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Alaska Birding Trip -- June 2018


Pribilof Islands
First chance to bird on the Pribilof Islands

June 08, 2018. Birding Trip Day 1. St. Paul, Pribilof Islands.

After some airline drama that wasted several hours in the Anchorage Airport, we flew in a tiny, 14-seat twinprop airplane to the village of St. Paul on the Pribilof Islands out in the middle of the Bering Sea. We arrived in time to check into the hotel and run to the fish cannery for dinner (we ate all meals at the cannery worker's cafeteria).

After dinner, we went outside, walked across the parking lot to the shore, and started seeing amazing birds. A trio of Horned Puffins was just sitting on a cliff, Least Auklets flew in to sit nearby, and Red-faced Cormorants sat out in front of the crowd. A pair of Pribilof Pacific Wrens worked the nooks and crannies of the cliff, and Snow Buntings and Pribilof Gray-crowned Rosy Finches flew about. A couple of Arctic Foxes ducked in and out of the rocks looking for scraps.

After an amazing introduction to the Pribilof Islands shoreline, we headed a short ways inland to a rock quarry where we found an Oriental Cuckoo who had flown off-course, and stranded here, was waiting to die. Even so, it was a very rare bird. Night in St. Paul.

Trip Map.

Anchorage
Morning in Anchorage
Pribilof Islands
Birding next to the hotel at Hood Lake, Anchorage
Pribilof Islands
Check-in for Ace Air, a charter company
Pribilof Islands
Boarding the Ace Air 14-passenger twin turbo prop plane
Pribilof Islands
Anchorage International Airport, walking out on the tarmac
Pribilof Islands
Boarding the Ace Air 14-passenger twin turbo prop plane
Pribilof Islands
Tight seating without room to stand upright
Pribilof Islands
Packed in and ready to fly
Pribilof Islands
A break in the clouds while crossing mountains west of Anchorage
Pribilof Islands
Landing at Bethel to refuel before heading out over the sea
Pribilof Islands
Departing Bethel after refueling before heading out over the sea
Pribilof Islands
Icy window with hazy view of clouds over the Bearing Sea
Pribilof Islands
Dropping below clouds approaching St. Paul Island
Pribilof Islands
Approaching St. Paul Island
Pribilof Islands
Landing on St. Paul Island
Pribilof Islands
Airport facility on St. Paul Island
Pribilof Islands
Setting foot on St. Paul Island
Pribilof Islands
Welcome to St. Paul Island (dorms)
Pribilof Islands
All meals taken at the Trident cafeteria
Pribilof Islands
Finally getting to do some birding on St. Paul Island
Pribilof Islands
Sea cliffs and shoreline
Pribilof Islands
Red-faced Cormorant
Pribilof Islands
Horned Puffins
Pribilof Islands
Arctic Fox, Pribilof Island subspecies
Pribilof Islands
Rock quarry where we found an Oriental Cuckoo
Pribilof Islands
Oriental Cuckoo

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 180708

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