Gambell and St. Lawrence Island: Auklets and Asian Species
DATES
2010
I: MAY 23 – 29, 2010
II: MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2010
III: SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2010
2011
I: MAY 21 - 27, 2011
II: May 26 - JUNE 1, 2011
III: SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2011
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“I thoroughly enjoyed my birding with High Lonesome in Alaska. I cannot say enough positive things about your two guides. Dave Mackay you know plenty well, with a great cook for a wife, but "[Dave] Krueper is a keeper" also ... a real prince of a guy. I was the least experienced birder on the trip, but with 48 new species it pushed my North American life list to 618. Everyone else at Gambell was well over 700.” ~ LM, 2010 |
COST (PER PERSON) Prices are estimated for 2011
DOUBLE: $3875 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $425 (if available; if not, $60 for Anchorage nite only)
COMBINED GAMBELL 1 & 2: $7100 Single: $875 (if available if not, $60 for Anchorage nite))
$100 Early signup discount for deposits received prior to February 1, 2011
DEPOSIT: $750 ($1000 for Gambell 1 & 2)
INCLUDES
From Anchorage, 6 nights lodging (11 nights for 1&2), all meals from 1st night dinner through final day’s dinner, use of ATV’s, land use fee, transport, guides, taxes, tips.
Not Included: alcohol, personal calls, laundry, other person expenses
PARTICIPANTS
Gambell 1 is limited to 20 participants; Gambell 2, 18 participants; Gambell 3: 10 participants
Note: With larger number of participants, we are able to spread out in different locations around Gambell with each leader taking a group. This is a very effective strategy for finding birds at Gambell. ATV's allow us much more flexibility in implementing.
LEADERS
Davd MacKay; (one leader per each seven participants (ex: 3 for 18 or more)
Jennifer MacKay. Chef Extraordaire!
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Easy with 1 – 2 miles walking per day; most birding by vehicle.
SLIDESHOW
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“I want to thank you for the great time that I had on the Gambell trip. I was hoping to get 15 life birds on the trip. I got 17. David and Dave were very competent and made the experience successful and very interesting. The food was very good also, thanks to Jen. |
OVERVIEW
St. Lawrence Island lies in the Bering Sea just off the Siberian coast. Gambell is a small, timeless Eskimo village subsisting much as it has for thousands of years. On most days, Siberia can be seen clearly 35 miles in the distance. Whale, walrus, seal, polar bear and birds account for most of the native diet. High Arctic and Asian vagrants are the draw at Gambell. Most of the Asian species recorded in North America have been seen in Gambell and its environs. We will spend much of our time within a couple of miles of the village. There are huge colonies of Parakeet, Least and Crested Auklets on the cliffs within walking distance. Northwest Point provides a "super-highway" for seabirds passing very close by the island in migration and usually yield Arctic Loon, Yellow-billed Loon , Dovekie, Emperor Goose and Ivory Gull as well as many other seabirds and ducks. The centuries old bone yards often hide vagrant passerines, e.,g, Eurasian Bullfinch, Hawfinch, and Common Cuckoo. The marsh about two miles from town is superb for shorebirds and typically yields several of the Asiatic shorebirds.
Fall trips afford the opportunity to discover first North American records, as has happened for the past three years during the period from about August 20 – October 30. Wryneck, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Stonechat, Middendorf's, Grasshopper-Warbler, Rosefinch, Pechora Pipit, Reed Warbler, Pallas’ Reed-Bunting are only a few of the many extraordinary species found in Gambell during the fall migration. On our Fall trip, we should have time on our return to Nome on our last day to go out to Safety Sound to see the spectacular waterfowl migration.
Our accommodations will be simple but comfortable in Gambell. Walking on Gambell is very strenuous because of loose gravel. In order to make Gambell more accessible, we provide ATVs for our customers, usually two per ATV. No other groups provide this service routinely. Our primary leader will be David MacKay, and his wife, Jen MacKay, a professional chef in Mexico and cook extraordinaire, will provide our cooking. Other groups are especially envious of Jen's fine cooking. We will have additional leaders as needed.
ITINERARY
DAY ONE: We’ll meet in Anchorage at the Coast International Hotel at 6:30 PM for dinner downtown at Orso, one of the finest restaurants in Alaska. After dinner, we’ll do a hour or so of birding. We can usually find a pair of nesting Pacific Loons close-by and, if we’re lucky, nesting Northern Goshawk.
DAY TWO: Breakfast at the Coast.. Meet in the lobby at 7:20 AM for trip to airport. Phil Davis will accompany Gambell 1 folks to Nome. It’s important that all bags be ready in the lobby at 7:10 AM so that we can get to the airport in plenty of time. Anchorage Airport is already busy with the tourist season starting. We fly to Nome at 9:20 AM, arriving about 11:00 Am. Bering Air will pick up our bags while we walk across the parking lot to their terminal. We get our tickets and, weather permitting, the group will depart sometime around noon arriving in Gambell in time for lunch. Please remember baggage restrictions and extra cost if you go over. You can leave bags at the Coast or Bering Air.
QUARTERS: You’ll be met by our High Lonesome guides and some locals at the airport. Your gear will be moved to our quarters in the Sivuqaq Inn (907) 985-5335 (lounge phone) via ATVs. We will assign people to rooms when we arrive at the Inn. It is important to have warm clothes with you so that you can put them on at the airstrip since the trip to the Inn, though short, can be quite invigorating! Take some of your layers off for the flight, then put them back on when we arrive.
MEALS: Meals will be coordinated with the other groups so that everyone isn’t eating at the same time since we’ll be sharing meal space. Until we have coordinated, we can’t tell you the exact times but will as soon as we know. Typically, though, breakfast will be around 7:30AM, lunch about 1:00 PM and dinner about 6:30 PM.
DAYS TWO to SIX: While birdung, we will be in radio contact all the time. Sometimes, we will split up to cover more ground. We will stay in contact as well with other groups on the island.
LOCATIONS
SEAWATCH: Takes place out on Northwest Point, just outside of town and past the dump. There is an excellent place to observe the variety of seabirds, eiders, ducks and alcids that cruise by very closely. It can be quite cold and windy on the point since we’ll be facing directly towards the mountains of Siberia, 35 miles away. We often sees whales surfacing within 100 yards of the shoreline.
NEAR BONEYARD: The boneyards are the native “dumps” used for centuries to dispose of whale, walrus and sea lion carcusses. The natives dig in the boneyards, looking for “old” ivory which is quite valuable. The Near Boneyard merges with the village on the SW side, a couple of hundred yards from the Inn. Typically, we find Red-necked Stints beginnning courtship here. In addition, this is the location of many of the vagrant passerines that move through starting in the last week of May and continuing the first few days of June.
FAR BONEYARD: Flush up against the mountain, this boneyard is about a 3/4 of a mile from the Inn. It has been very productive for passerines, and we will check it several times daily. There are a couple a smaller boneyards between the moutain and the village that sometimes yield birds of interest.
THE NEAR MARSH: Lies between the Far Boneyard and the Lake. As snow melts from this rather small area, shorebirds begin coming in to feed and rest, usually in ones and twos. Many of the best shorebird sightings occur at this marsh.
THE FAR MARSH: Lies at the south end of the Lake, about 2 miles from the Village. This marsh is much larger than the Near Marsh, but it can be difficult to negotiate because the water can be over your knees in places. There is an excellent vantage point from the road running along side. Another locations for shorebird vagrants.
THE FAR LAKE: Lies about 1/2 a mile beyond the big lake and is usually frozen in until the very last days of May or the beginning of June. Has been the location of some significant sightings.
THE ALCID CLIFFS: These run all along the mountain from the lake to the Sea. We’ll visit them in an effort to get better looks at the rare, breeding Dovekie. The mountainside has also been productive at times for good birds.
WEATHER: The weather is always an issue on Gambell. We hope for strong Southwest winds to push in Asian vagrants migrating up the Bering Sea. Westerly and Northwesterly winds are pretty good as well. Southerly and Easterly winds are likely to bring in birds from headed for the Alaska mainland. There’s not a thing we can do about the weather except to hope for the best.
The rule of the thumb for flying in and out of Gambell is that the top of the mountain is visible from the village. Bering Air has a representative on the island who makes the call to Bering telling them if its ok to fly. We have no control over this process. Bering will fly if they think its safe. Sometimes, the mountain will clear for a brief period, then disappear again while the planes are enroute. The good news is that we only need concern ourselves with this process on our first day and our last. Please remember that we do go not cover additional costs incurred due to weather or mechanical delays. If you got a good travel insurance policy, you’re good shape for getting reimbursed for any additional costs.
DAY SEVEN: Flights back to Nome will be between 11:00 and 3:00. Much depends upon weather, and we’ll let you know the day before about approximate time. Please be packed and ready to go by 9:30 AM. We’ll let you know when the plane is coming in.
Upon arrival in Nome, Bering Air can check your bags for the day. We’ll pick them up for check in at Nome Airport for our 9:00 PM or so departure if you’re flying out this evening. Those staying for Nome can check in at the Aurora Inn after arrival (907) 443 3838. Lunch and dinner in Nome. We should get some productive birding time in along Safety Sound when we return from Nome. There are a couple of interesting shops as well.. Victor’s Russian shop in a trailer on Lomen Street, off of Bering St. and toward the airport is one of our favorites.
CLOTHING AND 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) (Goretex 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)
- eans, 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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