Surveying the Tundra

We awoke on Sunday, Father's Day, to another gorgeous sunny day.  Although it's Sunday we're still working, as we do every day during the short Arctic season.  We've had so many clear sunny days this year that we're starting to feel nervous.  Although it's still cold, mostly in the 30s and low 40s, the sun warms the small vegetation-rich pool where mosquito larvae live.  Last night I saw the first adult mosquito in the cook tent.  So we know what's coming.

Our camp is located 24 miles inland in an area that's 36 miles from North to South.  Proximity to the Arctic Ocean icepack largely determines the degree to which spring is advanced or delayed.  Shorebirds near camp were well into nesting when we arrived, while those near the coast are still setting up territories and laying eggs in their nests.

The diversity of birds through this special use area around the lakes is spectacular.  On one lake, we saw the Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, Snow Geese, Long-tailed Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, Tundra Swans, and many dozens of King Eiders.  Unusual sightings have included several Yellow-billed Loons and a Red Knot, which generally doesn't occur in this area.

We found our first Ruddy Turnstone nest near the coast yesterday and watched the intrepid female first chase off a Gull much larger than her and then a fierce Parasitic Jaeger--a very impressive sight.  We've also found a Stilt Sandpiper nest and several nests of American Golden Plover along with many nests of Dunlins and Semipalmated Sandpipers.