This was such an incredible trip. Along with observing many birds (70 lifers for me), there were whales, dolphins, bison, gold mining dredges, and beautiful scenery. And I made it to Barrow - a goal of mine for many, many years! After we finished in St. Paul, we headed to Nome, Seward and Barrow, with Anchorage, being well, out anchor!
Anchorage is a nice area. We did not go into town but birded along the coastal trail and parks. It took us two attempts to find this spruce grouse - a very quiet bird that hides in the deep woods. On the nice side, it tends to stay still making it easier for one of our guides to find him then signal us to the location.
Where would we be without our cellphone? This image is the tracking done to find the grouse.
As luck would have it, shortly after getting into the van, we saw the female walking along the road!
Our hotel was on Lake Hood, right near the airport. There was a nice trail around the lake and a lot of ducks and grebes and kittiwakes to keep one company. Since there was almost 24 hours of daylight, a nice evening stroll after dinner was a must do part of my routine. I totally enjoyed watching the float planes take-off and land.
Bison family just outside of Nome.
These babes are small compared to equipment in the background.
A long-tailed jaeger soaring high in the pretty blue sky.
Gold mining was the big draw to Nome and other parts of Alaska. Here is an old dredge.
Close to the dredge is this gorgeous loon sitting on her nest.
Least sandpipers and a Wilson snipe.
Road crossing - Arctic terns walking across the road. Do they know they make it easier and fly?
Here is a pretty little bird - very common. This is a female lapland longspur.
This is a red phalarope.
Fox sparrow.
Harlequin duck swimming upstream.
No trip to Alaska would be complete without seeing a porpoise or whale or sea lions on ice floes.
Humpback whale.
If you look closely, you will find a mountain goat and her kid.
King eider.
Long tailed ducks - male and female. These are favorite ducks of mine. Elegant and beautiful. Barrow.
Make ruff - these were hard to find in Barrow but then we found three 2 females and one female.
The threesome.
Yes, the mosquitoes were huge! Road sign in Denali.
Barn swallows nesting. Denali.
Red-necked grebe. Lake Hood. Anchorage.
Greater Scaups.
Along the drive from Anchorage to Seward.
Catch of the day. Coud not get enough seafood!
Say awwwwww!
Beaver with his catch of the day.
Lake Hood sunset. 11:00 PM.
Barrow. 3:00 AM. The sun never set.
Cute dog at the Osaka restaurant. Barrow. He gently greets the guests.
Willow ptarmigan.
Short eared owl in nesting box. Fairbanks. Here's looking at you.
Canada Jay.
Mallard. Always a beautiful duck with the sun reflecting his colors.
Spectacled eiders at quite the distance. One of the ducks that attracts birders to Barrow.
Young moose at a river. Watching me watching you.
There were many beautiful and fragile arctic flowers along the way.
This was such an incredible trip. It is something I will always remember fondly. Kittiwakes flying around a cliff. Seward.
And of course, I was able to view the majestic Mt. McKinley one more time!
These have to be the easiest ducks to photograph. King Eider Hotel lobby. Nome
Hope you enjoyed the highlights of my birding trip to Alaska.
Until next time..........................
