Alaska. Gambell The Siberian Express. Nome & the Seward Peninsula. The Pribilofs: St Paul Island. Denali & Kenai. Barrow - The High Arctic

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1 Alaska Gambell The Siberian Express 26 th to 30 th May 2019 (5 days) Nome & the Seward Peninsula 30 th May to 3 rd June 2019 (5 days) The Pribilofs: St Paul Island 4 th to 7 th June 2019 (4 days) Denali & Kenai 7 th to 15 th June 2019 (9 days) Barrow - The High Arctic 16 th to 18 th June 2019 (3 days) Smith s Longspur by Forrest Rowland

2 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 2 St. Lawrence Island lies in the Bering Sea just off the Siberian coast. Gambell is a small, timeless Eskimo village subsisting much as it has for thousands of years. On clear days, Siberia can be seen clearly 35 miles in the distance. Whales, Walrus, seals, Polar Bear and birds account for most of the local diet. High Arctic and Asian vagrants are the main draw at Gambell. Most of the Asian species recorded in North America have been seen in Gambell and its environs. We will spend much of our time within a couple of miles of the village. There are huge colonies of Parakeet, Least and Crested Auklets on the cliffs within walking distance. Northwest Point provides a super-highway for seabirds passing very close by the island on migration, and usually yields Black-throated and Yellow-billed Loon, Little Auk, Emperor Goose and Ivory Gull as well as many other seabirds and ducks. The centuries old bone yards often hide vagrant passerines, such as Eurasian Bullfinch, Hawfinch, and Common Cuckoo. The marsh about two miles from town is superb for shorebirds and typically yields several of the prime Asiatic shorebirds. Nome lies on the Seward Peninsula and juts into the Bering Sea. It s a frontier town in a world where few such curiosities remain. Bordered on the west and south by the Bering Sea, the north and east by miles of trackless wilderness. Nome is a fascinating and challenging destination, accessible only by boat and aeroplane. During June, the midnight sun is at its brightest, the tundra is in full bloom, and the birds and mammals are breeding and therefore very active. Our tour will cover the prime birding areas along the coast, the tundra and the only boreal forest on the Seward Peninsula. Most of the birds are in their resplendent breeding plumage, rarely if ever seen in the lower 48. We ll also make an extra effort to locate some of the Asian species that regularly occur around Nome. The road system here provides the very best access to the Alaska wilderness without an aeroplane. This is typically the best trip for Asian vagrants, and we expect to see around 90+ bird species, including Black-throated (Arctic) and Yellowbilled Loons, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Sabine s Gull, Gyrfalcon, Bluethroat, Eastern Yellow and White Wagtails. Mammal possibilities include the huge Grizzly (Brown) Bear, Moose, Caribou (some years), and Muskox. Sometimes, with great luck, a Beluga or Wolverine is spotted! Our lodging overlooks the Bering Sea, and being only a few years old offers the most comfortable accommodations in the area. The Pribilof Islands lie in the middle of the Bering Sea, about 600 miles from landfall. St. Paul Island hosts many of the largest colonies of alcids (auklets and other seabirds) in the world, as well as the largest Northern Fur Seal colony on Earth! St. Paul is an isolated and charming island with a small Aleut population that has long had a mind for wildlife and ecotourism. Asian vagrants regularly visit St. Paul in late May and June. We hope to see a few of the long list of possible vagrants, along with the amazing resident species. The undoubted highlights of this adventure are the huge colonies of seabirds nesting on the cliffs and in the rocks on the island, including Parakeet, Least and Crested Auklets, Horned and Tufted Puffins, Thick-billed and Common Murre, Northern Fulmar and both Black-legged and Redlegged Kittiwakes. Barrow is the northernmost settlement in the United States, located on the edge of the Polar Ice Cap, more than 300 miles above the Arctic Circle. Vast seas of ice extend from Point Barrow another 1,200 miles to the North Pole. From May to August, darkness never falls on Barrow as the golden glow of the midnight sun fills the sky. For birders, High Arctic species are the main attraction here. Snowy Owls are common, Spectacled and Steller s Eiders are starting their very short breeding seasons in June, while Yellow-billed Loons also breed in the area. We ll visit the numerous tundra ponds to look for breeding species as well as travel to Point Barrow in hopes of seeing some of the Arctic mammals Polar Bears are fairly common during May and June. Many shorebirds, resplendent in their breeding plumages, are also possible here, with Buff-breasted, Baird s and Pectoral Sandpipers all being regular breeders. Even

3 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 3 Asian species such as Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper (both rare breeders) have been seen in Barrow during June, while there is always the chance for an unexpected surprise! Our trip to stunning Denali National Park and the Denali Highway is as much about large mammals, including some of the great predators, as it is about birds. We expect to see such stellar species as Trumpeter Swan, Willow Ptarmigan, Gyrfalcon, Long-tailed Jaeger, Northern Hawk-Owl and Smith's Longspur. We will also, however, most certainly see a number of Grizzly Bears as well as Caribou, Dall Sheep, Moose and, if we get lucky, perhaps even Wolf! We ll also travel the gravel Denali Highway that parallels the stunning Alaska Range for 135 miles in our quest to see as many of the region s special birds as possible. A small boat trip will also take us through Kenai Fjords National Park, one of the most spectacular parks in North America. Highlights will no doubt be the thousands of alcids, including Tufted and Horned Puffins and Parakeet and Rhinoceros Auklets, as well as breaching Humpback Whales, Orcas, Steller s Sea Lions and many other sea mammals! THE TOURS AT A GLANCE GAMBELL Day 1 Day 2 Days 3 & 4 Day 5 Arrive in Anchorage Anchorage to Gambell via Nome Gambell Depart from Gambell and fly to Nome NOME & SEWARD PENINSULA Day 1 Depart from Anchorage Airport and fly to Nome Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Kougarok Road Teller Road Council Road Depart from Nome and fly to Anchorage THE PRIBILOFS: ST PAUL ISLAND Day 1 Arrive in Anchorage Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Flight to St Paul Island Birding St Paul Island Morning birding on St Paul Island, late PM depart for Anchorage DENALI & KENAI Day 1 Arrive in Anchorage Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Depart for Denali Highway Full day shuttle into Denali Park Depart for Denali Highway Full day birding Denali Highway

4 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 4 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Depart for Anchorage Depart for Seward Full day boat trip into Kenai Fjords NP Depart for Anchorage where the tour will conclude BARROW - THE HIGH ARCTIC Day 1 Depart from Anchorage Airport for Barrow Day 2 Day 3 All day birding; trip to Point Barrow All day birding; evening departure for Anchorage TOUR MAP

5 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 5 Gambell The Siberian Express Steller s Eider by Stephan Lorenz We ll meet in Anchorage at the Coast International Hotel at 18:30 for dinner downtown at Orso, one of the finest restaurants in Alaska. After dinner, we ll do an hour or so of initial birding. We can usually find a pair of nesting Pacific Loons close-by and, if we re lucky, nesting American Dipper. Day 2: Anchorage to Gambell via Nome. After breakfast we will head back to the airport. Anchorage Airport is likely to be busy with the tourist season starting, so we want to be there a while in advance of our departure time. Our first flight will take us to Nome, before our second flight to Gambell. All being well, we will arrive in Gambell this afternoon in time for a late lunch. After checking into our hotel, we will receive instruction on safety and operating of our rented 4 wheel ATV s (one ATV per two guests). It is important to listen carefully and to abide by speed limitations, loads, restricted areas, etc. Days 3 & 4: Gambell. Our time on Gambell will follow a similar routine each day. We often start the day with a short sea watch, since it is very active in the morning and late afternoon. While birding, we will be in radio contact all the time. Sometimes, we will split up to cover more ground. We will stay in contact with other groups on the island as well. Meals will be prepared by our fine chef, Jennifer MacKay. Meals will be Common Ringed Plover by Stephan Lorenz

6 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 6 coordinated with the other groups so that everyone isn t eating at the same time since we ll be sharing meal space. Breakfast will typically be at approximately 7:00, lunch around 13:00 and dinner about 18:30. Red-necked Stint by Stephan Lorenz Seawatching: Takes place out on the Northwest Point, just outside of town and past the dump. This is an excellent place to observe the variety of seabirds, eiders, ducks and alcids that cruise by very closely. It can be quite cold and windy on the point since we ll be facing directly towards the mountains of Siberia, 35 miles away. We often see various species of whale surfacing within 100 yards of the shoreline as well as Walrus. Near the Boneyard The boneyards are the local dumps used for centuries to dispose of whale, walrus and sea lion carcusses. The locals dig in the boneyards, looking for old ivory which is quite valuable. The Near Boneyard merges with the village on the SW side, a couple of hundred yards from our lodgings. Typically, we often find Red-necked Stints and Common Ringed Plovers here. In addition, this is the location of many of the vagrant passerines that move through, starting in the last week of May and continuing the first few days of June. Far Boneyard: Flush up against the mountain, this boneyard is about ¾ of a mile from our lodgings. It has been very productive for passerines, and we will check it several times daily. There are a couple a smaller boneyards between the mountain and the village that sometimes yield birds of interest. The Near Marsh: Lies between the Far Boneyard and the Lake. As snow melts from this rather small area, shorebirds begin coming in to feed and rest, usually in ones and twos. Many of the best shorebird sightings occur at this marsh. The Far Marsh: Lies at the south end of the Lake, about 2 miles from the Village. This marsh is much larger than the Near Marsh, but it can be difficult to negotiate because the water can be over your knees in places. There is an excellent vantage point from the road running alongside. Another location for shorebird vagrants. The Far Lake: Lies about ½ a mile beyond the big lake and is usually frozen in until the very last days of May or the beginning of June. Has been the location of some significant sightings. The Alcid Cliffs: These run all along the mountain from the lake to the sea. We ll visit them in an effort to get better looks White Wagtail by Stephan Lorenz

7 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 7 at the rare, breeding Little Auk. The mountainside can also be a productive birding site. Eyebrowed Thrush by Stephan Lorenz Nome tour, we will check into our lodgings on arrival in Nome. Day 5: Depart from Gambell and fly to Nome. This morning after breakfast we take out flights back to Nome between 10:30 and 15:00. Again, much depends upon weather, and we ll let you know the day before about approximate time. We must be packed and ready to depart by 9:30. Upon arrival in Nome, Bering Air can check your bags for the day. We ll pick them up for check-in at Nome Airport for our 21:00 departure if you re flying out this evening. For those continuing onwards with our WEATHER: The weather is always an issue on Gambell. We hope for strong South-westerly winds to push in Asian vagrants migrating up the Bering Sea. Westerly and North-westerly winds are pretty good as well. Southerly and Easterly winds are likely to bring in birds from the Alaska mainland. There s not a thing we can do about the weather except to hope for the best. Flights can be problematic due to weather. Bering Air has a representative on the island who makes the call to Bering telling them if its ok to fly from Nome. We have no control over this process. Bering will fly if they think it is safe. Sometimes, the mountain will clear for a brief period, then disappear again while the planes are en route. The good news is that we only need concern ourselves with this process on our first day and our last. Please remember that we do not cover additional costs incurred due to weather or mechanical delays. If you obtained a good travel insurance policy, you re in good shape for getting reimbursed for any additional costs.

8 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 8 Nome & the Seward Peninsula American Golden Plover in breeding plumage by Markus Lilje Day 1: Depart from Anchorage Airport and fly to Nome. The tour commences from Anchorage Airport this morning, where you are requested to please arrive by 9:00 (subject to change on a year-to-year basis) to obtain your E-ticket at the kiosk, following which you will fly to Nome. Depending on the route, which can include a short stop at Prudhoe Bay, we ll get settled in at the Inn in Nome, followed by our first meal together, where we can discuss our forthcoming plans over the next few days! Depending on the rarities that may have been spotted in the area recently, we may opt to bird Safety Lagoon, the Nome River Outlet, Nome Point, or the cemetery ponds. We ll spend the rest of the day carefully searching the shorelines, lagoons and ponds along the Bering Sea for rarities such as Blackthroated (Arctic) and Yellow-billed Loons, Red-necked Stint, Slaty-backed Gull or Emperor Goose, as well as the many resident shorebirds, waterfowl and seabirds. Day 2: Kougarok Road. Leaving early this morning, we will cover a 73mile stretch of Kougarak Road, which leads into the high tundra and mountains of the Seward Peninsula. We will focus on our search of endangered Bristle-thighed Curlews, which nest near the road. Bluethroats and Gyrfalcon, Parasitic Jaeger, and Golden Eagle are on the list of hopefuls too! Rock and Willow Ptarmigans are abundant at this time of year, while Eastern Yellow Wagtails will be Red Fox Sparrow by Forrest Rowland

9 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 9 in the process of establishing their territories. We ll also keep a careful watch for Grizzly Bear, Moose, Wolf and other mammals. Day 3: Teller Road. This morning, we ll slowly drive out along Teller Road, stopping at several river crossings to look for Wandering Tattler, Blackpoll, Orange-crowned and Wilson s Warblers, Northern Waterthrush and Greycheeked Thrush. We ll also stop at Wooley Lagoon to view a native whale-hunting outpost on the Bering Sea, observing nesting Grey (Black-bellied), Pacific Golden and American Golden Plovers, in the process. Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers and Whimbrels are Bristle-thighed Curlew by David Shackelford abundant. Long-tailed Jaegers are always around harassing the shorebirds at their nests, and we should also manage good looks at Northern Wheatear and Snow Bunting! At the end of the road, we find Teller itself, an Inupiat village that sits out on a spit in the bay. White Wagtail and many alcids, including Horned and Tufted Puffins, Pigeon and Black Guillemots and Common Murre, have been seen here, depending on the sea ice. We could also see Spotted Seals here, close to the shore. Day 4: Council Road. We ll drive along Safety Lagoon again this morning looking for shorebirds, waterfowl, geese, swans and loons. The road to Council can be difficult to traverse at times, but we hope to make it out to the small fishing village in the interior of Fish Creek. This area represents the only Boreal forest on the Seward Peninsula and should yield Varied Thrush, Boreal Chickadee, Rough-legged Buzzard (Hawk) and other alpine species. We have even heard Boreal Owl in the area on previous tours. Day 5: Depart from Nome and fly to Anchorage. After an early breakfast, we will prepare to depart for the airport for our 9:30 (subject to change) return flight to Anchorage, where the tour will conclude. Please note: Road conditions can affect access to certain species, including Bristlethighed Curlew. In recent years, the weather has been outstanding and access has been good along all routes. Anyone wishing to proceed onto the The Pribilofs: St Paul Island tour will need to fly back and overnight in Anchorage on the evening of Day 4. Your lodging for this night is included in the tour price. Bluethroat by Forrest Rowland

10 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 10 The Pribilofs: St Paul Island Tufted Puffin by Dave Kutilek Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage. We ll meet in Anchorage at the Coast International Hotel at 18:30 for dinner downtown at Orso, one of the finest restaurants in Alaska. After dinner, we ll do an hour or so of initial birding. We can usually find a pair of nesting Pacific Loons close-by and, if we re lucky, nesting American Dipper. Day 2: Flight to St Paul Island. Following a scrumptious breakfast at the Coast, we will proceed to the airport this morning for our flight to St. Paul, departing at about 11:30 with an expected arrival time at about 15:30. After checking into our very comfortable accommodations on St. Paul, we ll do a bit of birding before dinner, probably getting our first good looks at Red-legged Kittiwake, and chasing any Asian vagrants that may have been discovered recently. Post-dinner, we will continue our exploration of the island, where we will be spending the next three days. Pacific Loon by Ignacio Yufera Day 3: Birding St Paul Island. After

11 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 11 breakfast this morning, we will then bird until lunch, and then again until dinner in the early evening, followed by yet another stint until 22:00 or even later, depending on what we might find. This will be our schedule for our entire stay on the island. We will also spend at least one morning at the sea cliffs observing the vast array of nesting birds. Red-faced and Pelagic Cormorants, Northern Fulmar, Blacklegged and Red-legged Kittiwakes, Tufted and Horned Puffins, Common and Thickbilled Murre, and Crested, Parakeet and Least Auklets all breed along these cliffs. Even Ancient Murrelets are seen in small numbers, and pelagic rarities are annual in Least and Crested Auklets by Alasdair Hunter Spring, such as Little Auk (Dovekie). We usually find a couple of Steller s Eiders and Emperor Geese as well, while Yellow-billed Loon is often seen from the shore. An obvious attraction to spending ample time in St. Paul is looking for vagrant species that have been seen here over the years, with possibilities including Wood Sandpiper, Tundra Bean Goose, Smew, Common Pochard, Common Greenshank, Lesser Sand Plover, Common Cuckoo, Brambling, Rustic Bunting and Eye-browed Thrush, Siberian Rubythroat, among many others. Mammals are a surprisingly wonderful attraction here. This is world s largest Northern Fur Seal colony, which gives the island its centuries-old history, known as the soft gold rush for fur and pelt in Alaska before it was part of the United States of America. The island has its own Caribou (Reindeer) herd, dozens of lovely Arctic Fox families, even an endemic Shrew, four only on St. Paul! Marine mammals spotted from shore, in the past, have included Orca, Stellar s Sea Lion, and more. King Eider by Forrest Rowland Day 4: Morning birding on St Paul Island, late PM depart for Anchorage. After packing our bags in the morning, we will then spend the rest of the day birding until about 14:00, when we ll then prepare to depart the island. Our plane typically leaves between 15:00 and 16:00, and we should arrive in Anchorage at around 18:30, where our tour will conclude.

12 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 12 Denali & Kenai Glaciers, Great Birding & Spectacular Vistas Grizzly Bear by Markus Lilje Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage. After arriving in Anchorage, we will all meet at the Coast Hotel at 18:30 for our first dinner together. We will be dining at Orso, a favourite of Anchorage residents. After dinner, we ll then do a bit of birding around Anchorage, so be sure to bring your binoculars. We ll check Westchester Lagoon where we usually find Hudsonian Godwits and Short-billed Dowitchers in breeding plumage along with nesting Rednecked Grebes. Other expected species include Arctic Tern, Mew and Bonaparte s Gulls, Greater Scaup and many others. Nesting Pacific Loons can usually be found in the Anchorage area as well. Arctic Warbler by Forrest Rowland Day 2: Depart for Denali Highway. We ll start the day at 6:30 with a Continental breakfast at the Coast, after which we ll depart for Denali Park. An amazing recent development on today s route was the massive wildfire locally known as the Sockeye Burn. We will make sure to take some time to seek out two recentburn opportunists that are seldom encountered outside of

13 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 13 such areas: American Three-toed Woodpecker and Black-backed Woodpecker. Last year s tour was very successful at this site indeed, finding cooperative breeding pairs of both scarce species! Eventually arriving in the town of Talkeetna, we ll break for lunch. We should arrive at our lodging outside the park about 16:00. Once we ve checked in and had a bit of a break, we ll enjoy dinner in the little village outside of the park. Our lodgings for the night are in the beautiful and charming cabins of Tonglen Lake Lodge, where Great Gray Owls have recently taken up residence, nearby. Willow Ptarmigan by Forrest Rowland Day 3: Full day shuttle into Denali Park. After a very early continental breakfast this morning, we will drive to the park headquarters in order to transfer to our park shuttle. We ll be taking the Eielson shuttle, an 8-hour journey affording outstanding views of the park and its surrounds, not to mention the local birds and wildlife. Not that we are bound to the shuttle, since it s permissible for group members to get off the bus and walk if you wish (Guides, however, are not allowed to do so because the park will not permit anyone other than their concessionaires out of the shuttle). Some of the birds we'll be looking for include Long-tailed Jaeger, Golden Eagle, Gyrfalcon, Willow Ptarmigan, Northern Hawk-Owl and Northern Wheatear. Mammals are usually fairly abundant and possibilities include Grizzly Bear, Wolf, Moose, Lynx, Caribou, Red Fox and Hoary Marmot. Along the way, we ll enjoy a packed lunch, and expect to return in the late afternoon. Dinner tonight will be enjoyed at the incomparable 229 Parks. Northern Hawk-Owl by David Hoddinott Day 4: Depart for Denali Highway. Following another early breakfast, we ll hit the road for the spectacular Denali Highway. This is a great place for viewing the region s wildlife, and we ll make numerous stops along this 135-mile dirt road that parallels the Alaska Range. We should see Trumpeter and Tundra Geese, Surf Scoters, Red-throated and Common Loons, Barrow s and Common Goldeneyes, Red-necked Phalarope, Wilson s Snipe, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bohemian Waxwing, Boreal Chickadee and Two-barred (White-winged) Crossbill. We ll have a packed lunch along the way, eventually arriving at Tangle River Inn in the late afternoon where we will check in prior to enjoying dinner.

14 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 14 Day 5: Full day birding Denali Highway. Following breakfast this morning, we will then commence our explorations of the area. First, we ll search for Smith s Longspur, after which we ll drive back along Denali Highway in order to access some high country for several birds that are more likely to be seen here. Rock Ptarmigan, Whimbrel, American Golden Plover, Long-tailed Jaeger, Northern Wheatear, American Pipit, Grey-crowned Rosy Finch (uncommon), Lapland Longspur and Arctic Warbler are among the birds we might see. The same mammals from Denali Park can also be seen along the road here, but they are much wearier. In addition, this is the only place we have seen Wolverine in our 16 years of coming to the park. Day 6: Depart for Anchorage. After breakfast this morning, we will depart for our return journey to Anchorage. A Great Grey Owl nests every other year along the route, and we ll stop and take a look as this should be Pine Grosbeak by Forrest Rowland the year that the nest is active. We ll also keep our eyes peeled for other birds along the way as well as breaking for lunch en route. Time permitting, we might even make a quick run up Hatcher s Pass, near Anchorage. Last year s group made time for a brief search for White-tailed Ptarmigan at this site, and were successful, finding a female incubating eggs! Arriving in Anchorage in the late afternoon, we will check in, followed by a scrumptious meal downtown. Day 7: Depart for Seward. We depart this morning after breakfast for Seward. We might make stops at Potter s Marsh to look for Horned Grebe and Rusty Blackbird, or along Turnagain Arm to search for Beluga Whales and Mountain Goats. Other birds that can be found en route include an incredible array of species particular to what is considered Pacific Northwest Rain Forest. Species possible include Hermit and Swainson s Thrushes, Pine Grosbeak, Townsend s Warbler, Chestnutbacked Chickadee, Sooty Fox Sparrow, and the stunning Steller s Jay. We will check into our accommodations near Seward s quaint harbour area. Thereafter, we will enjoy a couple of hours at the Sealife Center in Seward. The exhibits are great, and they have many seabirds. We ll round off the day with another great dinner, this time at a local eatery called Apollo s. Bald Eagle by Forrest Rowland Day 8: Full day boat trip into Kenai Fjords NP. After a quick breakfast in town, we will head to Seward Boat Harbour to board a small boat. The only rough water we could experience might be a stretch of about 45 minutes into the Gulf of Alaska as we head to the Chiswell Islands, so if you think you need it, you should take motion sickness pills just after we board.

15 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 15 The seas are usually moderate at most, but it s best to be prepared. We ll spend about 7 hours on the boat, with lunch on board. Birds we hope to see include nesting Bald Eagles, Horned and Tufted Puffins, Red-faced and Pelagic Cormorants, Parakeet and Rhinoceros Auklets, Marbled, Ancient and Kittlitz s Murrelets, and Black Oystercatcher. If lucky, we might also see Sooty or Short-tailed Shearwaters and Fork-tailed Storm Petrel. Marine mammals are abundant and we hope for sightings of Humpback and Killer Whales (Orca), Steller s Sea Lions and Dall Porpoise. Following what should be an exciting and rewarding day, we ll then enjoy dinner at Ray s, famous for their exquisite cedar plank salmon. Day 9: Depart for Anchorage where the tour will conclude. After an early morning check out of our cabins, we will do a bit of final birding around Seward for Rufous Hummingbird, Northwestern Crow, and Pacific Wren. Harbour Seal by Forrest Rowland

16 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 16 Barrow - The High Arctic Snowy Owl by Dave Kutilek Day 1: Depart from Anchorage Airport for Barrow. Today we will all meet at the Anchorage Airport at around 14:00, from where we will depart by air at about 16:00. Arriving in Barrow at about 19:00 (flights are subject to change at any time), we will then check into our hotel, followed by dinner and some birding thereafter. Our main focus this evening will be on finding both Spectacled and Steller s Eiders, though we can also expect to see some of the region s commoner species. Day 2: All day birding; trip to Point Barrow. Following an early breakfast this morning, we ll explore all the roads around Barrow looking for the local specialities. There are only about 50 miles of roads in the area, so we ll be able to cover them multiple times. It s generally too wet to walk through the tundra so we ll mostly stay on the road. We will also spend some time at Freshwater Lake, and then drive out along the pipeline road for about 20 miles or so. We should find many shorebirds on this expedition, including the lovely Red Phalarope, Pectoral, Baird s, and, possibly, White-rumped or Buff-breasted Red Phalarope by Forrest Rowland

17 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 17 Long-billed Dowitchers by Forrest Rowland this option will be available. If not, we ll bird instead.) Sandpipers. If the lemming year is good, Snowy Owls and Pomarine Skuas (Jaegers) should be abundant. We will then return to the town for dinner, after which we ll try to schedule a tracked vehicle to take us to Point Barrow for the late evening since this is the best time to see the region s mammals. Our main purpose for wanting to get to the point is to look for Polar Bears around the whale carcases that are hauled out there by the locals. If the ice pack is in, our chances are excellent for finding these magnificent creatures. (Please note: It has become extremely difficult to secure a tracked vehicle for this excursion, and we won t know until we get there whether Day 3: All day birding; evening departure for Anchorage. Following another hearty early breakfast, we ll check out and store our luggage. We'll spend the rest of the day looking for other rarities such as Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. To do so, we ll drive the road system once again and check the lakes and melt ponds as well as any open water along the shoreline. After another productive day in the field, we will then depart from Barrow at about 20:00 and the tour will conclude upon our return to Anchorage at about 23:00 (flights times subject to change). Spectacled Eider by Forrest Rowland

18 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 18 FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS Tour dates, prices, single supplement rates, approximate flight costs and spaces available for these tours are displayed on our website, please click on the below links. The tour price includes: Gambell The Siberian Express Roundtrip flights: Anchorage to Gambell; Pickup and drop-off at Anchorage Airport; All meals from dinner on day 1 of the tour to breakfast on day 5; Drinking water throughout the tour; All lodgings as per the itinerary; Ground transportation; ATV rental; All taxes and reserve entrance fees; All guiding services; and Tips for local guides and services. Nome & Seward Peninsula Roundtrip flights: Anchorage to Nome; Pickup and drop-off at Nome Airport; All meals from lunch on day 1 of the tour to breakfast on day 5; Drinking water throughout the tour; All lodgings as per the itinerary; Ground transportation; All taxes and reserve entrance fees; All guiding services; and Tips for local guides and services. The Pribilofs: St Paul Island Return airfare from Anchorage to St. Paul Island; Free shuttle to and from Coast International Inn; All meals from dinner on day 1 of the tour to lunch on day 4; All lodgings as per the itinerary (including night of the 7 th if participating on Denali tour); Ground transportation; Taxes and reserve entrance fees; and All guiding services. Tips for local guides and services. Denali & Kenai Free shuttle to and from Coast International Inn; All meals from dinner on day 1 of the tour to lunch on day 9; All lodgings as per the itinerary (including night of the 15 th if participating on Barrow tour); Drinking water throughout the tour; Ground transportation;

19 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 19 All taxes and reserve entrance fees; and All guiding services. Tips for local guides and services. Barrow The High Arctic Roundtrip flights: Anchorage to Barrow; Pickup and drop-off at Barrow Airport; All meals from dinner on day 1 of the tour to dinner on day 3; Drinking water throughout the tour; All lodgings as per the itinerary; Ground transportation; All taxes and reserve entrance fees; All guiding services; and Tips for local guides and services. The tour price excludes: ANY international airfares. Any airfares other than stated above, taxes and visa costs; Alcoholic beverages; Special gratuities (guide & boat tips); and Telephone calls, laundry and items of a personal nature. Single Supplement: The single supplement cost for this tour will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If RBL cannot provide you with a rooming partner for these nights although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share. IMPORTANT NOTES: a) Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we quote our tours in 4 currencies. The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold, and the actual cost in the other currencies listed will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 4 months before the tour.) The same applies to approximate flight and single supplement rates, which are also quoted in the respective fixed currency. b) Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement will have to be charged. c) Furthermore, these costs are subject to unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result. d) Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary and / or the designated leader at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as close to the original program as possible. Tipping: As noted above, gratuities (drivers, hotel staff, porters and restaurants) are included on this tour. However, this does NOT include your Rockjumper leader/s. If, therefore, you feel that he/they have given you excellent service, it is entirely appropriate to tip them.

20 RBL United States - Alaska Itinerary 20 ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DETAILS Gambell The Siberian Express. The tour will depart from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage in the early afternoon of day 1, please arrive earlier in the day or preferably the day before. The tour will conclude on the morning of day 5 at Nome Airport (IATA: OME). Anyone wishing to proceed onto the Nome & Seward Peninsula tour will simply remain in Nome, rather. Nome & Seward Peninsula The tour will depart from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage in the early afternoon of day 1, please arrive earlier in the day or preferably the day before. The tour will conclude on the morning of day 5 at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage. Anyone wishing to proceed onto the The Pribilofs: St Paul Island tour will need to fly back and overnight in Anchorage on the evening of day 4. Your lodging for this night is included in the tour price. The Pribilofs: St Paul Island The tour will commence in Anchorage with our first dinner together at 18:30 on day 1. The tour will conclude at around 18:30 in Anchorage on day 4. Denali & Kenai The tour will commence in Anchorage with our first dinner together at 18:30 on day 1. The tour will conclude at around 14:00 in Anchorage on day 9. Barrow The High Arctic The tour will depart from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage at around 16:00 on day 1, please arrive no later than 14:00. The tour will conclude by 23:00 at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage on day 3. The above information in respect of arrivals and departures is a guide only. Precise arrival and departure information will be sent to you in your Tour Confirmation package once the tour has been officially confirmed. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Rockjumper office. FLIGHTS Ted Stevens International Airport, Anchorage (IATA: ANC) is the main port of entry for flights for these tours. Please DO NOT book any flights until you have consulted the Rockjumper office for confirmation on the status of the tour. Rockjumper Birding Ltd Vanilla Village, Royal Road Black River Mauritius Tel (USA & Canada) toll free: info@rockjumperbirding.com Alternative rockjumperbirding@yahoo.com Website: