Tuesday 17 December 2013

When the Boat Comes In - Traditional

Well, looks like you can now once again expand the images on the Blog Post, hover the cursor over the photo and 'click'. Back the the United States of America and it's still raining here!
The PRIBILOF ISLANDS
(left of chart just below the key)
Very soon after landing on the small airstrip that serves the Island of St Paul's the 9 passengers disembarked and with my interests lying elsewhere I turned to find myself alone on the tarmac. Expecting to be met by my guide a short diversion was made to check out a small bird on nearby rocks.
 GREY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH
was my first bird here and a 'lifer', but still no guide!
I found FORREST ROWLAND, my guide, in what passes for a
BEER BAR
in these parts. Just a warehouse full of all kinds of goodies which would open between 18:00 and 19:00 each day.There was another bonus when it was discovered that I was the only client on the trip.
ST PAUL'S TOWNSHIP
ARCTIC FOX
(BLACK-LEGGED) KITTIWAKE
CRESTED AUKLET
SNOW/KING CRAB TRAPS
This was the shore location where the TV programme
The Deadliest Catch was filmed.
 The 'Long-Liner' NORTHERN PRINCE
returns to port with a full hold.
With the above mentioned Crabs being out of season
attentions were turned to HALIBUT one of my favourites.
Not an area generally accessible to the public, the fish factory was
to me a wonderland.
It had been suggested that I could eat in the well appointed canteen at a separate time from all the others. When finding the itinerant workforce were mainly Filipino a stop was quickly put on the suggestion. Befriending the 3 Chefs was the route to getting a tour of the factory.
An extremely scarce sighting here a
HARBOUR SEAL
HARLEQUIN DUCKS
HORNED PUFFIN
LEAST AUKLET
PARAKEET AUKLET
GREY (RED) PHALAROPE
RED-FACED CORMORANT
The object of my desire here, the second to last Gull in the World
I needed to see.
RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
ROCK SANDPIPER
ROCK SANDPIPER (juvenile)

With the CURATOR of the local Museum
Museum Artifacts

CHURCH on the HILL
VIEW from the HILL
BRÜNNICH'S GUILLEMOT
TUFTED PUFFIN
VEGA GULL
 LONG-TAILED SKUA

RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
TUFTED PUFFIN
LAPLAND BUNTING
and again
RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
NORTHERN FUR SEAL
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