Recently received photos - August 2008

Summer trips, the Arctic, the Maritimes! We have various summer departures to northern destinations, and in this Recent Photos slideshow we'll focus on two in particular: our Alaska and Newfoundland & Nova Scotia tours. Alaska of course provides some simply spectacular backdrops for birding. Here, participant Pat Newman captured one of our 2008 groups on St. Paul in the Pribilof Islands at the famous Ridge Wall seabird cliffs.Link to: ALASKA[photo © participant Pat Newman]

On the same theme of birding backdrops, part of one of our groups scanning across a broad valley in Denali National Park, also by participant Pat Newman.Link to: ALASKA[photo © participant Pat Newman]

Alaska is a prime destination for numerous birds of limited or regional distribution, prizes for any birder. Above, a beautiful drake Steller's Eider along the Gaswell Road in Barrow.Link to: ALASKA[photo © George Armistead]

Our groups had lots of Snowy Owls this year at Barrow. Some years they can be rather scarce, but one group found 6 nest sites on one day, and at the end of Freshwater Lake at least 11 birds in sight simultaneously. Link to: ALASKA[photo © George Armistead]

Most Snowy Owl sightings are of perched birds, but participant Pat Newman caught this magnificent individual taking off at Barrow.Link to: ALASKA[photo © participant Pat Newman]

Seabirds are a huge draw for Alaska tours and the Pribilofs in particular. The peculiar bill structure of the Parakeet Auklet, a common breeder on the cliffs of St. Paul, is thought perhaps to be an adaptation for handling jellyfish.Link to: ALASKA[photo © George Armistead]

An adult Red-legged Kittiwake at St. Paul Island in the Pribilofs. This photo was taken at Polovina Point on the first afternoon of our second tour. In the Aleut language Polovina means "midland," and this area is roughly halfway between the seal rookeries at southernmost Reef Point and Northeast Point. Compared to Black-legged Kittiwake note the red legs, the larger eye of this bird (Red-legs feed more nocturnally than Black-legs), the shorter, thicker bill, and the slightly darker mantle.Link to: ALASKA[photo © George Armistead]

Tufted Puffin is another glorious alcid species seen regularly at nest sites on St Paul in the Pribilof Islands.Link to: ALASKA[photo © participant Pat Newman]

Rock Sandpiper, often kicked up along the roadsides as we drive around on St. Paul, virtually disappears against a natural background.Link to: ALASKA[photo © participant Pat Newman]

Seldom ever easy, Bristle-thighed Curlew provided some of the usual small challenges again this year near Nome (some climbing and hiking involved, of course!), but it's such a nice reward for the effort when one flies by, calling all the way!Link to: ALASKA[photo © George Armistead]

Uh, yes, Nome can be a bit foggy at times...and it outdid itself for one of our groups this year. Here are a few folks "birding" Anvil Mountain near Nome in this photo by participant Pat Newman.Link to: ALASKA[photo © participant Pat Newman]

A Rufous-tailed Robin for our second tour was an incredible vagrant, as it breeds only as far north as Northern China and Mongolia -- it was a lifer for everyone in our group, who hadn't yet heard that, amazingly, another one had been found on Attu just a couple of days earlier!Link to: ALASKA[photo © George Armistead]

More common and widespread species, such as this lovely Red-necked Phalarope in full dress, are also part of the joy of birding Alaska.Link to: ALASKA[photo © George Armistead]

And, of course, one of the highlights of a visit to Barrow is the beautiful Red Phalarope.Link to: ALASKA[photo © Chris Benesh]

We should not omit some of the simply awe-inspiring vistas to be had. Denali is sometimes shrouded in clouds, but guide Chris Benesh revealed this magnificent view for one of our groups.Link to: ALASKA[photo © Chris Benesh]

Participant Pat Newman peeked out the plane window en route back from the Pribilofs to spot these mountains west of Cook Inlet near Anchorage...just another day in the sky over Alaska -- wow!Link to: ALASKA[photo © participant Pat Newman]

Of course, some things on a smaller scale are magnificent as well..June wildflowers bring swatches of color to the tundra.Link to: ALASKA[photo © participant Pat Newman]

One of our groups pauses for a pose on their way north from Anchorage to Denali National Park.Link to: ALASKA[photo © Chris Benesh]

And guides Chris Benesh and Jesse Fagan take in the sights at Aialik Glacier near Seward (watch for Kittlitz's Murrelet!).Link to: ALASKA

This lovely Horned Grebe was a wonderful surprise at Potter Marsh near Anchorage -- not exactly what many of us see along the coasts farther south in winter!Link to: ALASKA[photo © Chris Benesh]

And the sun came out for this handsome dark morph Parasitic Jaeger at Barrow...Link to: ALASKA[photo © Chris Benesh]

Let's move far eastward across the continent from Alaska all the way to the Canadian Maritimes for our 2008 Newfoundland & Nova Scotia tour with Chris Benesh. Above, the city of St. John's, Newfoundland, as seen from our hotel room windows.Link to: NEWFOUNDLAND & NOVA SCOTIA[photo © Chris Benesh]

Like Alaska, the Canadian Maritimes are an important destination for birders seeking seabirds, and our Newfoundland & Nova Scotia tour begins with a big dose of such specialties on a visit to famous Witless Bay south of St. John's, where a common breeder on Gull Island is the dapper Razorbill.Link to: NEWFOUNDLAND & NOVA SCOTIA[photo © Chris Benesh]

The stars at Witless Bay are always the Atlantic Puffins, beautifully photographed here amidst the tussocks by participant Kay Niyo.Link to: NEWFOUNDLAND & NOVA SCOTIA[photo © participant Kay Niyo]

Common Murres and Thick-billed Murres also dot the ledges at the Witless Bay colony, and this image by participant Kay Niyo provides a great comparison of the two -- the browner Common on the left, and the blacker Thick-billed with the bill stripe on the right. (And that's a somewhat besmudged [is that a word?] kittiwake at far left...)Link to: NEWFOUNDLAND & NOVA SCOTIA[photo © participant Kay Niyo]

Here's a much more elegant view of Black-legged Kittiwakes at the Witless Bay colony, Newfoundland, also by participant Kay Niyo.Link to: NEWFOUNDLAND & NOVA SCOTIA[photo © participant Kay Niyo]

This iceberg was aground in Witless Bay during our group's visit. Having traveled south from Greenland in the currents, it was now on its last legs. The following morning, it had toppled over and was shrinking rapidly.Link to: NEWFOUNDLAND & NOVA SCOTIA[photo © Chris Benesh]

Caribou are more evidence that Newfoundland is truly far to the north. This piebald individual is shedding its winter coat. Caribou are a regular sight along the southern tip of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland.Link to: NEWFOUNDLAND & NOVA SCOTIA[photo © Chris Benesh]