Welcome to Birdquest
ALASKA
Thursday 25th May - Wednesday 14th June 2006
Pete Morris
With a grand total of 200 species of birds, and 25 species of mammals, this, our fifth tour to Alaska, was once again a huge success. We were largely blessed with good weather (at times positively hot!) and as a result, were able to complete the tour circuit without a hitch. Avian highlights were many and the following is just a taster: great views of all five species of diver (loon) in breeding plumage; stupendous views of all four species of eider; several stunning Emperor Geese; thirteen species of alcids (including fabulous Crested Auklets and Tufted Puffins); a fantastic array of breeding waders including Buff-breasted and White-rumped Sandpipers, delightful Red and Red-necked Phalaropes and the rare Bristle-thighed Curlew; an Ivory Gull, numerous dainty Sabine’s Gulls, Red-legged Kittiwakes, Aleutian Terns and graceful Long-tailed Jaegers; an intimate encounter with a tame Spruce Grouse; six fabulous species of owl including several stunning Snowy Owls (yes, it was a good lemming year!), four brilliant Northern Hawk Owls, an amazing Great Grey Owl and Northern Saw-whet and Boreal (Tengmalm’s) Owls; a fine selection of spruce forest species including gorgeous Varied Thrushes, Pine Grosbeaks and an American Three-toed Woodpecker, and, last but not least, two fine male Smith’s Longspurs. Grizzly and American Black Bears, Musk Ox and Killer Whales were the pick of the mammals, the scenery was awesome and the near 24 hour daylight, at times, challenging! Watching the Arctic Ocean pack-ice in the midnight sun at Barrow is an experience not to be missed!
