearea. [N]EURASIANWIGEON (Marecapenelope) –Twored-headedmaleswerewithalargeflockofAmericanWigeononSafetySoundnearNome.Wewere

abletoidentifyanotherindividualwithpalecheeksandmessysidesasahybridEurasianxAmericanWigeon.AMERICANWIGEON (Marecaamericana) –CommonaroundAnchorageandNome. [N]MALLARD (Anasplatyrhynchos) –QuitecommonintheAnchorage-Sewardcorridor;twowerealsoseenalongtheKougarokRoadnearNome. [N]NORTHERNPINTAIL (Anasacuta) –Theseelegantduckswerecommonatnearlyallfreshwaterwetlandswevisitedonthetour-inAnchorage,

Seward,Nome,andUtqiagvik.GREEN-WINGEDTEAL(AMERICAN) (Anascreccacarolinensis) –CommonaroundAnchorageandNome,andwealsosawoneinUtqiagvik.CANVASBACK (Aythyavalisineria) –Wefoundgroupsofupto15birds,agoodcount,atSafetySoundnearNome.RING-NECKEDDUCK (Aythyacollaris) –AfewindividualswereatPotterMarshinAnchorage.GREATERSCAUP (Aythyamarila) –Thisisthe"normal"scaupatNome,andwealsosawplentyinAnchorageincomparisonwithLesserScaup.

Theside-by-sidelooksofthetwospeciesatWestchesterLagoonwereparticularlyinstructive.LESSERSCAUP (Aythyaaffinis) –ThesesmallscauparefairlycommonaroundAnchorage,andwewerehappytocomparethemtoGreaterScaup

there.STELLER'SEIDER (Polystictastelleri) –Severalpairsofthesefine,smalleiderswereinfloodedtundraandpondsnearthecoastatUtqiagvik.Thisis

oneofourprimarydreambirdsontheNorthSlope,andasusual,wesawthemverywell.OneofmyfavoritemomentsfromalateeveningoutingatUtqiagvikwaswatchingapairofthesespecialduckssettlingintosleeponatundramoundasanincrediblythickfogblewinofftheoceanandobscuredourviewbeyondabout20feet!

SPECTACLEDEIDER (Somateriafischeri) –Thisismyfavoriteduck,andoneofmyfavoritebirdsperiod!Thoughtheyinitiallyplayedhardtoget,westartedoffoursecondmorningwithafewmalespaddlingaroundandthemclimbingontoachunkoffloatingicejustoffshorefromourhotelin

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Utqiagvik.Later,wesawmoreoftheseSpectacularEidersswimmingintheicenearPointBarrow,andthenhadawonderfulexperiencewithaclosemale-femalepairinatundrapond.

KINGEIDER (Somateriaspectabilis) –DozensweresprinkledinwithlargerflocksofCommonEidersmigratingnortheastalongthecoastatUtqiagvik,butourbestviewswereofunpairedmalesandpairsontundrapondsjustinlandfromthecoastatUtqiagvik.

COMMONEIDER(PACIFIC) (Somateriamollissimav-nigrum) –WesawplentyofthesedistinctiveCommonEiders(themaleshaveabrightorangebill)atNome,andthensawhundredsmoreastheymigratedpastusalongthecoastatUtqiagvik.

HARLEQUINDUCK (Histrionicushistrionicus) –Thesebeautifulducksofrockycoastlinesandfast-flowingriverswereatseveralplacesaroundNome.WeevenpacedafewwithourvansastheyflewuptheNomeRiver,clockingtheducksataround37mphshortlyaftertakeoff.

SURFSCOTER (Melanittaperspicillata) –Severaldozen(primarilymales)non-breederswereinflocksontheseaatKenaiFjords.WHITE-WINGEDSCOTER(NORTHAMERICAN) (Melanittadeglandideglandi) –TheflockswesawinNometotaledover30individuals,and

wesaw4moreflybyinUtqiagvik.White-wingedScoterhasnowbeensplitbytheAOSNACC;thoughwestudiedthebirdsinNomecarefully,wecouldn'tpickoutthe"new"Stejneger'sScoterfromAsiathistime-allofourcriticallyidentifiedbirdswereAmericandeglandi"White-wingedScoters."

BLACKSCOTER (Melanittaamericana) –SmallnumbersweresprinkledaroundtheNomearea.LONG-TAILEDDUCK (Clangulahyemalis) –WefoundahandfulinNome,andthentheywerequitecommonatUtqiagvik.Wesawseveralbig

flocksmigratingpast,andalsofoundthemrestingonfloatingchunksoficejustoffshore.BARROW'SGOLDENEYE (Bucephalaislandica) –AnobligingfemalegaveussomegreatviewsatourlunchspotbetweenAnchorageandSeward.

AsisfrequentlythecaseinAlaskainJune,thisfemalehadablackishbill,invitingconfusionwithCommonGoldeneyeanddefyingmostfieldguideillustrations.

COMMONMERGANSER (Mergusmerganser) –Twicewefoundfemalestowinglargegroupsofverycutechicks-oneattheBearLakeweirnearSewardhad6chicks,andanotheratSummitLakehad20(!). [N]

RED-BREASTEDMERGANSER (Mergusserrator) –VerycommonatNome;wealsosawaflockof4flypastatUtqiagvik.

Phasianidae(Pheasants,Grouse,andAllies)WILLOWPTARMIGAN (Lagopuslagopus) –Wefoundatleast6birdsontheKougarokRoadandTellerHighwayatNome,mostlymalesthatwere

campedoutalongthesideoftheroad.

Podicipedidae(Grebes)RED-NECKEDGREBE (Podicepsgrisegena) –CommonintheAnchoragearea,withafewatNomeandoneoffshoreatUtqiagvik(myfirsthere).

Columbidae(PigeonsandDoves)ROCKPIGEON (Columbalivia) –PlentyaroundAnchorage. [I]

Trochilidae(Hummingbirds)RUFOUSHUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorusrufus) –AtleasttwobirdsvisitedAva'sfeedersoutsideofSeward.

Gruidae(Cranes)SANDHILLCRANE (Antigonecanadensis) –CommonaroundAnchorageandNome.Thisisthesmallnortherlysubspeciescanadensis.

Haematopodidae(Oystercatchers)BLACKOYSTERCATCHER (Haematopusbachmani) –Severalsightingsofupto6noisy,whistlingbirdsalongtherockyshoresofKenaiFjordsNP.

Charadriidae(PloversandLapwings)AMERICANGOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialisdominica) –Close,lovelyviewsofbreedingbirdsonthetundraatNomeandUtqiagvik. [N]PACIFICGOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialisfulva) –Thesewhite-flankedbeautieswiththelonglegswerefairlycommonalongcoastaltundraatNome.SEMIPALMATEDPLOVER (Charadriussemipalmatus) –TheseweretheringedploversthatwefoundcommonlyatNome,andalsoinsmaller

numbersatUtqiagvik. [N]KILLDEER (Charadriusvociferus) –Quiteararitythisfarnorth,onemadeasurprisingflybyattheNomeRiverMouthoneevening.

Scolopacidae(SandpipersandAllies)BRISTLE-THIGHEDCURLEW (Numeniustahitiensis) –Thisonewasspecial!Thisspecieswasnamed(tahitiensis)foritsSouthPacificwintering

grounds,butonthistour,weseekitinitsrelativelysmallbreedingrangeinwesternAlaska.Wehikedupatussocktundra-coveredhilloutsideofNomeandeventuallyfoundoneadultwanderingaroundquietly,flankedbyanoisypairofWhimbrel.Thesquashedheadshape,well-spangledupperparts,buffyrump,andeventheflaredlegfeatherswereallondisplayatvariouspoints. [N]

WHIMBREL(HUDSONIAN) (Numeniusphaeopushudsonicus) –WefoundthesewidespreadcurlewsonbreedingterritoriesalongtheKougarokRoadoutsideofNome. [N]

BAR-TAILEDGODWIT (Limosalapponica) –ApairfedattheNomeRiverMouthonmostofourvisits,andwealsofoundafewmorebirdsfeedingontundraalongtheTellerHighway.ThisraceofBar-tailedGodwitmigratesacrossthePacificOceantowinterinAustraliaandNewZealand.

HUDSONIANGODWIT (Limosahaemastica) –FouradultbirdsrestedontheislandinWestchesterLagoonduringourvisitthereonourfinalafternoonofbirding.Infact,thiswasthefinalnewspeciesadditiontoourbirdlist.ThesefineshorebirdsnestacrossCookInletfromAnchorage.

BLACKTURNSTONE (Arenariamelanocephala) –OneofthesepiedshorebirdsstrolledalongthebeachfrontattheNomeRiverMouth.SURFBIRD (Calidrisvirgata) –Awesome!FourbreedingplumagedindividualsfedalongtheoceanbeachnearSafetySound.Theseshorebirdsare

typicallyconfiding,andindeed,wewatchedthemfromjustabout15feetaway.DUNLIN (Calidrisalpina) –Afewoftheseblack-belliedsandpiperswereinNome,butwesawplentymoreinUtqiagvik. [N]BAIRD'SSANDPIPER (Calidrisbairdii) –Wefoundoneoftheselong-wingedsandpipersonafewoccasionsinapondinUtqiagvik.LITTLESTINT (Calidrisminuta) –Yowza!ThisbrightorangemaleaccompaniedseveralSemipalmatedSandpipersinapondatUtqiagvik.Afterour

tour,welearnedthatapairofLittleStints(surelyinvolvingthemalewefound)hadnestedontundranearby.Thoughthenestdidnotfledgeyoung,thiswasaveryrarenestingattemptinNorthAmericaforthisEurasianspecies. [N]

LEASTSANDPIPER (Calidrisminutilla) –AtleastoneflewaroundandcalledatPotterMarshonourfinalafternoonofbirding.PECTORALSANDPIPER (Calidrismelanotos) –Mostbirdersthinkofthissandpiperasrelativelydrabandunexciting;however,weknowthetruth!

Morethanmerelya"giantLeastSandpiper,"thisspeciesengagesinfascinatingbreedingbehavioronthetundraatUtqiagvik.Wesawthemales

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displaying,hootingwhilefloatinginslowflightlowoverthegroundwiththeirairsacsdistended.Prettywild! [N]SEMIPALMATEDSANDPIPER (Calidrispusilla) –ThissmallpeepisacommonbreederatNomeandinUtqiagvik.Wesawmanyofthemdoing

theiraerialwind-uptoydisplayandevenfoundanestneartheroadsideinUtqiagvik. [N]WESTERNSANDPIPER (Calidrismauri) –FairlycommonaroundNome,withcountsofupto40birdsattheNomeRiverMouth.Wealsosawone

withtheLittleStintinUtqiagvik.SHORT-BILLEDDOWITCHER (Limnodromusgriseus) –AfewbreedingindividualsflewaroundPotterMarshwhilewesoughttheinvisible

FalcatedDuck. [N]LONG-BILLEDDOWITCHER (Limnodromusscolopaceus) –Thesebrightorange,dark-backeddowitchersfedattheroadsidesanddisplayed

overheadatUtqiagvik.WILSON'SSNIPE (Gallinagodelicata) –BreedersshowedoffbestatNome,wherewefoundthemperchedontrees,roadsidewires,andeven

rooftops!RED-NECKEDPHALAROPE (Phalaropuslobatus) –TheselovelyshorebirdswerecommonintundrapondsatNomeandUtqiagvik. [N]REDPHALAROPE (Phalaropusfulicarius) –Wow!Doyourememberthatinteractionbetweenthecompetingfemalesandthesingle,bewilderedmale

atUtqiagvik?Seeingthisspectacularshorebirdengagedinactivebreedingchaseswasextraspecial. [N]SPOTTEDSANDPIPER (Actitismacularius) –Wefoundthesewell-spottedtail-bobbersalongtheedgeofafewriversatNome.WANDERINGTATTLER (Tringaincana) –WestudiedtwoindividualsatlengthalongtheCouncilRoadoutofNome(andoneratherwhite-bellied

individualprovidedaninstructiveIDchallenge!).AnotheraccompaniedusatdinnerinSewardoneevening.Theotherrestaurantpatronsmusthavebeenabitconfused.

GREATERYELLOWLEGS (Tringamelanoleuca) –JusttwowereincomparisonwithaLesserYellowlegsatWestchesterLagoon-wecouldeasilyseethelonger,slightlyupsweptbillsandwell-barredflanksoftheGreaters.

LESSERYELLOWLEGS (Tringaflavipes) –ThesecompactTringasandpiperswereatWestchesterLagoonandPotterMarshinAnchorage.

Stercorariidae(SkuasandJaegers)POMARINEJAEGER (Stercorariuspomarinus) –Thesebig,spoon-tailedjaegerswerereasonablycommononthetundraatUtqiagvikthisspring;we

sawseveralnests,includingonetendedbyamixedlight/darkmorphpair. [N]PARASITICJAEGER (Stercorariusparasiticus) –Thesefalconesque,mid-sizedjaegerspatrolledthetundraandcoastlinesatNomeandUtqiagvik.A

couplemadeverycloseflybyswhenwewerescanningfromthegravelattheNomeRiverMouth. [N]LONG-TAILEDJAEGER (Stercorariuslongicaudus) –Wefoundthesesmalljaegerstobepleasantlycommonatseveralsiteswevisitedaround

Nome(perhapsnotsopleasantifyou'reavoleorlemming). [N]

Alcidae(Auks,Murres,andPuffins)COMMONMURRE (Uriaaalge) –ThesealcidswerecommonintheKenaiFjords,withhundredsdottingthesea.Wealsophotographedoneflying

pasttheseafrontinUtqiagvik. [N]THICK-BILLEDMURRE (Urialomvia) –WefoundsmallflocksofthesestockyalcidspassingregularlyalongthecoastinUtqiagvik.BLACKGUILLEMOT (Cepphusgrylle) –OnepaddledaroundintheharboratNome(whereuncommon),andthenwesawplentymoreatUtqiagvik.

TheopenwaterclosetoshoreatUtqiagvikmadeitmucheasierthannormaltofindthisspeciesthisspring.Itwaspeculiartoseeonecourtingpairrunningaroundonthebeach(inbetweenspirited,loopingchaseflights).

PIGEONGUILLEMOT (Cepphuscolumba) –ThiswastheguillemotthatwesawcommonlyinnearshorewatersatSewardandtheKenaiFjords.MARBLEDMURRELET (Brachyramphusmarmoratus) –Manydozensofthesesmall,darkalcidsdottedthewatersofKenaiFjords,usuallyin

groupsof2.ItwasexcitingtoseeoneinasmallflockofKittlitz'sMurreletsandsee(indirectcomparison)thattheMarbledwasmoreuniformlydarkwithalongerbill.

KITTLITZ'SMURRELET (Brachyramphusbrevirostris) –ThissinglespeciesoffersusanexcellentexcusetotakeourcharteredboattripintotheKenaiFjordsNationalPark.InsouthernAlaska,thespeciesreliesonprotectedwaterneartidewaterglaciersforfeeding,andnestsingravel-strewnareashighonadjacentmountains.Wewerepleasedtofind16oftheserareandhighlyspecializedalcidsinAialikBay.ItwasexcitingtoseethemupcloseatKenaiFjordsfollowingtheexcitingbutverydistantdiscoveryof~9birdsoffshorefromtheNomeRiverMouthonadaywithverycalmwater.

ANCIENTMURRELET (Synthliboramphusantiquus) –Sixofthesebeautifulgray,white,andblackseabirdswerepaddlingaroundinasurprisingpatchofinshore,protectedwateratKenaiFjordsNP.Tanyaturnedtheboataroundandweenjoyedsomesplendidviewsbeforethemurreletsjumpedupandbuzzedoffintothedistance.

PARAKEETAUKLET (Aethiapsittacula) –About25individualswereinasinglecoveat"Cecil'sPlace"intheChiswellIslands,atraditionalbreedingsiteforthisspeciesnearthesoutheasternextentofitsbreedingrange. [N]

RHINOCEROSAUKLET (Cerorhincamonocerata) –Wespottedover230ofthesesturdy,compactalcidsinbigflocksnearthemouthofAialikBay.Someofthemletusgetcloseenoughtoseetheirtinyrhinohorns.

HORNEDPUFFIN (Fraterculacorniculata) –HundredssurroundedusduringourboattripattheKenaiFjords. [N]TUFTEDPUFFIN (Fraterculacirrhata) –Thesebig,blackpuffinsshowedofftheirfancyblondeponytailsaroundtheChiswellIslandsduringourboat

trip. [N]

Laridae(Gulls,Terns,andSkimmers)BLACK-LEGGEDKITTIWAKE (Rissatridactyla) –VerycommonaroundtheKenaiFjordsarea;wealsosawsmallernumbersatNomeand

Utqiagvik. [N]SABINE'SGULL (Xemasabini) –TwopairsofthesegorgeousgullswerenestingatUtqiagvik,andweenjoyedseeinganon-incubatingadultchasea

RedPhalaropeawayfromthenestonmultipleoccasions. [N]BONAPARTE'SGULL (Chroicocephalusphiladelphia) –About20wereontheCookInletmudflatsasseenfromtheWestchesterLagoonarea.MEWGULL(AMERICAN) (Laruscanusbrachyrhynchus) –VerycommonaroundtheAnchoragearea;wesawsmallnumbersatNomeandin

Seward.Sometimescalled"Short-billedGull." [N]HERRINGGULL (Larusargentatus) –JustafewsightingsofrattyimmaturebirdsintheNomearea-itisunclearifthesewereAmericanorAsian

(Vega)inorigin.

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SLATY-BACKEDGULL (Larusschistisagus) –AnimmaturebirdgaveusfleetinglooksasitflewfromtheNomedumptotheNomeRiverMouth;however,thelovelyadultthatRichardspottedintheNomeHarborwasverycooperative,perchingatopashipwithoutacareuntilwehadourfillanddroveaway!

GLAUCOUS-WINGEDGULL (Larusglaucescens) –ThisisthecommonlargegullintheSewardandKenaiFjordsarea.InAnchorage,hybridsbetweenGlaucous-wingedGullandHerringGullareverycommon,andwesawthemrepeatedly. [N]

GLAUCOUSGULL (Larushyperboreus) –ThisisthecommonlargegullofNomeandUtqiagvik.Theycanberecognizedbytheirpurewhitewingtips. [N]

ALEUTIANTERN (Onychoprionaleuticus) –ThiswesternAlaskaspecialtywasparticularlycommonaroundNomethisyear.Wesawhundreds,withthebiggestnumbersaroundtheNomeRiverMouth.Everytimewewenttotherivermouth,thechirpingcallsofthesebeautifulternsfilledtheair,andwehadsomeamazinglycloseviews.AleutianTernsshowalowdegreeofnestsidefidelityfromyeartoyear,sopopulationsandcolonylocationsfluctuatewildlyaroundNome. [N]

ARCTICTERN (Sternaparadisaea) –ThischampionmigrantisquitecommonaroundAnchorage,Seward,andNome,andwealsosawafewatUtqiagvik.Theywereprettyfaralongintheirnestingseason,andwesawquiteafewchicks,includingonecampedoutontopofaroad-killedweaselinAnchorage(!).[N]

Gaviidae(Loons)RED-THROATEDLOON (Gaviastellata) –ThesesmallloonsareverycommonaroundNome. [N]ARCTICLOON (Gaviaarctica) –Yipyip!ThisspeciesisusuallydifficulttofindinNome,sowereallyluckedintothebreedingplumagedadultthat

wasswimmingalongthebeachatSafetySound.Wenotedthebulkierbill,darkernape,whitelegpatch,andmoredistinctwhiteneckstripesthathelptoseparatethisspeciesfromPacificLoon-afterviewslikethis,it'shardtobelievethatthesetwousedtobelumpedtogetherasonespecies.

PACIFICLOON (Gaviapacifica) –Afewsightingsofupto8individualsatNome;laterwesawlotsatUtqiagvik. [N]COMMONLOON (Gaviaimmer) –WesawadultsscatteredaroundonlakesatAnchorage,Seward,andoffshoreatNome.YELLOW-BILLEDLOON (Gaviaadamsii) –Wetallied6breedingplumagedadultsinUtqiagvikonthisvisit.Thoughwedideventuallysee2onthe

waterthroughthescope,thebestsightingwasofthecloseflybyadultthatCoryspottedasitwasinboundfromthedistance.Heidentifiedthebird,shoutedsothatwewereallalertandlookingintherightdirection,andthengaveuspointersonwhatfieldmarkstolookforasthisbiggestoftheloonswhizzedpastusingreatlightingconditions-textbook!IthinkamutualsalutepassedbetweenCoryandtheloonduringtheflyby.

Procellariidae(ShearwatersandPetrels)SHORT-TAILEDSHEARWATER (Ardennatenuirostris) –TheindividualthatwesawwheelingaroundattheNomeRiverMouthputonashowand

letusseetheshortbill,crookedwings,andsubtle,diffusepaleunderwingpatternthathelpstodistinguishthisspeciesfromSootyShearwater(geographywasalsohelpfulinmakingthisdistinction!).

Phalacrocoracidae(CormorantsandShags)RED-FACEDCORMORANT (Phalacrocoraxurile) –Wehadafewquick,distantflybysduringourboattripintheKenaiFjordsNP,buttheyweren't

campedoutatknownbreedingsitesthatwevisited.PELAGICCORMORANT (Phalacrocoraxpelagicus) –CommonatbreedingsitesatKenaiFjordsNP,andwesawatleastonemoreatNome. [N]DOUBLE-CRESTEDCORMORANT (Phalacrocoraxauritus) –CommonaroundSeward.

Accipitridae(Hawks,Eagles,andKites)GOLDENEAGLE (Aquilachrysaetos) –AfewofthesehugebirdsshowedoffinflightalongtheKougarokRoadinNome,andwewerefortunateto

seeanadultvisitinganestwithchicksatopatoweringcliff,too. [N]NORTHERNHARRIER (Circushudsonius) –JustafewsightingsintheNomeareaduringthistour.BALDEAGLE (Haliaeetusleucocephalus) –WefoundafewaroundAnchorage,butsawplentybetweenSewardandKenaiFjordsNP.RED-TAILEDHAWK(HARLAN'S) (Buteojamaicensisharlani) –ScatteredsightingsintheAnchorage-Sewardarea.Thisisthenormalbreeding

subspeciesofRed-tailedHawkinAlaska'sborealforestregion.ROUGH-LEGGEDHAWK (Buteolagopus) –WefoundafewintheNomearea,includingapairsittingonasticknestnearsomenestingGyrfalcons!

Allwerelightmorphindividuals,normalforthisarea.

Strigidae(Owls)SNOWYOWL (Buboscandiacus) –Atleast5individualsmonitoredusaswebirdedthetundranearUtqiagvik.Itwasparticularlynicetostudysome

oftheverywhite,lightlymarkedadultmalesthatrarelymigratefarenoughtomakeitdownintosouthernCanadaandtheLower48US.SHORT-EAREDOWL (Asioflammeus) –TwosightingsintheNomearea-oneontheKougarokRoadandoneontheTellerHighway.

Alcedinidae(Kingfishers)BELTEDKINGFISHER (Megacerylealcyon) –WefoundseveralofthesefamiliarbirdsbetweenAnchorageandSeward.

Picidae(Woodpeckers)DOWNYWOODPECKER (Dryobatespubescens) –AfamilywasinthevicinityofAva'sfeedersnearSeward.HAIRYWOODPECKER (Dryobatesvillosus) –Wewerefortunatetocomparethesemid-sizedwoodpeckerswiththesmallerDownyWoodpeckersat

feedersinSeward.

Falconidae(FalconsandCaracaras)GYRFALCON (Falcorusticolus) –Awesome!WewatchedtwoactivenestsintheNomearea.Onenesthadthreefuzzychicksinit,andtheothernest

wasunseenbutwasdefendedbyanimpressiveandvocalgraymorphadultthatcircledoverhead.PEREGRINEFALCON (Falcoperegrinus) –OnewasescortedoffthetundrabyafewjaegersaswewatchedfromtheNunavakRoadatUtqiagvik.

Tyrannidae(TyrantFlycatchers)ALDERFLYCATCHER (Empidonaxalnorum) –WeheardonealongtheKougarokRoadoutofNome,buttheonethatteedupinfrontofusandsang

atWestchesterLagooninAnchoragewasmuchnicer!

Laniidae(Shrikes)

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NORTHERNSHRIKE (Laniusborealis) –WesawatleastthreebirdsintheNomearea-oneneartheharborandtwoalongthebeginningoftheTellerHighway.

Corvidae(Crows,Jays,andMagpies)STELLER'SJAY (Cyanocittastelleri) –Twooftheselarge,blackandbluejaysarrivedtofeedatAva'splaceontheoutskirtsofSeward.BLACK-BILLEDMAGPIE (Picahudsonia) –CommonintheAnchoragearea.NORTHWESTERNCROW (Corvuscaurinus) –WesawthesesmallcrowsatGirdwood,inSeward,andintheKenaiFjords.Don'tgettooexcited

though-this"species"isalmostcertaintobelumpedwithAmericanCrowinthenearfuture.COMMONRAVEN (Corvuscorax) –Commonandwidespread.

Alaudidae(Larks)HORNEDLARK (Eremophilaalpestris) –OnesangnicelyandofferedscopeviewsonarockyridgealongtheTellerHighway.

Hirundinidae(Swallows)TREESWALLOW (Tachycinetabicolor) –ThesewidespreadswallowswereeasilyseeninNome,Anchorage,andSeward.VIOLET-GREENSWALLOW (Tachycinetathalassina) –WefoundthesebeautifulswallowsintheAnchorage-Sewardcorridor.Bestviewswereover

PotterMarsh.BANKSWALLOW (Ripariariparia) –AfewoftheselongdistancemigrantsswirledaroundoverheadonvariousoccasionsinNome(wherethey

breed).BARNSWALLOW (Hirundorustica) –Anorange-belliedAmericanbirdflewpastusattheNomeRiverMouth,andawhitish-belliedEurasianbird

flewpastusontheGaswellRoadinUtqiagvik.OvershootsfrombothsidesofthePacificarerarebutregularhere.CLIFFSWALLOW (Petrochelidonpyrrhonota) –WesawmanyoftheselovelyswallowsalongriversnearNome,wheretheynestunderbridges.

Paridae(Tits,Chickadees,andTitmice)BLACK-CAPPEDCHICKADEE (Poecileatricapillus) –ThesewidespreadchickadeeswereattendingAva'sfeedersinSeward.

Sittidae(Nuthatches)RED-BREASTEDNUTHATCH (Sittacanadensis) –Theseconifer-lovingnuthatcheswereatBearLakeandtheGraniteCreekCampgroundbetween

SewardandTurnagainArm.

Troglodytidae(Wrens)PACIFICWREN (Troglodytespacificus) –OnesangenthusiasticallyandshowedverynicelyindenseforestinSeward.

Cinclidae(Dippers)AMERICANDIPPER (Cinclusmexicanus) –ThreeweredippingandpreeningattheBearLakesalmonweirnearSeward.

Regulidae(Kinglets)GOLDEN-CROWNEDKINGLET (Regulussatrapa) –WefoundthesetinysongbirdsinforestontheoutskirtsofSeward.RUBY-CROWNEDKINGLET (Reguluscalendula) –FairlycommonintheSewardarea.

Phylloscopidae(LeafWarblers)ARCTICWARBLER (Phylloscopusborealis) –OurtouristimednicelytoaccommodatethelatespringarrivalofArcticWarblersfromtheirOld

Worldwinteringgrounds.Theyweredefinitely"in"duringourtimeinNome,andweheardandsawthemregularly.Thefirstwasparticularlynice-ithoppedupontopofawillowjustacrosstheroadfromourfirstdisplayingBluethroat!

Muscicapidae(OldWorldFlycatchers)BLUETHROAT (Lusciniasvecica) –ThesewonderfullittleOldWorldflycatchersarethoughttoberelativelyrecentcolonistsofwesternAlaska.We

hadnotroubleatallfindingafewbeautifulmalesintherivervalleysoutsideofNome,andmanagedexcellentviewsofperchedandflight-displayingbirds.Themimicryintheirsongsistrulyremarkable-weheardsnippetsofArcticWarbler,Gray-cheekedThrush,andothersongbirdscomingfromBluethroats.

NORTHERNWHEATEAR (Oenantheoenanthe) –AfewpairsofthesespecialtyMuscicapidswereworkingarock-strewnslopealongtheTellerHighwayoutofNome.

Turdidae(ThrushesandAllies)VARIEDTHRUSH (Ixoreusnaevius) –GraniteCreekCampgroundwaslitteredwiththesebeauties.Wealsohadacloseviewofoneontheramp

leadinguptoAva'sfeeders.GRAY-CHEEKEDTHRUSH (Catharusminimus) –TheNomeareaisfullofGray-cheekedThrushes!Theyarequitecommon,audiblefromevery

well-vegetatedareaawayfromtheimmediatecoast,andeventaketoperchingonrooftopsandutilitywireshere!SWAINSON'STHRUSH (Catharusustulatus) –Afewfolksheardandspottedthisbuff-spectacledthrushintheSewardarea.HERMITTHRUSH (Catharusguttatus) –ThisremarkablesongsterisverycommonintheSewardarea.AMERICANROBIN (Turdusmigratorius) –PlentyinNome,Anchorage,andSeward.

Sturnidae(Starlings)EUROPEANSTARLING (Sturnusvulgaris) –OnlyinAnchorage. [I]

Motacillidae(WagtailsandPipits)EASTERNYELLOWWAGTAIL (Motacillatschutschensis) –WehitthewagtailjackpotalongtheTellerHighwaythisyear.Afterseeingsome

initiallyskittishbirds,wefoundseveralpairsthatwereclearlydefendingriversidenestingterritories.Excellentviewsofthesenoisyflyingbananas.WHITEWAGTAIL (Motacillaalba) –AttheNomeHarbor,onebirdflewoveruscalling;ashortwhilelater,werefounditalongtherockyshoreline

oftheinletandwatcheditbobbingaroundattheedgeofthewater.ThisspecieshasbeenscarceinNomeinrecentyears,sowewerefortunatetoseethisindividual.

AMERICANPIPIT (Anthusrubescens) –Theserock-lovingsongbirdswereonadryridgeinthesamehabitatasHornedLarkandSnowBuntingsalongtheTellerHighway.

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Fringillidae(Finches,Euphonias,andAllies)PINEGROSBEAK (Pinicolaenucleator) –Anincrediblyconfidingmale-femalepairfedondandelionsalongtheroadsideinacampgroundbetween

AnchorageandSeward.Theyweresoclose,Ithinkwecouldhavescoopedthemupinourhands.COMMONREDPOLL (Acanthisflammea) –FairlycommonintheAnchorage-Sewardcorridor,andwesawplentymorearoundNomeaswell(where

theycomeintocontactwithHoaryRedpolls).RecentevidenceshowslittleinthewayofgeneticdifferencesbetweenCommonandHoaryredpolls.HOARYREDPOLL (Acanthishornemanni) –ThesefrostedredpollswerefairlycommoninareaswithshortvegetationinNome(especiallyalongthe

TellerHighway)andalsoatUtqiagvik,wherewewatchedthemattendingfeederswithSnowBuntings.REDCROSSBILL (Loxiacurvirostra) –Amale&femalegivingType3flightcallscameintovisitthefeedersatAva'splaceinSeward.Numbersof

thesenomadicfinchesherevaryfromyeartoyear.WHITE-WINGEDCROSSBILL (Loxialeucoptera) –WeheardandsawflyoverindividualsnearBearLake,thenfoundavocalpairinsprucesjusta

fewmilesfartherupslopetowardMoosePass.PINESISKIN (Spinuspinus) –Thesesmall,streakyfincheswerequitecommonintheSewardarea.

Calcariidae(LongspursandSnowBuntings)LAPLANDLONGSPUR (Calcariuslapponicus) –Thewiry,melodicsongsofthesesongbirdsfilledtheairofNomeandUtqiagvik.Weoftenfound

malesparachutingdowntoearthastheysang,orsawfemalescarryingbillfulsofinsectstounseenchicks.SNOWBUNTING (Plectrophenaxnivalis) –Afewwereinhigh,rockyhabitatalongtheTellerHighwaynearNome,buttheyweredownrightcommon

inUtqiagvik.

Passerellidae(NewWorldSparrows)AMERICANTREESPARROW (Spizelloidesarborea) –Weencounteredsmallnumbersofthesehandsome,rust-cappedsparrowsalongriparian

corridorsallaroundNome.FOXSPARROW(SOOTY) (Passerellailiacasinuosa) –Afewofthesechunky,dark-plumagedFoxSparrowswereintheSewardarea(includingat

Ava'sfeeders).FOXSPARROW(RED) (Passerellailiacazaboria) –Thesezaboria"Red"FoxSparrowsweretheonesthatwesawcommonlyinriparianareasaround

Nome.Theyshowmoregrayintheirplumagethan"Red"FoxSparrowsfoundfarthereast,butareobviouslypalerandmorecolorfulthanthedark"Sooty"FoxSparrowsthatwefoundatSeward.

DARK-EYEDJUNCO(SLATE-COLORED) (Juncohyemalishyemalis) –TheseattractivesparrowswereseenafewtimesintheAnchorage-Sewardcorridor.

WHITE-CROWNEDSPARROW(GAMBEL'S) (Zonotrichialeucophrysgambelii) –ThisisthewidespreadWhite-crownedSparrowsubspeciesthatwefoundbreedinginmanylocationsduringourtour.

GOLDEN-CROWNEDSPARROW (Zonotrichiaatricapilla) –Theselovely,mournful-soundingsparrowswerefairlycommonalongtheKougarokRoadandTellerHighwayintheNomearea.

SAVANNAHSPARROW (Passerculussandwichensis) –VerycommoninopenhabitatsintheNomearea;lesscommonaroundAnchorageandUtqiagvik.

SONGSPARROW (Melospizamelodia) –Afewmembersofthestocky,darkcoastalsubspecieskenaiensiswerearoundSeward,includingatAva'sfeeders.

Icteridae(TroupialsandAllies)RUSTYBLACKBIRD (Euphaguscarolinus) –Ourbestsightingwasofthevocalpairthatpoppedupalongasectionofwetwillowsalongthe

KougarokRoadnearNome.

Parulidae(NewWorldWarblers)NORTHERNWATERTHRUSH (Parkesianoveboracensis) –WescopedafewsingingindividualsontheoutskirtsofNome.Someevensatonutility

wires!ORANGE-CROWNEDWARBLER (Oreothlypiscelata) –Theseplain-patternedwarblerswerefairlycommonaroundNome,Anchorage,and

Seward.YELLOWWARBLER (Setophagapetechia) –Thiswidespread,sweet-voicedwarblerwasmostcommonintherivercorridorsaroundNome.BLACKPOLLWARBLER (Setophagastriata) –Smallnumberssangtheirveryhigh-pitchedsongsalongrivercorridorsintheNomearea.YELLOW-RUMPEDWARBLER(MYRTLE) (Setophagacoronatacoronata) –Wefoundthesewidespreadmigrantwarblerstobefairlycommonin

theareabetweenAnchorageandSeward.TOWNSEND'SWARBLER (Setophagatownsendi) –Thiswasthemoststrikingwarblerwefoundonthetour(color-wiseatleast)-theywereinthe

massiveSitkasprucesoftheSewardarea.WILSON'SWARBLER (Cardellinapusilla) –Theseblack-cappedwarblerswerecommoninriparianareasinNomeandSeward.

MAMMALSARCTICGROUNDSQUIRREL (Spermophilusparryii) –ThesesquirrelswerealongtheroadsidesonseveraloccasionsaroundNome.REDSQUIRREL (Tamiasciurushudsonicus) –ThiswasthesquirrelwefoundonseveraloccasionsintheconiferforestsoftheSewardarea.MUSKRAT (Ondatrazibethica) –OneofthesediligentmammalsswamacrossPotterMarshinAnchorage.NEARCTICBROWNLEMMING (Lemmustrimucronatus) –AcoupleoftheserolypolyrodentsscootedaroundthetundraatUtqiagvik(likely

providingfuturefoodforSnowyOwlsandPomarineJaegers).KILLERWHALE (Orcinusorca) –WOW!Weonlyseethesemassive,charismaticmarinemammalsonabouthalfofourtripsintheKenaiFjords.

Thisyear'sboattripwasabsolutelyspectacular,withmultiplefamilygroupsfeedingandinteractingaroundtheChiswellIslandsinarichareaoflifethatwasalsofullofseabirdsandHumpbackWhales.

HARBORPORPOISE (Phocoenaphocoena) –Atleastonewasseen,well,porpoising(!)throughthecalmwatersoffshorefromtheNomeRiverMouth.

HUMPBACKWHALE (Megapteranovaeangliae) –SeveralindividualsfedandsurfacedrepeatedlyintheareaoftheChiswellIslandsduringourKenaiFjordsboattrip.Theseshowywhalesareidentifiablebytheirknobbedbacks,verylong"wings,"anddistinctiveblack-and-whiteflukes.

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REDFOX (Vulpesvulpes) –OneindividualwasalongtheKougarokRoadoutofNome.COYOTE (Canislatrans) –TheonestandingintheroadrunningthroughGraniteCreekCampgroundnearMoosePasswasarealsurprise(andthefirst

onethatI'veseenonourAlaskatours)tous.Ithinktheanimalwasalsosurprisedtoseebirdinggroupslookingatitfrombothdirectionsalongtheroad!

SEAOTTER (Enhydralutris) –ThesedenselyfurredmammalswererollingaroundandfeedinginthecoldwaternearSewardandintheKenaiFjordsNP.

STELLER'SSEALION (Eumetopiasjubatus) –Theselarge,tan-coloredsealionswerehauledoutonrockyislandsincoastalareasoftheKenaiFjordsNP.

HARBORSEAL (Phocavitulina) –These"trueseals"wereseeningreatnumbersneartheAialikGlacierinKenaiFjordsNP.Weevengottohearonebarkingandyowlingfromthewaterasweadmiredthecalvingglacier.

SPOTTEDSEAL (Phocalargha) –OneindividualwashauledoutalongtheedgeoftheNomeharbor.ThisspecieslooksverysimilartoHarborSeal.RINGEDSEAL (Phocahispida) –ThesewerethesmallsealsthatwesawcommonlyontheiceoffthecoastofUtqiagvik(mostlyatthebaseofPoint

Barrow).Fortunately,wecouldseethepalecircles(thenamesake"rings")markingthedarkpelage.ThisspeciesisoneoftheprimarysourcesoffoodforPolarBears.

BEARDEDSEAL (Erignathusbarbatus) –Wesawthreeoftheselarge,plain-patternedsealswithrelativelysmallheadsandlongbodiesontheicenearthebaseofPointBarrow.ThesesealsaretypicallyfoundfartheroffshorethanRingedSeals,andarethefavoredsealforhuntingbytheInupiatpopulationinUtqiagvik.

MOOSE (Alcesalces) –AfewofthesemassivedeerwerealongriversinNome,andwesawafewmoreduringourdrivesbetweenAnchorageandSeward.

CARIBOU (Rangifertarandusgranti) –Alargeherdof~150animalscrossedtheKougarokRoadinfrontofusinthevicinityofSalmonLake.MUSKOX (Ovibosmoschatus) –ThesefascinatingmammalsweretendingbabiesinlargenurserygroupsalongtheKougarokRoadandtheTeller

HighwayoutsideofNome.Wesawasmallgroupgallopdownasteephilljustsotheycouldwallowinapatchofshaded,unmeltedsnowonawarmNomeday.

DALL'SSHEEP (Ovisdalli) –Afewgroupsofthesesure-footed,whitesheepseemedliketheyweregluedtotherocksabovetheTurnagainArmofCookInlet,justsouthofAnchorage.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Totals for the tour: 160 bird taxa and 19 mammal taxa

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