Barrow Day 2

We were out at 7am, travelling the short network of roads that are open due to the snow and ice covering most of the surrounding tundra. As yesterday Red Phalaropes were amazing and everywhere, often beside the road and gave excellent photographic opportunities. The standout sighting was the 3 pairs of Steller’s Eiders loafing around one of the few roadside pools. We watched the males giving a short display, bobbing their heads and swimming around the females. The views in the scope were awesome! Later in the day we saw a group of 10 on a distant lake…

Will post some reasonable eider photos at a later date....

Our day comprised checking all the open roads where the tundra or pools were visible and we enjoyed fine looks at Snow Buntings, numerous Semipalmated and Pectoral Sandpipers, Sanderlings in breeding finery etc

Sanderling

Dunlin in breeding plumage - stunning

Red Phalarope

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Greater Scaup - female

Greater Scaup - drake

A walk across the tundra produced a single Buff-breasted Sandpiper that fed totally oblivious to our presence some 20 metres away.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

After lunch we had a siesta before venturing out both sides of dinner and returned to the hotel again at 11pm. There was another flight view of Snowy Owl, some showy Short-eared Owls (at least 9 sightings), a distant Bearded Seal, Long-billed Dowitcher, a fine White-rumped Sandpiper, some Red-necked Phalaropes, and several Pomarine and Arctic Skuas amongst others.

Short-eared Owl