The Travelling Naturalist & Limosa Holidays

Transcription

1 The Travelling Naturalist & Limosa Holidays Spitsbergen Cruise 27 July 07 August 2007 Tour Report

2 Leader: Peter Kennerley With: Susan Batten, Scrap Batten, Gill Eakins, Tony Eakins, Dick Lewis, Margaret Lewis, Lesley Manson, Bridget Mure, David Mure, Gaye Tapp, Martin Tapp, Imogen Theobald, Roger Theobald, Ann Welch As a daily diary for this tour was produced by Oceanwide Expeditions and presented to the group at the end of the tour, this report contains just the systematic list section. ANNOTATED LIST OF BIRDS Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus On 30th July, two small groups totalling c.25 birds at 14th July Glacier Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis At least 200 birds on the lake at Coles Bukta on 29th July, a further 200+ in scattered groups in and around Ny Alesund on 30th July, and c.60 in the fjord by Longyearbyen on 7th August. At this time of year, the adults became flightless during the annual moult and are particularly wary. At Ny Alesund we watch a small group of flightless adults and chicks being rounded up by canoe for ringing. King Eider Somateria spectabilis An immature male with a flock of moulting Common Eider on the sea below Alkhornet on 29th July was the only sighting. Common Eider Somateria mollissima A common bird along the west coast where it was seen daily between 28th July and 1st August. Scarcer to the north and east where the only sighting was at Duvefjorden on Nordaustlanden on 3rd August. Most numerous near Longyearbyen in the Isfjorden with 60+ noted here on 28th and 29th July, and again on 7th August. Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Single females seen at Longyearbyen on 28th July and in the bay at Coles Bukta on 29th July. Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata One on the sea at Coles Bukta on 29th July. Later the same afternoon two adults flew low overhead at Coles Bukta, with the male calling loudly to the female. Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Very common along the west coast but scarcer in the north and east. Dark morph birds predominated, and we seen exclusively in the north and over pack ice. In the south, small numbers (<10/day) of pale morph birds noted. However, many birds showed characters that were intermediate between these two extremes. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Two pairs with at least three chicks at Coles Bukta on 29th July. A minimum of eight including birds obviously breeding, together with fledged juveniles, along the Isfjorden at Longyearbyen on 7th August. These northern breeders appeared smaller-billed than British breeding birds and were of the northern race C. h. tundrae. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres One by the lagoon at Purchasenset at the northern tip of Lagøya on 1st August was the only sighting. Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima A common breeding bird in the south and west, where it was seen daily between 28th July and 1st August, and again on 6th and 7th August. Many juveniles were present along the Isfjorden at Longyearbyen on 7th August. Dunlin Calidris alpina Only seen on 7th August along the Isfjorden at Longyearbyen. On this date at least 60 birds, both adults and juveniles, were feeding on the exposed mudflats. Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria Four males on pools at Purchasenset on Lagøya on 1st August. By this date, the female would have departed from the breeding area and left the males to rear the chicks alone. Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Widespread in small numbers and seen daily throughout the expedition. On a few occasion they were seen to kill and eat guillemot chicks and adult Little Auks. Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea

3 Seen daily between 28th July (in the Isfjorden at Longyearbyen) and 4th August (in the Hinlopen Strait). Most numerous over pack ice, with 11 seen on 2nd August and 9+ on 3rd August. All birds were adults, suggesting they were not breeding. Sabine s Gull Xema sabini A pair nesting in an Arctic Tern colony on a small island off Purchasenset, Lagøya, on 1st August. Sabine s Gulls are rare breeding birds in Spitsbergen so we are particularly fortunate to see these birds. As the female was still incubating on 1st August, this late date suggests this was a second breeding attempt. In fact, on nearby Purchasneset we discovered a deserted nest with two eggs which resembled those of Sabine s Gulls, so perhaps they relocated to this nearby islet when their first attempt failed. Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Abundant throughout and seen daily. The colony we visited at Disko Bukta on Edgeøya held in excess of 20,000 pairs. Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Common and seen daily. Most numerous in the west, particularly in Longyearbyen and Ny Alesund, where they nested between the buildings. A first summer bird was seen at Duvefjorden on 3rd August. Very few birds of this age migrate north; most remain well to the south of the breeding range, where they do not compete for food with breeding adults. Arctic Terns winter in Antarctic seas and are probably exposed to more daylight than any other bird species. Great Skua Catharacta skua A total of nine scattered individuals or pairs seen. Birds appeared to be breeding near 14th July Glacier and on a small island in the Hinlopen Strait. Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus Single pale morph sub-adult birds flew past the ship when we were north of the Seven Islands (c80 N) on 2nd and 3rd August. Perhaps the same individual? Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus A widespread breeding bird in small numbers throughout the archipelago, and seen daily except 1st August. Pale morph birds predominated, and only two or three dark morph birds were seen. Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus One flew past the ship in the morning of 2nd August, followed later the same day by a pair that flew close across the bows of the Professor Molchanov. Little Auk Alle alle An abundant seabird in Spitsbergen seas. Several thousand seen daily along the west coast, but less numerous in the north. The visit to the breeding colony at Ingeborgfjellet on 6th August was one of the highlights of the expedition. Here, tens of thousands of birds were nesting in the scree below the cliffs and we were able to watch them at close range. Little Auk is reputedly the most numerous seabird in the North Atlantic. Brünnich s Guillemot Uria lomvia Another abundant seabird, and although not quite as numerous as Little Auk but many thousands seen most days. More numerous than Little Auk in the colder seas in the north and east. Our visit to the huge breeding colony at Alkenfjellet in the Hinlopen Strait was another great highlight on this tour. Here, the breeding colony extended for a couple of kilometres along the cliffs, with some birds nesting only 10 metres above sea level. Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle Common and seen daily but not approaching the numbers of the previous two species. It was, however, the most numerous auk amongst the pack ice at 81 N. In Spitsbergen, it appears to nest on high cliffs, as well as lower down. Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica Small numbers seen on eight days. Most numerous on 30th July when c.200 were seen at sea between 14th July Glacier and Ny Alesund. On other days, numbers typically ranged between 10 and 30 individuals. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris One in Longyearbyen on 28th July Blackbird Turdus merula A male in Ny Alesund on 30th July. Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis The only breeding passerine. Common in Longyearbyen and Ny Alesund but generally scarce elsewhere and only seen on six dates. Absent or very scarce in the north and east.

4 ANNOTATED LIST OF MAMMALS Arctic Fox Alopex lagopus Three in an earth at Ny Alesund on 30th July were sporting distinctive coloured ear tags. Elsewhere, one hunting on the bird cliffs at Alkenfjellet on 1st August, at least three foraging below the kittiwake colony at Disko Bukta on 5th August and one at the Little Auk colony at Ingeborgfjellet on 6th August. Polar Bear Ursus maritimus A total of nine sightings. Two in the Hinlopen Strait on 31st July, three on pack ice north of the seven Islands on 2nd August, two in the same general area on 3rd August and two in the Hinlopen Strait on 4th August. We were able to closely approach one bear on the pack ice in the Hinlopen Strait on 4th, and remained with it for over two hours. Later the same day, another bear appeared briefly before varnishing into the fog. Walrus Odobenus rosmarus Four in the sea near the island of Depotøya, in the Hinlopen Strait, on 31st July were a bit distant for satisfactory views. However, the next day we visited the haul out site at Purchasenset, Lagøya, where there were at least 40 Walrus hauled out on the island. These were very approachable and unconcerned by our presence, although we did not go closer than 40 metres. Harp Seal Phoca groenlandicus Several seen amongst the pack ice on 2nd and 3rd August. However, all remained in the sea and were seen either porpoising or just watching us as we sailed by, with only their heads showing. Ringed Seal Phoca hispida As with the previous species, only seen amongst the pack ice on 2nd, 3rd and 4th August. Unlike Harp Seal, however, many were hauled out on pack ice close to breathing/escape holes. Bearded Seal Erignathus barbatus The most numerous and widespread seal, and noted on six dates. The best views were of two resting on ice at the 14th July Glacier. On 2nd August, we watched a Polar Bear stalking a resting Bearded Seal on the pack ice. The bear approached the seal by swimming under water and surfacing in clear leads amongst the ice. On the final approach, the bear came up through the wrong hole, and the shocked seal escaped into the sea. Beluga Deplphinapterus leucos Eight in Isfjorden near Alkhornet in the morning of 29th July. Another seen in the fjord later the same day. Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Two singles as sea as we sailed north between Isfjorden and Ny Alesund on 30th July. Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus One surfaced several times close to the Professor Molchanov in the Hinlopen Strait on 31st July. Reindeer Rangifer tarandus Widespread in small numbers. Most numerous along the west coast, with 12+ at Alkhornet on 29th, c. 8 at 14th July Glacier on 30th July and 20+ at Ingeborgfjellet on 6th August. However, four at Duvefjorden, Nordaustlanden, on 3rd August were in a largely barren region, with only tiny plants growing between gaps in rocks. What they survive on here is a mystery. The Reindeer in Spitsbergen are a diminutive form with short legs and a short snout, and are of the race R. t. platyrhynchos. FLOWERS AND PLANTS IDENTIFIED Polar Willow Mountain Sorrel Knotweed Fringed Sandwort Arctic Chickweed Moss Campion Salix polaris Oxyria digyna Polygonum viviparum Arenaria pseudofrigida Stellaria humifusa Silene acaulis

5 Svalbard Poppy Papaver dahlianum Polar Cress Cardamine nymanii Polar Scurvygrass Cochlearia officinalis Purple Saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia Hawkweed-leafed Saxifrage Saxifraga hieracifolia Bog Saxifrage Saxifraga hirculus Drooping Saxifrage Saxifraga cernua Tufted Saxifrage Saxifraga cespitosa Mountain Avens Dryas octopetala Arctic Bell-heather Cassiope tetragona Oysterplant Mertensia maritima Black Fleabane Erigeron humilis Arctic Dandelion Taxaxacum arcticum Arctic Cottongrass Eriophorum scheuchzeri Alpine Meadow-grass Poa alpina Alpine Hair-grass Deshampsia alpina Sooty Sedge Carex misandra Reindeer Moss