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The spectacular view of Denali was one of the magical scenic moments of the trip. (Photo by participant Herb Fechter)
Alaska is such an amazing destination. Our trip began with a flight to St. Paul Island, stuck several hundred miles out in the middle of the Bering Sea. Just the idea of being in such a remote place is wondrous, but throw in all the amazing wildlife, and you've got the makings for an unforgettable adventure. I don't suppose anything can surpass the experience of spending time at the seabird cliffs watching hundreds of alcids, kittiwakes, and fulmars racing past, arriving at and departing from their nesting cliffs. While the weather was not conducive for seeing Asian vagrants, it provided some good photographic opportunities. Seeing sunshine on St. Paul is a rare treat indeed. We did however, see some pretty cool rarities there, including Wood Sandpiper and Yellow-billed Loon.
After we returned to Anchorage, we were off the next morning to Denali National Park, with a number of productive stops along the way. Perhaps most memorable of these was the big burned area near the Susitna River, which had a nice mix of woodpeckers. The Denali highway was fantastic, such a scenic place. And while hawk owls proved elusive, we did manage to see most of the other specialties we were hoping for. Our day in the park was also quite enjoyable, even if the weather was less than ideal. The biggest highlight for many was the closeup views of two grizzly bears feasting on a recent kill. I also enjoyed the sunning coyote, the first of these that I had seen in the park.
On our way back to Anchorage, we had a few more memorable birding stops including a productive Spruce Grouse search, which also provided us with Pine Grosbeak and White-winged Crossbill. And in addition to all of the wildlife, we managed to get a few fantastic looks at Denali itself! For some of us it was saying goodbye to new friends and preparing for Part Two, while for others it was a journey home. On behalf of Pepe and myself, thanks to all of you for making this a wonderfully memorable experience. We hope to see you all again in future!
--Chris
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
We had some wonderful views of nesting Red-necked Grebes right in Anchorage. (Photo by participant Doug Clarke)
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
CACKLING GOOSE (ALEUTIAN) (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia)
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)
TRUMPETER SWAN (Cygnus buccinator)
TUNDRA SWAN (WHISTLING) (Cygnus columbianus columbianus)
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
AMERICAN WIGEON (Anas americana)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
St. Paul Island is home to many Red-faced Cormorants, such as this one captured by participant Doug Clarke.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Anas crecca nimia)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
REDHEAD (Aythya americana)
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)
St. Paul was where we encountered the Red-legged Kittiwakes. (Photo by participant Herb Fechter)
GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila)
LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis)
KING EIDER (Somateria spectabilis)
HARLEQUIN DUCK (Histrionicus histrionicus)
LONG-TAILED DUCK (Clangula hyemalis)
BUFFLEHEAD (Bucephala albeola)
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (Bucephala islandica)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
SPRUCE GROUSE (Falcipennis canadensis)
WILLOW PTARMIGAN (Lagopus lagopus)
Gaviidae (Loons)
COMMON LOON (Gavia immer)
YELLOW-BILLED LOON (Gavia adamsii)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
HORNED GREBE (Podiceps auritus)
RED-NECKED GREBE (Podiceps grisegena)
Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)
NORTHERN FULMAR (PACIFIC) (Fulmarus glacialis rodgersii)
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (Ardenna tenuirostris)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
RED-FACED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax urile)
PELAGIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
This male Spruce Grouse was a real treat and provided some great photographic opportunities, such as this capture by participant Doug Clarke.
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos)
NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus)
BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
RED-TAILED HAWK (HARLAN'S) (Buteo jamaicensis harlani)
Gruidae (Cranes)
SANDHILL CRANE (Grus canadensis)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis fulva)
Doug Clarke also snapped this shot of a female Willow Ptarmigan inside Denali National Park.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria)
WANDERING TATTLER (Tringa incana)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)
This handsome male Hudsonian Godwit was photographed by participant Herb Fechter in Anchorage.
HUDSONIAN GODWIT (Limosa haemastica)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres morinella)
ROCK SANDPIPER (PTILOCNEMIS) (Calidris ptilocnemis ptilocnemis)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus griseus)
WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata)
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus)
RED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus fulicarius)
Stercorariidae (Skuas and Jaegers)
PARASITIC JAEGER (Stercorarius parasiticus)
LONG-TAILED JAEGER (Stercorarius longicaudus)
Alcidae (Auks, Murres, and Puffins)
COMMON MURRE (Uria aalge)
St. Paul featured a variety of alcids including this dapper Crested Auklet. (Photo by participant Herb Fechter)
THICK-BILLED MURRE (Uria lomvia)
PIGEON GUILLEMOT (Cepphus columba)
PARAKEET AUKLET (Aethia psittacula)
LEAST AUKLET (Aethia pusilla)
CRESTED AUKLET (Aethia cristatella)
HORNED PUFFIN (Fratercula corniculata)
TUFTED PUFFIN (Fratercula cirrhata)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridactyla)
RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Rissa brevirostris)
BONAPARTE'S GULL (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
MEW GULL (AMERICAN) (Larus canus brachyrhynchus)
HERRING GULL (AMERICAN) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Larus glaucescens)
ARCTIC TERN (Sterna paradisaea)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
It was an amazing trip for woodpeckers, such as this Black-backed photographed by participant Herb Fechter.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus)
AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER (Picoides dorsalis)
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides arcticus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
MERLIN (Falco columbarius)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi) [*]
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
GRAY JAY (Perisoreus canadensis)
BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (Pica hudsonia)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE (Poecile atricapillus)
BOREAL CHICKADEE (Poecile hudsonicus)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
PACIFIC WREN (ALASCENSIS GROUP) (Troglodytes pacificus alascensis)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH (Catharus minimus)
SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
VARIED THRUSH (Ixoreus naevius)
After a bit of searching, we tracked down this Boreal Chickadee. (Photo by participant Herb Fechter)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulus)
Calcariidae (Longspurs and Snow Buntings)
LAPLAND LONGSPUR (Calcarius lapponicus)
Finches were well represented by this White-winged Crossbill, photographed by participant Herb Fechter...
SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Setophaga striata)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (MYRTLE) (Setophaga coronata coronata)
...and this handsome Pine Grosbeak photographed by participant Doug Clarke.
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW (Spizelloides arborea)
FOX SPARROW (RED) (Passerella iliaca zaboria)
DARK-EYED JUNCO (SLATE-COLORED) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (GAMBEL'S) (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii)
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
But there were some iconic mammals seen, too, like this Grizzly Bear, photographed by guide Chris Benesh...
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Euphagus carolinus)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (PRIBILOF IS.) (Leucosticte tephrocotis umbrina)
PINE GROSBEAK (Pinicola enucleator)
...and this hungry Moose seen at the entrance to the park. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL (Loxia leucoptera)
COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea)
HOARY MARMOT (Marmota caligata)
ARCTIC GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus parryii)
RED SQUIRREL (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
A Porcupine dashed across the road ahead of us. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
MUSKRAT (Ondatra zibethica)
NORTH AMERICAN PORCUPINE (Erethizon dorsatum)
ARCTIC FOX (Alopex lagopus)
COYOTE (Canis latrans)
BROWN (INCL. GRIZZLY) BEAR (Ursus arctos)
STELLER'S SEA LION (Eumetopias jubatus)
This Coyote was sunning itself on a distant slope. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
NORTHERN FUR SEAL (Callorhinus ursinus)
HARBOR SEAL (Phoca vitulina)
MOOSE (Alces alces)
CARIBOU (Rangifer tarandus granti)
REINDEER (Rangifer tarandus sibiricus) [I]
DALL'S SHEEP (Ovis dalli)
Totals for the tour: 117 bird taxa and 15 mammal taxa