Common Eiders Were Seen Most Days Throughout

High Lonesome BirdTours Trip Report May 24 – June 3, 2005 Gambell, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska Text and images by Phil Davis Davidsonville, Maryland

1. Introduction. This year marked my seventh birding trip to Gambell and ninth to western Alaska. Prior to Gambell, we were scheduled to take a group to Adak for a four day tour, but weather cancelled those plans (see separate report). On Gambell, I served with David MacKay as birding leaders for two six-day spring trips for High Lonesome BirdTours. The first group (“Gambell-1”) was scheduled from May 23 to May 28 and the second group (“Gambell-2”) was scheduled from May 29 to June 3. Our first group of participants arrived the morning of May 24 after a one day weather delay. Our second group and the staff departed Gambell on June 3. During this 12-day period, we shared the island with other birding groups, including WINGS (Jon Dunn, Louise Zematis, Michael O’Brien, et al.); Wilderness Birding Adventures [WBA] (Bob Dittrick, James Huntington, Aaron Lang, et al.); a group from Japan; and “independent birders,” including Luke Cole (San Francisco, CA), Frank Clayton (NC), and Roger Foxhall (BC) with son. Other independent birders arrived on the island the day before we departed. This year, the VENT group was scheduled to arrive after we departed. 2. The Weather and the Environment. Winds. For the most of the early part of our two weeks, the winds at Gambell generally prevailed from the north. A few days were of high velocity, estimated to be in the 30-40 mph range, with gusts to 50. Several days were mostly calm. Temperatures. In general, the temperature was mild (for Gambell), typically in the 30s or 40s; however, the constant and generally strong winds frequently dropped the wind chill into the 20s. Visibility. Most of the period was overcast or foggy with little long-range visibility toward Russia. The coast and 4,000 foot mountains of the Russian Chukota Peninsula were only visible for only portions of two days during the period. Snow Cover. When we arrived, the snow cover was “moderate” on the birdable areas of the island. Drifts were present, especially to the south and on the mountain side. Lake Ice. Troutman Lake was totally frozen upon our arrival and experienced only moderate thawing around the edges during the two-week period. The area of most clearing was where the near marsh emptied into Troutman Lake. South Lake was mostly frozen when we arrived, but began to open more in the middle during the second week. Bering Sea Pack Ice. No ice was present when we arrived and no ice appeared during our stay.

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3. Staff and Participants. Our Gambell-1 tour included two participants and our Gambell-2 tour included 10 participants. We had a staff of three leaders: Senior leader, David MacKay (Sonora, Mexico); co-leader, Phil Davis (Davidsonville, Maryland); and chef, Jennifer MacKay (Sonora, Mexico). 4. Arrivals and Departures. Our first group arrived a day and a half late due to weather delays, first at Nome (one full day) and then at Gambell (a half-day delay). Our second group had a flight cancelled by Alaska Airlines and arrived one day late. On 6/3, we experienced a weather departure delay this year, causing us to take the late afternoon flight, rather than the scheduled morning flight. 5. The Birding. General. Early during our stay, the winds at Gambell began from northerly directions for several days and then shifted to the west and south and southeast, then back to the north. These varied winds probably contributed to the a mix of Alaskan mainland species early in the trip (Orangecrowned Warbler, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored), Savannah Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), and American Pipit (pacificus). Notable Asian vagrants included Brambling and Wood Sandpiper. Some of the more likely and expected western Alaska specialties and trans-Beringian migrants present included Common-ringed Plover, Red-throated Pipit, Red-neck Stint, Arctic Warbler, Northern Wheatear, Bluethroat, and White Wagtail. Birding Areas. The birding areas we covered on the island included the following: the “near boneyard”, the “far boneyard”, the “circular boneyard”, Northwest Point (aka, “sea watch”), the cliffs, the north and west beaches, the boat yard, the walrus “pull out area”, “old town”, the “near marsh”, Troutman Lake, the hillsides above and below the lake road, the hillside between the far bone yard and the cliffs, the “far marsh”, the runway road, the south end of Troutman Lake (including the ponds, and grassy areas), the gravel ponds, the berms, South Lake, the tundra east of South Lake, and the rocky outcroppings at the beach at the south end of South lake (Oonyik Point). Trip List. A daily trip list of species seen is provided as a separate document.

Harlequin Duck pair

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6. Notable Species. Accounts of notable Asian, western Alaskan, Alaska mainland, and Saint Lawrence Island species are presented, below. Emperor Goose. On our second day, 5/25, a total of 64 Emperor Geese was observed. Our total this year was 73, with none seen during the second tour. Snow Goose. A small flock of seven Lesser Snow Geese was observed flying over the village on 5/27. A number of them were taken by hunters at the north beach. Tundra Swan. Several small flocks of four and two were observed flying over Troutman Lake, respectively, on 5/29 and 6/2. Gadwall. A pair of Gadwall was observed flying by the point and reported by a single observer. Green-winged Teal. A European “Common” Teal (A. c. crecca) was observed early in the trip, mostly at the near boneyard, and one American Green-winged Teal (A. c. carolinensis) and was identified during the period, at the South Lake. Greater Scaup. This species was observed on the South Lake on 6/1 (4 birds) and 6/2 (2 birds). Steller’s Eider. This species was seen many days during the period as fly-bys. Some flocks ranged as high as eight or nine birds. Spectacled Eider. One female was observed as a flyby during our first week on 5/26. One first year male was observed on our tour transition day (5/29). None were seen during the second tour. (However, timing is everything! Two days after we left the island, on 6/5, 225 birds were reported to have flown by the point that day, including several large flocks of around 80 birds!!!) King Eider. This species was seen regularly during the period. Common Eider. Common Eiders were seen most days throughout the period.

First-year male Spectacled Eider – 5/29

Common Eiders (left to right, first-year male, adult male, female)

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White-winged Scoter. All males were carefully inspected to try and determine subspecies. An all-black Asian White-winged Scoter male (M. f. stejnegeri) with a very orange bill (and an associated female) was seen clearly in good sunlight as a fly-by from the point on 5/26. (Dave MacKay also noted the very bulbous knob at the base of the bill). Other flybys and flocks on the water numbered approximated 30 birds and were subsequently were all determined to be of the North American subspecies (M. f. deglandi). Black Scoter. A pair was observed during the tour transition day on 5/29. Loons (general): Loon species passed the point in small numbers. No Red-throated Loons were observed this year (!). Arctic Loon. Our first Arctic Loon was seen on 5/24. Eight birds were seen by our group between 5/24 and 6/3. Pacific Loon (left) and Arctic Loon (right). Note the high flank patches on the Arctic Loon. The Arctic’s head is darker (given the same lighting) and light intrudes more onto the neck. The Pacific shows a vent strap (difficult to see in flight).

Yellow-billed Loon. Yellow-billeds trickled by this year. Our first was observed on 5/25 and on 6/2 ten were observed. Total numbers observed were moderate, less than twenty for us, but numbers are a function of the hours dedicated to seawatching. Red-necked Grebe. A single bird was seen on with water at the cove at the cliffs on 5/25-28, with two birds present on 5/29. Bald Eagle. We did not see this bird in person, but some locals saw and video taped an adult Bald Eagle at Oonyik Point on 5/26. Our first tour group watched the time-tagged video tape. The video was taken by Rhonda Koonooka around 8 pm on that day. Sandhill Crane. Flocks of Sandhill Cranes were seen most days either as fly-bys at the point or over Troutman Lake. Pacific Golden Plover. This species was seen early only on three days, all as single birds.

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Common Ringed Plover. This species arrived a little late this year, on June 2. One was seen and heard calling as it fly over the point. The next morning (6/3), we located a single bird at the “usual” spot, south of the culvert at the south end of Troutman Lake. Wood Sandpiper. David MacKay found a single bird at the near marsh on 5/23 when he arrived in advance of our first group. This bird stayed until 5/25. Red-necked Stint. We found at least two, and possibly three, Red-necked Stints at the gravel ponds, south of Troutman Lake on 6/1. We alerted the other groups and all got looks. The birds were gone the next morning. Bar-tailed Godwit. Two birds landed briefly at the airport on 5/24 and another landed briefly at the point on 5/28. The later bird moved on to the sewage ponds for a short stay. Black Turnstone. There are few records of Black Turnstone at Gambell. One bird flew along the beach at the point on 5/25, affording all members of our group a good view. Semipalmated Sandpiper. One bird stayed at the near marsh for several days, from 5/28 through 5/31. Red Phalarope. Numbers (>30) of Red Phalaropes were notable along the transition waters “scum line” at the point on several days. Pectoral Sandpiper. A few birds were seen mostly around the near marsh between 5/25 and 5/28. Rock Sandpiper. In addition to the normal, resident tschuktschorum subspecies, on 6/1, a single paler Priblof’s subspecies ptilocnemis was observed at Oonyik Point. Jaegers. Jaegers were present in small numbers. The expected northerly migration of Pomarine Jaegers was not observed this year during our stay. Most of the Parasitics were dark-morphed and Long-taileds were seen, generally on the tundra at the South Lake. Slaty-backed Gull. Four sub-adult birds were seen on the ice on Troutman Lake on 6/2. Glaucous-winged Gull. A few first-year birds were present during the period. Sabine’s Gull. On our transition day, 5/29, David MacKay observed a single adult bird sitting on a pond at the south end of Troutman Lake.

Dark-morph Parasitic Jaeger

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Seabirds – General. When David MacKay arrived on 5/22, hardly any seabirds were observed; no Least Auklet, only one Crested Auklet, and no puffins. Within the next several days, the birds arrived, seemingly moving over from the east side of the mountain, according to the locals. Dovekie. On 5/27 we observed four birds on the water at the point and then later we had two groups of birds (six and two, respectively) on the water in the cove at the cliffs. One 5/29, one bird was seen on the water. On 5/31, four birds were seen on the water and on 6/1, one bird was seen on the cliffs near the “usual” Dovekie location, however, slightly north, due to the amount of snow still on the mountain side. Black Guillemot. This species was seen in larger than normal numbers early during our stay both from the point and at the cliffs. Up to six birds were seen on one day. Parakeet Auklet. This species was seen in relatively good numbers on the edge of the cliffs and also passing by the point. Horned Puffin. This species arrived at Gambell on 5/26. Tufted Puffin. This species also arrived on 5/26. Sky Lark. James Huntington of WBA saw a possible Sky Lark on 5/29 and a bird was observed and identified on 5/30. It stayed through 5/31, frequenting the circular and far boneyards. Violet-Green Swallow. On 6/1, a Violet-Green Swallow was observed around the airport building. This is believed to represent the first record for the Bering Sea region. As Jon Dunn stated, if the bird went 40 more miles, it would be the first record for the Western Palearctic (!). The bird was photographed by Luke Cole. Barn Swallow. On 6/2, a light-bellied Asiatic Barn Swallow of the nominate subspecies, rustica was observed between the near boneyard and the point. The bird was seen mostly in flight, but was also observed perched and photographed by Luke Cole and two locals. The breast band was seen to be complete. Bluethroat. A single male was seen in the near boneyard on 5/28. Gray-cheeked Thrush. Several of this trans-Beringian species were present during the period. Hermit Thrush. At least one Hermit Thrush was present in the near boneyard between 5/24 and 5/25. Varied Thrush. A female was observed on 5/28 in the near boneyard. Eastern Yellow Wagtail. A single bird was seen on 5/24 at the near marsh and one was seen, mostly in flight, on 6/2. White Wagtail. We first observed one bird on 5/27 in the boatyard, at the same whale jaw that was frequented by this species last year. From 5/31 through 6/2, the bird was seen multiple times in the boatyard area and at oldtown. The bird was observed carrying nesting material into the eves of the Teacher’s Quarters building.

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Red-throated Pipit. A female bird was seen in the near boneyard on 6/1. A flyover was heard the next day. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle). An adult male was seen in the boatyard on 5/26. Savannah Sparrow. One bird was seen in the near boneyard on 5/16 and on 5/29. Golden-crowned Sparrow. David MacKay found a single male at the edge of the near boneyard on 5/26. Dark-eyed Junco. A Slate-colored male was seen in the far boneyard on 5/26. Brambling. Two females were in the near boneyard from 5/23 (seen by David MacKay when he arrived) through 5/25. Hoary Redpoll. Redpolls were few and scattered this year. The majority of the redpolls present were Hoary’s and were seen mostly until 5/31. Common Redpoll. Common Redpolls were only noted on a few days. 7. Misses. We did not see any Ross’s or Ivory Gulls this year; they had departed prior to our arrival.

Snow Bunting (left) and Lapland Longspur (right)

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