Gambell - II

After a great night’s sleep, we got up at 6am and got the day started with a breakfast that for me was cereal and coffee and a sweet roll. Then it was off to the sea watch for nearly three hours. It was a fantastic time with lots of birds. To boot there were new species too. First it was the Arctic Loon overhead with the flank patch seen well. Then came a series of Black Guillemots with the white underwing clearly seen. The first of several Spectacled Eiders came by in a mixed flock of eiders (photo). We ultimately saw over forty of these handsome ducks. Sean pointed out an adult Ivory Gull cruising by. In addition there were Yellow-billed Loons, a pair of Steller’s Eiders, giving us an eider slam for the day. After lunch we geared up for a long walk. We did both bone yards and re-found the Rustic Bunting (photo) and a Northern Wheatear. A couple of immature Glaucous-winged Gulls were with some Vega Herring Gulls (photo) at the edge of the lake. The walk down along the mountain side didn’t produce the number of wheatears that I had hoped. But at the culverts Steve pointed out a Rough-legged Hawk in the air, one of a breeding pair, that was a catch-up bird for me. A short time later John and I had an Eastern Yellow Wagtail fly by, its bounding flight apparent. A run for a Red-necked Stint, our second in two days, also didn’t work out. We again got a ride back to the house from Gloria. Dinner was pasta with pesto and apple crisp for dessert. We had a steady stream of carvers bringing their wares for us to view. The nightly checklist brought us up to 59 species for the two days. The six new birds for me brought the year’s list to 606.