I’m only halfway through day 4 but I have time to post now and may not later. Yesterday (9/2) I drove out Council Road in mostly pouring rain. Periodically I stopped and just waited in the car until the rain let up enough to let me see anything. Still, there were birds. Highlights were a couple of Eurasian Wigeons among the hundreds of Americans (no photo here), a few Common Redpolls, Sanderlings running along the beach, a single Black-legged Kittiwake, Sandhill Cranes, and good views of Common Eiders.

 

 

This morning I drove out Teller Road for about 30 miles. Highlights were a single Red-throated Loon, many Northern Shrikes, the tattler seen two days ago, a single Slaty-backed Gull, two circling Northern Goshawks, and a good view of an American Tree Sparrow.

 

 

 

Most of the day I slowly wandered up Kougarok Road to Salmon Lake, about 40 miles. It was a beautiful day, gradually increasing in sun and then later, raining. Birds were mainly gulls (Glaucous, Glaucous-winged, Herring), Common Ravens, Northern Shrikes, American Tree Sparrows and a Northern Harrier.

After returning to Nome and getting gas, I spent a few hours on the lower portion of Teller Road. The highlight there was a tattler, which I’m calling a Wandering Tattler (please comment if you disagree).