Barrow Tour - Birding The High Arctic
DATES
JUNE 14 - 16, 2010
JUNE 18 - 20, 2011
COST (PER PERSON 2010)
DOUBLE: $2125 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $300
DEPOSIT: $500
INCLUDES
From Anchorage, 2 nights lodging, all meals from 1st night dinner through last day's dinner, one Pt. Barrow trip by tracked vehicle, transport, guides, taxes, tips.
Not Included: alcohol, personal calls, laundry, other personal expenses
PARTICIPANTS
Limited to 10 participants.
LEADERS
One leader for seven or less; two for 8 – 10
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Easy with 1 – 2 miles walking per day; most birding by vehicle.
SLIDESHOW
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OVERVIEW
Barrow is the northernmost settlement in the United States, located on the edge of the Polar Ice Cap more than 300 miles above the Arctic Circle. Vast seas of ice extend from Point Barrow another 1200 miles to the North Pole. From May to August, darkness never falls on Barrow as the golden glow of the midinght sun fills the sky.
The town is quite small, with an excellent hotel and several restaurants. High Arctic birds are the specialty in Barrow. Snowy Owls are common. Spectacled and Steller's Eiders are starting their very short breeding seasons in June. Additionally, Yellow-billed Loons breed in the area. We'll visit the numerous tundra ponds to look for breeding species as well as travel to Cape Barrow in hopes of seeing some of the Arctic mammals. Polar Bears are fairly common during May and June. We provide two trips per person out to Point Barrow in order to maximize the opportunity for seeing Polar Bear as well as some of the seabirds.
Many shorebirds, resplendent in their breeding plumages, are possible in Barrow. Buff-breasted, Baird's and Pectoral Sandpipers are all regularly seen. Asian species, e.g., Rufous-necked Stint, and Curlew Sandpiper (both rare breeders), have all been seen in Barrow during June. The experience of being at the end of civilization, in this desolate yet stunningly beautiful setting, will make the trip well worth it for all.
Our lodging will be in the new and very comfortable King Eider Inn.
ITINERARY
DAY ONE: Depart from Anchorage by air at about 2:30 PM. One stop in Fairbanks for about 30 minutes, than on to Barrow where we'll arrive at about 5:30 PM. Check into our hotel, have dinner, then some birding afterwards. We'll focus on finding the Spectacled and Steller's Eiders on our first night.
DAY TWO: Breakfast at 7:30 AM. We have a tracked vehicle in the morning for our ride out to Point Barrow. A major focus will be Yellow-billed Loon, Black-headed Gull, possibly, Ivory and Ross's Gull (rare in Spring, but sometimes found). In addition, we will look for polar bears around the whale carcasses that are hauled out to the point by the natives. If the ice pack is in, are chances are excellent for finding these magnificent creatures. After lunch, we'll continue our search for eiders, if we haven't found them. We'll spend some time at Freshwater Lake, and then drive out pipeline road about 20 miles or so. We should find many shorebirds, including Pectoral, Baird's, Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and, possibly, White-rumped and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. If the lemming year is good, Snowy Owls and Pomarine Jaegers should be abundant. After dinner, we'll do some more birding in the evening.
DAY THREE: Breakfast at 7:30 AM. We check out and store our luggage. We'll spend the rest of the day looking for some other rarities, e.g., Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. We'll drive the road system again and check the lakes and melt ponds as well as any open water along the shoreline. We depart from Barrow about 6:00 PM and the trip ends upon return to Anchorage.
CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT
Temperatures and, more important, wind chill factors vary widely and can get down in the low teens or less. So, bring warm clothes that will allow you to layer. We will send a more extensive list prior to departures.
- Layered Clothing
- Full suit (jacket and pants) of waterproof rain/wind gear. (Note: Ponchos and rain chaps are inadequate.) Rain jacket makes good outer layer - hooded is preferable.
- Synchilla Fleece or Wool garments (Keep you warm and retains insulating quality when wet)
- Wool, capilene or polypropylene long underwear, tops & bottoms.(light-weight)
- Medium-weight, wool socks (Bring extras) (Gore-tex liners provide good protection & warmth)
- Warm hat and gloves
- Sturdy and Waterproof Over-the-Ankle Hiking Boots (we suggest NEOS or Wellies)
- Rain Hat (if parka not hooded)
- Hat with visor for sun
- Extra pair of prescription glasses, contact lenses, sunglasses
- Tennis, running or sturdy comfortable walking shoes
- Insect repellent (DEET 20% or more/ Itch Relief Cream) Note: Citronella is ineffective
- Sunscreen (sun is very bright when snowy and can produce significant sunburn)
- Jeans, Khakis for general wear
- Binoculars (Scope if you prefer to use your own)
- Day Pack/Fanny Pack
- Water Bottles
SOME RECOMMENDED FIELD GUIDES AND BOOKS
North American Field Guides & Bird Finding Guides:
- Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition. 2006, Jon Dunn, et al., National Geographic Society
- Shorebirds of the North America, Europe, and Asia, 1993,
- Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide. Dennis Paulson, 2005.
- The Sibley Guide to Birds, David A. Sibley; Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.
- Seabirds of the World, Peter Harrison, 1997. (available soon again from ABA Sales)
Asian Field Guides:
- A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan, Wild Bird Society of Japan, 1982, Wild Bird Society of Japan
- A Field Guide to the Waterbirds of Asia, Bharat Bhushan, et al., 1993, Wild Bird Society of Japan
- Birds of Russia and Adjacent Territories, V. E. Flint, et al., 1984, Princeton University Press
- A Field Guide to the Birds of China, John MacKinnon & Karen Phillipps, 2000, Oxford University Press
European Field Guides:
- Birds of Europe, Killian Mullarney, et al., 1999, Princeton University Press
- Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East, Lars Jonsson, 1992, Princeton University Press
- The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic, Princeton University Press, 1998, Mark Beaman and Steve Madge
- A Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe, Ian Lewington, et al., 1991, Domino Books, Ltd.
- New Generation Guide Birds of Britain and Europe, Christopher Perrins, 1987, University of Texas Press
The Alaska Experience:
- Living on the Edge, Spike Walker. Wonderfully descriptive book about Dutch Harbor and crabbing in the Bering Sea.
- Arctic Dreams, Barry Lopez. Pulitzer Prize-winning non-fiction about the High Arctic. Beautifully written!
- Any book by Dana Stabenow, an Alaska mystery writer whose books are enjoyable a very informative about Alaska native life.
During your free time in Anchorage, don’t miss going to Wave Bookstores on Northern Lights or downtown on 5th Avenue. They have a great selection of Alaska fiction and non-fiction! In addition, there are some excellent restaurants downtown, including Orso, Glacier Brew House, Simon & Seafort’s, and Marx Brothers.
Above birding books can be obtained from Madison Audubon Shoppe, (888) 505-9056, with a 10% discount by mentioning High Lonesome BirdTours. ABA Sales and the various web book dealers are also sources.
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