The Deskbound Birder: Alaska - 12th June (Day 16)

Sunday, 12 June 2016

Alaska - 12th June (Day 16)

The morning started rather foggy and dreary, a big change from the amazingly warm weather we had been experiencing (up to 21c yesterday) and much more akin to the weather we were expecting. However, fairly quickly the fog cleared and the morning morning was gloriously sunny although rain set-in in the afternoon. We spent the morning on the Gas Pipeline Road and Cakeater Road, one of the first birds was a stunning almost all white male Snowy Owl. A 1st winter Thayer's Gull flew overhead and we enjoyed the waders around the lagoon here including some stunning Western Sandpiper, one of which had a ridiculous number of rings plus a leg-flag, the flag was causing the bird to trip as it fed - I don't understand the mentality of fitting so many rings to a bird.

Snowy Owl (male) - Cakeeater Road, Barrow

Thayer's Gull (1st winter) - Cakeeater Road, Barrow

Western Sandpiper - Cakeeater Road, Barrow

The next inlet produced a stunning summer plumaged Red-necked Stint showing at close range and displaying to a Western Sandpiper. Also here were Red-breasted Merganser, Greater White-fronted Goose, Dunlin, American Golden Plover and Long-billed Dowitcher.

Red-necked Stint - Cakeeater Road, Barrow

Western Sandpiper - Cakeeater Road, Barrow

Long-billed Dowitcher - Cakeeater Road, Barrow

Greater White-fronted Goose (gambelli) - Cakeeater Road, Barrow

American Golden Plover - Cakeeater Road, Barrow

Dunlin of race articola - Cakeeater Road, Barrow

Further along Gas Pipe Road a stunning pair of Spectacled Eider showed well close to the road and we spent some time enjoying these birds. Absolutely stunning in the morning sunshine. Further on towards the end of the road we enjoyed views of Grey Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Tundra Swan and Pacific Diver.

Spectacled Eider - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Spectacled Eider (female) - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Spectacled Eider - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Spectacled Eider (female) - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Spectacled Eider - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Red-necked Phalarope - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Grey Phalarope (male) - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Grey Phalarope (female) - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

American Golden Plover - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Snow Bunting - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Snow Bunting (female) - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Snow Bunting - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Tundra Swan - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Red-necked Phalarope - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Red-necked Phalarope (male to left) - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Red-necked Phalarope (male) - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Pectoral Sanpiper - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

Pintail - Gas Pipe Road, Barrow

After dinner we spent the early evening on Barrow Point where three Polar Bear were still present but not showing as well as previous days, in fact they were mainly asleep. We spent some time messing around on the beach and on the shores of the frozen sea before heading for bed a little earlier than usual due to the rain.

Links to the other days of the trip (click to view)

Day 1 – Background, international flights and Anchorage

Day 2 (Part 1) – Anchorage

Day 2 (Part 2) – St. Paul, Pribolofs

Day 3 - St. Paul, Pribolofs

Day 4 - St. Paul, Pribolofs

Day 5 - St. Paul, Pribolofs then fly to Anchorage

Day 6 –Seward

Day 7 – Kenai Fjords cruise then drive to Denali

Day 8 – Denali National Park and Denali Highway

Day 9 – Paxton Area of Denali Highway

Day 10 – Drive Paxton to Anchorage