Crested Auklet. Photo by George Armistead, Hillstar Birding
Alaska: The Bering Sea
and Arctic Circle
Monday, June 9 to Thursday, June 19, 2025
(Optional: St Paul extension: June 20 to 22)
(Optional: St Paul extension: June 20 to 22)
Photos L to R: King Eider, Steller's Eider, Red-necked Phalarope. Photos by Dan Vickers.
Guides: Adam Betuel, Birds Georgia Senior Director of Programs, and George Armistead and Alex Harper, with Hillstar Nature
Group Size: 11 people
Cost for Main Trip:
*Based on double occupancy and 10 participants. See more details below if travelling solo
* Prices are an estimate due to local vendors not setting prices yet. Final prices expected to be set in September or October of 2024. Trip costs were based off of 2024 trip costs with a minor increase included. Please reach out to Adam Betuel if you have any questions.
Alaska is grand, in its size, its landscapes, and its wildlife diversity. It is home to fabulous long-distance migrants, seldom-seen inhabitants of the remote north, and often welcomes wayward vagrants from Asia. This tour offers chances for a broad range of birds and wildlife including nesting colonies of hard to track down seabirds, the wonderous landscapes of Nome, a lottery for oddball vagrants from across the turbulent Bering Sea, and a visit to the Arctic Circle where snazzy shorebirds and waterfowl dominate and at times are punctuated by Snowy Owls.
Nome is unlike any other spot in North America, and ranks among the best birding places on Earth. Intensely scenic, it offers a chance at rare breeding birds such as Bristle-thighed Curlew, Bluethroat, Northern Wheatear, Arctic Loon, Gyrfalcon, and still others. It also offers chances for mammals like Muskox and Grizzly Bear, and even other mammals more mythical in nature.
Utqiagvik is as far north as you can get in the State(s). Eiders and shorebirds abound. All the way up at 71 degrees north, just inside the Arctic Circle lies a northward projecting point and an adjoining town. Formerly known as Barrow, the native Inupiat people have long known it as Utqiagvik, which is often translated as “the place where Snowy Owls are hunted.” All four eider species can be seen in a single day, and it is a great location for breeding shorebirds. Lucky observers at times see Polar Bear here. We will spend three nights and parts of four days exploring this unique town and its outskirts, smack in the middle of the arctic wilderness.
Each location offers a chance at scarce or rare visitors from Asia, adding an element of ‘jackpot birding’ to each day. They enough constitute a fantastic trip but if possible, a birder should not miss out on the unique and rarity prone Pribilof Islands. With that in mind, as well as it’s unpredictable weather, we have decided to offer a short excursion to the “Pribs” as an extension to chase down some of the most desired birds in the United States. On remote St. Paul Island, the steep and winding cliff faces hold nesting Red-legged Kittiwakes, Red-faced Cormorants, and thousands of alcids (auks) including Least, Parakeet, and Crested Auklets, as well as Horned and Tufted Puffins. It also offers a chance at scarce or rare visitors from Asia. Visit a tremendous marine wilderness and see the Bering Sea at its best.
Join us for an incomparable adventure to Alaska’s very best birding hotspots.
Group Size: 11 people
Cost for Main Trip:
- Birds Georgia Member: $10,800*
- Non-member: $10,850* (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
- $4,600*
*Based on double occupancy and 10 participants. See more details below if travelling solo
* Prices are an estimate due to local vendors not setting prices yet. Final prices expected to be set in September or October of 2024. Trip costs were based off of 2024 trip costs with a minor increase included. Please reach out to Adam Betuel if you have any questions.
Alaska is grand, in its size, its landscapes, and its wildlife diversity. It is home to fabulous long-distance migrants, seldom-seen inhabitants of the remote north, and often welcomes wayward vagrants from Asia. This tour offers chances for a broad range of birds and wildlife including nesting colonies of hard to track down seabirds, the wonderous landscapes of Nome, a lottery for oddball vagrants from across the turbulent Bering Sea, and a visit to the Arctic Circle where snazzy shorebirds and waterfowl dominate and at times are punctuated by Snowy Owls.
Nome is unlike any other spot in North America, and ranks among the best birding places on Earth. Intensely scenic, it offers a chance at rare breeding birds such as Bristle-thighed Curlew, Bluethroat, Northern Wheatear, Arctic Loon, Gyrfalcon, and still others. It also offers chances for mammals like Muskox and Grizzly Bear, and even other mammals more mythical in nature.
Utqiagvik is as far north as you can get in the State(s). Eiders and shorebirds abound. All the way up at 71 degrees north, just inside the Arctic Circle lies a northward projecting point and an adjoining town. Formerly known as Barrow, the native Inupiat people have long known it as Utqiagvik, which is often translated as “the place where Snowy Owls are hunted.” All four eider species can be seen in a single day, and it is a great location for breeding shorebirds. Lucky observers at times see Polar Bear here. We will spend three nights and parts of four days exploring this unique town and its outskirts, smack in the middle of the arctic wilderness.
Each location offers a chance at scarce or rare visitors from Asia, adding an element of ‘jackpot birding’ to each day. They enough constitute a fantastic trip but if possible, a birder should not miss out on the unique and rarity prone Pribilof Islands. With that in mind, as well as it’s unpredictable weather, we have decided to offer a short excursion to the “Pribs” as an extension to chase down some of the most desired birds in the United States. On remote St. Paul Island, the steep and winding cliff faces hold nesting Red-legged Kittiwakes, Red-faced Cormorants, and thousands of alcids (auks) including Least, Parakeet, and Crested Auklets, as well as Horned and Tufted Puffins. It also offers a chance at scarce or rare visitors from Asia. Visit a tremendous marine wilderness and see the Bering Sea at its best.
Join us for an incomparable adventure to Alaska’s very best birding hotspots.
1 space remains!
Additional spots available on extension as add on to this trip or as stand-alone trip. If you are interested in this 4-night, 5-day outing to St Paul Island, email Adam Betuel for details
Additional spots available on extension as add on to this trip or as stand-alone trip. If you are interested in this 4-night, 5-day outing to St Paul Island, email Adam Betuel for details
Please Note: Credit card processing fees are now included in the registration price.
Questions?: Contact Adam Betuel via email.
Questions?: Contact Adam Betuel via email.
Trip Overview:
Click on each day for more information.
Day 1 (June 9): Arrival into Anchorage:
Welcome to Alaska. Please schedule your flight to arrive before dinner. Upon your arrival into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), after collecting any checked luggage, we will shuttle to the Coast Inn at Lake Hood. We will plan to meet for the first time as a group in the hotel lobby at 7:00 PM and then head to dinner. Adam will coordinate with everyone regarding arrival details.
Night in Anchorage.
Night in Anchorage.
Day 2 (June 10): Flight to Nome
Today we set off for the Seward Peninsula. We’ll look to catch our flight to Nome and after about 3.5 hours of flying should touch down in Nome either mid-day or in the afternoon sometime. After getting settled at our hotel, we’ll head out in search of birds.
Nome is truly a unique place. Situated on the southernmost point of the Seward Peninsula, it faces south out into the Bering Sea. Currently the population of the town is under 4,000 people, but it is famous as the finish line for the Iditarod, as a gold rush town (esp. late 1800s), and also as a place where pilot Jimmy Doolittle spent a chunk of his youth. All of that provides an interesting backdrop, but we will aim to spend most of our time outside of town. Typically, our first day we begin here with a look around the Nome River mouth, and peeking out to sea from Cape Nome. We could see Golden-plovers, Bar-tailed Godwit, loons, and various waterfowl.
Night in Nome.
Nome is truly a unique place. Situated on the southernmost point of the Seward Peninsula, it faces south out into the Bering Sea. Currently the population of the town is under 4,000 people, but it is famous as the finish line for the Iditarod, as a gold rush town (esp. late 1800s), and also as a place where pilot Jimmy Doolittle spent a chunk of his youth. All of that provides an interesting backdrop, but we will aim to spend most of our time outside of town. Typically, our first day we begin here with a look around the Nome River mouth, and peeking out to sea from Cape Nome. We could see Golden-plovers, Bar-tailed Godwit, loons, and various waterfowl.
Night in Nome.
Day 3, 4, 5, & 6 (June 11, 12, 13, and 14): Exploring Nome
Every day is adventure in Nome. You never know what you might see. As always, weather is a big factor, and can be quite changeable even within minutes or hours. We’ll hope for good birding conditions, and search for birds and wildlife along the three main roads that run off and away from town.
The Teller Road runs northwest from Nome, ending in the tiny town of Teller. Along this road we could encounter Gyrfalcon, Northern Wheatear, Rock Ptarmigan, Bluethroat, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, and even nesting Black-bellied Plovers or other shorebirds, such as Bar-tailed Godwit, Pacific Golden-Plover, and more. This is also one of the best roads for encountering Muskox.
The gravel Kougarok Road is perhaps the most famous one in the Nome area among birders. If you venture out about 70 miles you might reach Coffee Dome where there is a decent change to find Bristle-thighed Curlew. Along the way there are many other birds and animals that can keep us occupied too. We’ll pass through habitats that host Common Redpolls, Arctic Warblers, Bluethroats, and Golden-crowned Sparrows, and the skies and tundra that may yield Long-tailed Jaegers, Golden Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks, and more. This road can be good for mammals too. Keep alert and always be checking the road ahead and behind.
The Council Road, runs east from Nome, towards the town of Council. We seldom make it all the way to Council and spend our time along the coast especially, birding Safety Lagoon. This is probably the best area on the continent for detecting Arctic Loon. We’ll need some luck and some persistence probably. As we search and pick our way through the loons (on occasion all 5 loon species are seen here), we’ll see abundant Lapland Longspurs, nesting Semipalmated Sandpipers, Tundra Swans, Common (“Pacific”) Eiders, and the coast and shorelines can host specials like Aleutian Tern, Slaty-backed Gull, and even rare waterfowl species and odd shorebirds.
Nights in Nome.
The Teller Road runs northwest from Nome, ending in the tiny town of Teller. Along this road we could encounter Gyrfalcon, Northern Wheatear, Rock Ptarmigan, Bluethroat, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, and even nesting Black-bellied Plovers or other shorebirds, such as Bar-tailed Godwit, Pacific Golden-Plover, and more. This is also one of the best roads for encountering Muskox.
The gravel Kougarok Road is perhaps the most famous one in the Nome area among birders. If you venture out about 70 miles you might reach Coffee Dome where there is a decent change to find Bristle-thighed Curlew. Along the way there are many other birds and animals that can keep us occupied too. We’ll pass through habitats that host Common Redpolls, Arctic Warblers, Bluethroats, and Golden-crowned Sparrows, and the skies and tundra that may yield Long-tailed Jaegers, Golden Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks, and more. This road can be good for mammals too. Keep alert and always be checking the road ahead and behind.
The Council Road, runs east from Nome, towards the town of Council. We seldom make it all the way to Council and spend our time along the coast especially, birding Safety Lagoon. This is probably the best area on the continent for detecting Arctic Loon. We’ll need some luck and some persistence probably. As we search and pick our way through the loons (on occasion all 5 loon species are seen here), we’ll see abundant Lapland Longspurs, nesting Semipalmated Sandpipers, Tundra Swans, Common (“Pacific”) Eiders, and the coast and shorelines can host specials like Aleutian Tern, Slaty-backed Gull, and even rare waterfowl species and odd shorebirds.
Nights in Nome.
Day 7 (June 15): Flight back to Anchorage
Depending on the timing of our flight, we’ll hope to enjoy a final bit of birding and make an effort to mop up any last birds we might like to see, and then we are headed back to Anchorage.
Night in Anchorage.
Night in Anchorage.
Day 8, (June 16): Flight to Utqiagvik/Barrow.
Today we aim north for Utqiagvik, catching a flight aboard a 737 and arriving to a place that has almost 24 hours of daylight at this season. Once we are checked into our hotel and fed, we go birding!
Night in Utqiagvik.
Night in Utqiagvik.
Day 9 and 10 (June 18 and 18) Exploring Utqiagvik/Barrow
A town of just 21 square miles, with a population of about 5000 residents, that is only accessible by plane and at certain times by boat, we have just a few roads from which to search for birds, and yet our time here will be jam-packed. With endless tundra and daylight we’ll keep to the roadsides, examining the array of ponds, sloughs, the coastline and the tundra searching for shorebirds, waterfowl, Snowy Owls, and vagrants.
Snowy Owls can be absent or abundant depending on the year. Certain years you might see 30 or more in a day, while others we might struggle to find one.
We’ll spend a good amount of time watching the coast too. With luck Yellow-billed Loon is possible here, as are all four eider species, and we’ll need to be watchful of the gulls too. Small arctic gull species are seen here on occasion, with Sabine’s quite regular, and in its breeding finery.
Out on the tundra all three jaeger species could be encountered, and a host of waterfowl species are in evidence, including breeding Greater White-fronted Geese, and again the much sought-after eiders, along with a remarkable array of shorebirds. The constellation of shorebird species varies annually somewhat, but often includes nesting Red Phalarope, and Pectoral, Baird’s and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, as well as rarities that could include Red-necked Stint, Lesser (Siberian) Sand-Plover, Ruff, Gray-tailed Tattler or others. If you think you know what a Pectoral Sandpiper is, trust us… until you’ve seen one on the breeding grounds, you don’t. They transform into an entirely different beast here when in courtship and establishing territories.
Nights in Utqiagvik.
Snowy Owls can be absent or abundant depending on the year. Certain years you might see 30 or more in a day, while others we might struggle to find one.
We’ll spend a good amount of time watching the coast too. With luck Yellow-billed Loon is possible here, as are all four eider species, and we’ll need to be watchful of the gulls too. Small arctic gull species are seen here on occasion, with Sabine’s quite regular, and in its breeding finery.
Out on the tundra all three jaeger species could be encountered, and a host of waterfowl species are in evidence, including breeding Greater White-fronted Geese, and again the much sought-after eiders, along with a remarkable array of shorebirds. The constellation of shorebird species varies annually somewhat, but often includes nesting Red Phalarope, and Pectoral, Baird’s and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, as well as rarities that could include Red-necked Stint, Lesser (Siberian) Sand-Plover, Ruff, Gray-tailed Tattler or others. If you think you know what a Pectoral Sandpiper is, trust us… until you’ve seen one on the breeding grounds, you don’t. They transform into an entirely different beast here when in courtship and establishing territories.
Nights in Utqiagvik.
Day 11 (June 19): Flight to Anchorage
After a final morning birding the outskirts of town, we’ll board our flight back to Anchorage. The tour concludes upon arrival at the Anchorage airport; unless you continue on the extension to St Paul.
Extension Day 1 (June 19): Arrival into Anchorage
For those departing at this point, we can drop you at the airport or at a local hotel for a flight out the next day.
For those going on the extension, we will kick off the Extension with a welcome dinner, where we will discuss the plan for the following day.
Night in Anchorage.
For those going on the extension, we will kick off the Extension with a welcome dinner, where we will discuss the plan for the following day.
Night in Anchorage.
Extension Day 2 (June 20): Flight to St. Paul Island
Today we plan to depart from Anchorage and to fly to the archipelago of the Pribilof Islands, landing in St. Paul Island. Smack in the middle of the Bering Sea, these volcanic islands provide cliff faces for nesting seabirds with nearby rich waters nearby for provisioning their nestlings. The same waters provide similar sustenance for the large (albeit declining) colony of Northern Fur Seals here. These are at times joined by the endangered Steller’s Sea Lion. Weather is a factor always in Alaska, but typically upon departing from Anchorage, our flight should reach the island after about 4 hours of flying time, touching down sometime mid-late afternoon. This should leave us at least a couple hours to bird our first day here.
Night at the King Eider Hotel, on St. Paul Island.
Night at the King Eider Hotel, on St. Paul Island.
Extension Day 3 (June 21): Exploring the Pribilofs/St. Paul Island
Though it looks just a speck of land on the map, we have some 42 square miles to cover as we seek our target birds here on St. Paul. Much of the island is accessible by two-track or gravel roads, and we’ll have vehicles by which to explore this amazing place. Well known hotspots include the salt lagoon right in the town of St. Paul, Ridge Wall and the other sea cliffs, the quarry, Northeast Point, Reef Point, and there are a series of lakes and ponds that dot the southern and eastern side of the island. We’ll see what the weather serves up and plot a plan based in part on that, and also in part on what is being seen around the island. Reliably, the rocky shores are good for seeing large numbers of Least Auklets, while the cliffs provide nesting areas for other auks like Parakeet Auklet, Crested Auklet, the two murres, and the two puffins, along with Red-faced Cormorants, and the real specialty of St. Paul, the Red-legged Kittiwake. Though ranging through much of the Bering Sea, over 75% of the population breeds here in the Pribilofs, and this unique, large-eyed, stout-billed gull is seldom seen elsewhere by birders. Between enjoying the cliff-nesting birds we’ll check ponds and ravines for migrant and vagrants and see what we can turn up here, at the top eBird hotspot in Alaska.
Night at the King Eider Hotel on St. Paul Island.
Night at the King Eider Hotel on St. Paul Island.
Extension Day 4 (June 22): Return to Anchorage.
We’ll enjoy a final morning out in the field trying to mop up any last birds we might like to see, and then we are headed back to Anchorage. Once we arrive into Anchorage our Alaska adventure together is over, and we must bid each other farewell.
Additional Details:
Red Knot. Photo by Dan Vickers.
Main Tour
Price Includes:
Price does not include:
Extension
Price includes:
Price does not include:
Payments:
1. $500.00 due to reserve spot on trip.
2. Half of cost (less $500) due by November 15, 2024
3. Full payment must be made by February 14, 2025
*The final payment would include your single supplement and extension payment(s) if applicable
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by October 31, 2024 a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative and all credit card fees). If notice of cancellation is received between November 1, 2024 and February 1, 2025 a 50% refund of the fees paid to date will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a refund will be given less any non-refundable payments made to local companies. Please contact Adam Betuel if you have any questions regarding the non-refundable payment schedule.
Travel Insurance:
We do not require travel insurance. However, we highly recommend buying it, as it is relatively inexpensive and can protect you from unforeseen costs associated with missed, delayed, or canceled flights, sudden illness, medical evacuation, damaged equipment, or other unexpected issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
For St. Paul Island, travel insurance is strongly recommended, as weather and equipment/mechanical delays can occur (occasionally lasting days). It’s best you prepare for these. Make sure you have nothing urgent to attend to immediately post-tour, and please cover yourself financially in the event of trip interruption, curtailment, or in the event of an equipment or a mechanical delay with the airline (RAVN Alaska) that services the island.
Terms and Conditions:
Please review the Birds Georgia Travel Program Terms and Conditions prior to registration.
Price Includes:
- Expert guiding by Birds Georgia and Hill Star
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 11, excluding alcoholic beverages (main trip)
- All accommodations from Day 1 through and including night of Day 10. Main tour finishes upon arrival into ANC on Day 11. (We can book hotel this night for those who do not wish to fly home out of Anchorage this night).
- All transport from dinner on Day 1 through our return flight to ANC on Day 11.
- All guiding services and entrance fees to birding areas.
- Flights within Alaska to/from Nome and Utqiagvik
- Paper trip checklist
- eBird checklists and final trip report
Price does not include:
- Arrival flight to and departure flights from Anchorage (ANC) and your home destination
- Airport taxes, airline baggage fees, etc.
- Tips (for the guides, housekeeping, etc.)
- Alcoholic or specialty beverages (Note Utqiagvik is a dry town)
- Snacks
- Laundry services
- Travel insurance, recommended. See below for more information
- Medical costs
- Other items of a personal nature
Extension
Price includes:
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 4.
- Accommodations for Day 1, Day 2 & Day 3. Tour finishes upon arrival back into ANC on Day 4.
- All transport for Day 1 through our return flight to ANC on Day 4.
- All guiding services, access permits and entrance fees to birding areas.
- Roundtrip flight to/from St. Paul Island.
Price does not include:
- Arrival flight to and departure flights from Anchorage (ANC) and your home destination.
- Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, charges to your hotel room, or other items of a personal nature.
- Visa fees, airport taxes, airline baggage fees, etc.
- Guide tips
Payments:
1. $500.00 due to reserve spot on trip.
2. Half of cost (less $500) due by November 15, 2024
3. Full payment must be made by February 14, 2025
*The final payment would include your single supplement and extension payment(s) if applicable
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by October 31, 2024 a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative and all credit card fees). If notice of cancellation is received between November 1, 2024 and February 1, 2025 a 50% refund of the fees paid to date will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a refund will be given less any non-refundable payments made to local companies. Please contact Adam Betuel if you have any questions regarding the non-refundable payment schedule.
Travel Insurance:
We do not require travel insurance. However, we highly recommend buying it, as it is relatively inexpensive and can protect you from unforeseen costs associated with missed, delayed, or canceled flights, sudden illness, medical evacuation, damaged equipment, or other unexpected issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
For St. Paul Island, travel insurance is strongly recommended, as weather and equipment/mechanical delays can occur (occasionally lasting days). It’s best you prepare for these. Make sure you have nothing urgent to attend to immediately post-tour, and please cover yourself financially in the event of trip interruption, curtailment, or in the event of an equipment or a mechanical delay with the airline (RAVN Alaska) that services the island.
Terms and Conditions:
Please review the Birds Georgia Travel Program Terms and Conditions prior to registration.
Additional information:
Physical Requirements & Pace
The trip will have an active pace, with moderately early meeting times in the AM, and some evening outings after dinner. As with most birding tours, there will be some prolonged periods of time on foot, and on this trip it could be in potentially very cold conditions.
We have fairly long days in search of birds and other wildlife. Most meals are at restaurants with a couple bagged lunches or meals to go. It’s possible that weather or that success with our birds may allow for a break, but typically we plan to be out from after breakfast and again after (or through) lunch, with perhaps an additional shorter outing after dinner.
There will be one rigorous hike to go for the Bristle-thighed Curlew, that is optional.
Most birding is along or near roadsides, and walking is at a slow pace so as not to startle wildlife and see as much as possible. Sometimes we will venture off road and into marshy habitat. Rubber knee boots (Muck boots or Xtra Tuff boots), or NEOS are recommended. Weather is cold and possibly windy or with precipitation.
We strongly urge guests to consult a doctor about vaccinations and medications prior to travel. If any guest becomes sick and appears contagious during the tour, the guest may be no longer permitted to continue with the group. This is at the judgement of the guide(s) and Birds Georgia
Meals/Dietary Restrictions
Remote Alaska is not a culinary destination but we will do all we can to find the best food available. Additionally, options for food could be limited. On St Paul, meals are at a cafeteria and are fairly basic yet decent. All efforts will be made to accommodate any dietary restrictions within the confines described above. Please contact Adam Betuel by email to discuss your needs before registering if you think there could be an issue.
Photography
Photography is welcome on this tour, but note that this is not a “photography tour”. We will always try and allow some time for obtaining images of desirable subjects, but time is a factor in achieving each of the day’s goals, and it will be up to the tour leader when we move on from photography subjects. Most of the habitats will be very open, providing fantastic photographic opportunities for birds and other wildlife. Landscape photography opportunities will be abundant.
Weather and Packing Considerations
Expect cold or cool temps (20s to 50s F), with a chance of rain and high winds. We will be spending lots of time outside in these elements so please come with appropriate clothing/equipment.
Please limit yourself to one mid-size suitcase/duffel and another smaller bag for daily use on outings. Group travel dictates we consider our fellow traveler’s comfort, and this includes not over-packing. Warm waterproof footwear is recommended. Weather proof pants and a good winter coat, and a hat and gloves, and long underwear are recommended to protect from the cold.
As mentioned, a daypack (small backpack or the like) for your belongings for daily field outings is useful, and some folks find that having a walking stick for balance is nice or having a foldable stool/chair is nice for times when we sit and wait in an area for a bird(s) to show.
Your leaders will have spotting scopes for group use. If you plan to bring your own, and/or intend to bring a tripod keep in mind there is some space in the vehicles, but also that this space is limited. Generally we recommend sharing group scopes or being prepared to keep your scope or tripod on your person as we travel.
In terms of gear, you will want the usual birding gear: binoculars, potentially a camera, optics accessories etc. Most people appreciate having a camera along. Sunscreen is useful given the often-sunny conditions. Please consider bringing a reusable travel bottle to reduce the need for single-use bottles.
Extension Information
For our flight to St Paul, note that there is a fairly strict 20lb limit for your carry-on bag and the outside dimension of 16”W x 9″H x 14″L should not be exceeded or you’ll have to check this bag. You are permitted one checked bag, weighing up to 50 lbs and with maximum dimensions of 62 linear inches (W x H x L).
Seat Rotation/Vehicle:
We will employ a seat rotation system on this tour. Participants will need to be flexible enough to maneuver to the back of the vehicle(s). Those who experience motion sickness will need to bring medication for the tour. We will not reserve forward seats for medical conditions. Contact Adam if you have any questions about this.
Bathrooms:
All efforts will be made to stop at modern, comfortable restrooms. However, participants should be prepared to make a comfort stop in nature if they cannot wait until the next indoor facility.
Tipping:
We aim to provide exceptional service, using guides that are knowledgeable, interesting, personable, and experienced. While tipping is never expected, we encourage participants to tip our expert/local guides if you feel that they went above and beyond. Tips at restaurants are included in the tour price.
The trip will have an active pace, with moderately early meeting times in the AM, and some evening outings after dinner. As with most birding tours, there will be some prolonged periods of time on foot, and on this trip it could be in potentially very cold conditions.
We have fairly long days in search of birds and other wildlife. Most meals are at restaurants with a couple bagged lunches or meals to go. It’s possible that weather or that success with our birds may allow for a break, but typically we plan to be out from after breakfast and again after (or through) lunch, with perhaps an additional shorter outing after dinner.
There will be one rigorous hike to go for the Bristle-thighed Curlew, that is optional.
Most birding is along or near roadsides, and walking is at a slow pace so as not to startle wildlife and see as much as possible. Sometimes we will venture off road and into marshy habitat. Rubber knee boots (Muck boots or Xtra Tuff boots), or NEOS are recommended. Weather is cold and possibly windy or with precipitation.
We strongly urge guests to consult a doctor about vaccinations and medications prior to travel. If any guest becomes sick and appears contagious during the tour, the guest may be no longer permitted to continue with the group. This is at the judgement of the guide(s) and Birds Georgia
Meals/Dietary Restrictions
Remote Alaska is not a culinary destination but we will do all we can to find the best food available. Additionally, options for food could be limited. On St Paul, meals are at a cafeteria and are fairly basic yet decent. All efforts will be made to accommodate any dietary restrictions within the confines described above. Please contact Adam Betuel by email to discuss your needs before registering if you think there could be an issue.
Photography
Photography is welcome on this tour, but note that this is not a “photography tour”. We will always try and allow some time for obtaining images of desirable subjects, but time is a factor in achieving each of the day’s goals, and it will be up to the tour leader when we move on from photography subjects. Most of the habitats will be very open, providing fantastic photographic opportunities for birds and other wildlife. Landscape photography opportunities will be abundant.
Weather and Packing Considerations
Expect cold or cool temps (20s to 50s F), with a chance of rain and high winds. We will be spending lots of time outside in these elements so please come with appropriate clothing/equipment.
Please limit yourself to one mid-size suitcase/duffel and another smaller bag for daily use on outings. Group travel dictates we consider our fellow traveler’s comfort, and this includes not over-packing. Warm waterproof footwear is recommended. Weather proof pants and a good winter coat, and a hat and gloves, and long underwear are recommended to protect from the cold.
As mentioned, a daypack (small backpack or the like) for your belongings for daily field outings is useful, and some folks find that having a walking stick for balance is nice or having a foldable stool/chair is nice for times when we sit and wait in an area for a bird(s) to show.
Your leaders will have spotting scopes for group use. If you plan to bring your own, and/or intend to bring a tripod keep in mind there is some space in the vehicles, but also that this space is limited. Generally we recommend sharing group scopes or being prepared to keep your scope or tripod on your person as we travel.
In terms of gear, you will want the usual birding gear: binoculars, potentially a camera, optics accessories etc. Most people appreciate having a camera along. Sunscreen is useful given the often-sunny conditions. Please consider bringing a reusable travel bottle to reduce the need for single-use bottles.
Extension Information
For our flight to St Paul, note that there is a fairly strict 20lb limit for your carry-on bag and the outside dimension of 16”W x 9″H x 14″L should not be exceeded or you’ll have to check this bag. You are permitted one checked bag, weighing up to 50 lbs and with maximum dimensions of 62 linear inches (W x H x L).
Seat Rotation/Vehicle:
We will employ a seat rotation system on this tour. Participants will need to be flexible enough to maneuver to the back of the vehicle(s). Those who experience motion sickness will need to bring medication for the tour. We will not reserve forward seats for medical conditions. Contact Adam if you have any questions about this.
Bathrooms:
All efforts will be made to stop at modern, comfortable restrooms. However, participants should be prepared to make a comfort stop in nature if they cannot wait until the next indoor facility.
Tipping:
We aim to provide exceptional service, using guides that are knowledgeable, interesting, personable, and experienced. While tipping is never expected, we encourage participants to tip our expert/local guides if you feel that they went above and beyond. Tips at restaurants are included in the tour price.
