Mixed flock of King and Spectacled Eiders

GAMBELL I TOUR
Report and photos by Dave Krueper

(Continued)

• 26 May 2010
  Routine established, we headed out to the Point and the Alcid Cliffs after a light breakfast, but with little to report. The high levels of snow on the Cliffs might have discouraged pioneering Dovekies to establish nesting cavities this early in the season, but we were determined to continue to search for early arrivals. Back to the Sivuqaq for pancakes, fried apples and reindeer sausage as the full breakfast.
  
  Fortified, we drove the ATVs down the beach to the end of the airport runway to search for loafing gulls and ducks. Continuing down to the Lower Marsh, we found a Tundra Swan, Green-winged Teal, Common Ringed Plover, Pacific Golden-Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper (about the 5th record for the island) and Dunlin. Receiving a radio transmission of a male Rustic Bunting in the Near Boneyard, we dashed out to the north, but could not re-locate the bird in the afternoon. We were instead rewarded with great views of two female Brambling, and one of the leaders saw a female Rustic Bunting near the Boneyard, which did not cooperate for the rest of the participants. Being such a rarity and a bird which most or all of the participants needed for their North American lists, we vowed to spend as much time as necessary to get good views of the species.
  
  After a break for dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, vegetables and coleslaw, we forayed back out for another attempt at the bunting, but were unsuccessful. Back to the Sivuqaq by 10:00 pm, and prepared for the next day.
• 27 May 2010
  The day dawned with our third consecutive day of northeast winds and some clouds, not the hoped for combination since we were hoping for winds from the southwest for increased chances of having Asian vagrants making landfall. We had a quick early breakfast and then headed to the Near Boneyard with the specific target of finding the elusive Rustic Bunting. Within a short period of time we located the male Rustic Bunting and most of the group was able to get on to the flighty bird. We also checked the Old Town Shipyard and the “Bonehenge” sacred site on the south end of the Near Boneyard for new arrivals. Back to the Sivuqaq for a full breakfast where we plotted our next move.
  
  The remainder of the morning was spent in the Near Boneyard where we successfully relocated the Rustic Bunting and then out to the Alcid Cliffs to search for Dovekie. Due to the heavy snow cover on the nesting cliffs, the birds were probably spending their time in the ocean off of the Point foraging for a few more days before investigating and claiming their nesting burrows. Nonetheless, we were all treated to spectacular views of thousands of Parakeet, Crested and Least Auklets in the open water and flying to and from the Cliffs.
  
  Lunch was home-made hot mushroom soup and sandwiches which hit the spot after a cool morning in the field. In the early afternoon we headed back to the Near Boneyard to make another attempt at the Rustic Bunting and to see what else had arrived in the early morning. We were able to study the two female Bramblings from close range, and all members of the group were able to successfully get great and prolonged looks at this North American rarity. Additional bonus species included several Hoary Redpolls from close range, three Eastern Yellow Wagtails, one White Wagtail, and one American Pipit. The two Common Ringed Plovers and the Common Snipe remained in the Near Boneyard, but we were itching for something new and spectacular. Although the Yupik kids were wandering the Boneyard with their air rifles hunting for the endemic St. Lawrence Island Collared Lemming (and maybe a few birds as well), we were determined to continue to work the area as well as the Point for the duration of the trip for that elusive mega-rarity that was “sure” to turn up.
  
  Out to the Point again to look for Arctic Loons and Ivory Gull. We noticed the large iceberg which had grounded there was beginning to break up, and the “Vega” Herring Gulls and Glaucous Gulls were not using it as much as in previous days. A Short-eared Owl flying over the Near Boneyard was a nice addition, and the two majestic and striking Emperor Geese which flew by the Point were appreciated by all participants.
  
  Dinner by Jen was a wonderful salad and lasagna combination, the perfect way to end the day and to fill empty stomachs.

Rustic Bunting

• 28 May 2010
  Our last full day in Gambell, we were hopeful for something special to show up for a grand send off. A totally clear day with winds from the northeast, we went out to the Seawatch site for an hour before our full breakfast. We were able to view the alcid spectacle where tens of thousands of birds streamed past us in both directions, moving to and from feeding areas and also passing as migrants further to the north… a wonderful sight.
  
  After a hearty breakfast of French Toast and reindeer sausage, we gave the Alcid Cliffs a go. The Least and Parakeet Auklets did not disappoint, and we noted that the Thick-billed Murres outnumbered the Common Murres by a ratio of 20:1 today. As expected at this time of the year, the Pigeon Guillemots outnumbered the Black Guillemots by a factor of about 100:1, but we were able to see seven Blacks during the morning session. Notable was watching a Common Raven flying past with a Least Auklet in its beak, and then we watched as the raven dismembered the prey item and swallow it nearly whole. What a tough life these little alcids must have!
  
  Back out to the mountain road on the east side of the lake where we found one Red-throated Pipit and two Eastern Yellow Wagtails, but little else. Continuing south to the Lower Marsh where we were greeted by a Parasitic Jaeger. A new Wood Sandpiper was discovered, which we all enjoyed. One of the leaders observed two larger shorebirds in the marshy vegetation at a distance and we got the group on the birds, which turned out to be Reeves (female Ruffs). David MacKay then located a male Black-Bellied Plover which rounded out a great morning at the south end of the normal circuit.
  
  After lunch we spent the afternoon at the Near Boneyard. We spotted the Rustic Bunting briefly, but it was elusive and we walked a great deal to try to pin it down again without success. Dinner was a delicious pork loin with vegetables and salad, which fortified us for another seawatch session until calling it quits at nearly 10 pm.
• 29 May 2010
  Since the participants were due to depart on the 10:00 am flight back to Nome, we chose to spend some time at the seawatch site where we admired the alcid spectacle with the mountains of the Siberian Far East as a backdrop one last time. We got everyone packed up and got the participants to the airport by 9:50 am when the flight from Nome arrived on time. Saying our good-byes, we parted ways as the group flew back to Nome and then depending on schedules, back to the Lower 48.
  
  A wonderful trip, and I thank all of the participants for a most memorable experience!