No, still making with the puns and pushing my 'aren't Muskoxen awesome' agenda. But take heart - the Nome portion of my trip is winding down.
Yesterday, in tundra shrubs, Richard located a pair of Arctic Warblers - LIFER! I looked and looked but the birds only allotted us fleeting glances for quite a while. I was honestly wondering if I would not count the species at all, when finally, one of the two tiny warblers perched its adorable bum in a tree on thee the hillside.
Not the flashiest birdie out thereon the tundra...
The photographers among us shot a zillion pix of the little guy. The bird then seemed to decide to give us an additional view so as to assure it be recorded properly for prosperity. The more drab birds have to use every angle available.
Arctic Warbler
A tad drab as warblers go, yes, but for me, as exciting as they get.
Throughout the day we stopped at bridges over rivers, and one such stop included excellent gawks at a busy little American Dipper. I've seen Dippers before but this particular bird was going out of its way to show us basic Dipper behavior. It busied itself pulling its food from under the stream waters - grubs that looked both juicy in appearance and barf invoking.
One stop along the way gave me my second view ever of Rock Ptarmigan. My last view of the species was ages ago on Attu island and that was of a flock winging its way as far away from birders as possible.
Richard declared this bird a male
I think it had to do with the dusky sort of plumage it had
Just about to put some distance between itself and a truck full of happy birders
It was a particularly nice day for Red-necked Phalaropes, for which the lighting and the sparkling water on which they floated made for nice shots.
No idea why the water looks like it was oil painted & magical in this photo
And the mirror effects for this little girl was amazing
She's chattering to herself about how amazing she looks
After hearing Wilson's snipes calling all week it was nice to have sit still for a photo
This little Western Sandpiper could be ID because we could see the little cheverons dotting its chest.
Pacific Golden Plover
The Plover was half way through with its molt
Yellow Warbler
Long-winged Jaeger
The Long-winged Jaeger showing off its pointed tailfeathers
Several groups of muskoxen popped up throughout the day. Each and every group of the hairy beasts thrilled me down to my toes. They are so large and prehistoric looking I would have been unsurprised to se a sabertooth sneaking up on them.
OK. I guess I finally got in enough photos of muskoxen to satisfy me. Tomorrow is Sunday and we are leaving in the late afternoon. I wish I could maneuver another week up here. Maybe next year.
