Gambell, Alaska Birding Photos From May 26 through June 5, 2010, I birded Gambell, Alaska with Wilderness Birding Adventures. Gambell is a Native American village on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. The island sits within 40 miles of the coast of Russia and in good weather you can see the mountains of the Chukchi Peninsula. Because of this proximity to Asia, rare birds (at least for us North Americans!) are frequently seen at Gambell. This page was written to give people an idea of what it’s like to bird at Gambell. To stay within airline weight limitations, I used my Nikon 300m f/4 lens on this trip. Although it’s not as sharp as some of my other lenses, it is much easier to carry. Another photographic challenge was the distance to some of the birds. I certainly didn’t want to “push” a bird off the island by trying to get too close, so many of the photos are cropped quite a bit to get a reasonable image size. That does, of course, lead to increased graininess. Still, I think that these images will whet many a birder’s appetite for visiting Gambell. It’s really a fantastic place to bird. Birding began in earnest almost from the moment that we deplaned in Gambell. Within minutes we were all enjoying a Wood Sandpiper. Eight minutes later we were looking at a lovely Brambling. Several White Wagtails were conspicuous on the roofs of homes. Life is good!   Gambell Alaska   Wood Sandpiper Boatyard   Brambling Boatyard White Wagtail Water Treatment Ponds It’s hard to pick a “favorite” part of a Gambell birding adventure. However, the sea watch has to be high on most people’s list of favorites. Especially in the morning, there is almost a continuous movement of birds (and sea mammals) across “the point”. Some of these birds are migrating. Some of them are moving between nesting areas and feeding areas. The best part is that you never know which species will be in the next flock.   Gambell Seawatch The Point   Siberia in Distance The Point   King & Spectacled Eiders The Point Spectacled Eiders The Point   King & Spectacled Eiders The Point   King Eiders The Point Steller's Eiders The Point   Steller's Eiders The Point   Harlequin Duck The Point Long-tailed Duck The Point   Arctic Loon The Point   Ivory Gull The Point Ivory Gull The Point   Red Phalarope The Point   Yellow-billed Loon The Point Crested Auklet The Point   Spectacled Eiders The Point   Steller's Eider The Point Whales (gray?) were present during most sea watches. They were especially easy to locate on calm days. Not only did this make it easier to see them break the surface, but you could also hear their “blow” as they exhaled full lungs of spent air. One afternoon a pod of orcas (killer whales) was seen well out from the island. The pair of whales pictured close to the shore were seen shortly afterwards. They were racing away from the pod of orcas.   Whale The Point   Whales The Point No birding visit is complete without visiting, and re-visiting the “boneyards”. According to Wikipedia, St. Lawrence Island has been inhabited sporadically for the past 2,000 years. Sea mammals are today, and have been historically a large part of the inhabitants diet. The boneyards are probably the pre-historic “butchering” grounds for sea mammals. The soil in these areas is dark and richly organic, and this may explain why snow melts earlier in the boneyards. Plant growth, along with weed seeds, is more common in the boneyards. And finally the boneyards are “pot-holed” from native digs for carvable bones and walrus tusk ivory. In early spring, some of these pot-holes have meltwater in them. All of this makes the boneyards a magnet for early migrant landbirds and even shorebirds. No day seems to be complete without multiple birders forming a line and “working” the boneyards to see if a rarity can be found.   Near Boneyard Gambell, Alaska   Near Boneyard Gambell, Alaska   Near Boneyard Gambell, Alaska Near Boneyard Near Boneyard   Near Boneyard Near Boneyard   Near Boneyard Near Boneyard Red-necked Stint Near Boneyard   Rustic Bunting Near Boneyard   Rustic Bunting Near Boneyard Brambling Near Boneyard   Pacific Golden-Plover Near Boneyard   White Wagtail Old Town Common Rosefinch (female) Old Town The road along the base of the “cliffs” can frequently hold “good” birds. In Spring 2010 a Stonechat was found in this area. Unfortunately, it didn’t provide good photo opportunities.   The Cliffs Gambell, Alaska The marshes at the far end of Troutman Lake attract shorebirds and ducks. In Spring 2010, a pair of Common Ringed Plovers was present near “the culvert”. Other shorebirds in the area were showing off their best plumage. Although not “rare” to North American birders, seeing them in their spring “finest” is a rare treat.   Common Ringed Plover Marshes   Lesser Sand-Plover Marshes   Lesser Sand-Plover Marshes Western Sandpiper Marshes   Dunlin Marshes   Red-necked Phalarope Marshes Nome is typically on the “itinerary” of most birders visiting Gambell. This Bristle-thighed Curlew was photographed in the vicinity of Coffee Dome.   Bristle-thighed Curlew Coffee Dome area   Bristle-thighed Curlew Coffee Dome area   Bristle-thighed Curlew Coffee Dome area Bristle-thighed Curlew Coffee Dome area   Bristle-thighed Curlew Coffee Dome area Sea mammals are a major dietary item for natives of Gambell. Here, a group of walrus hunters is heading toward the pack ice in the distance. Aluminum boats are increasingly used today. A few of the traditional split-walrus skin boats can still be seen in the “boatyard” area. Elders speak glowingly of how these boats can quietly be slid across ice floes and flex without breaking in heavy ice. And when damage occurs far from home, the skin boats are much easier to repair.   Native hunters Gambell, Alaska   Split Walrus-skin Boat Gambell, Alaska   Split Walrus-skin Boat Gambell, Alaska The natives of Gambell are excellent artisans. They excel at carving walrus ivory, carving masks from whale disks, and even hand-making dolls with all natural materials.   Ivory Carver Gambell, Alaska   Mask Maker Gambell, Alaska   Beulah (Doll Maker) Gambell, Alaska Here are some photos of both the “old” and “new” town. Note the three windmills that provide part of the town’s electrical needs.   Old Town Gambell, Alaska   Old Town Gambell, Alaska   Old Town Gambell, Alaska New Town Gambell, Alaska   New Town Gambell, Alaska   New Town Gambell, Alaska Old Town Gambell, Alaska