Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard Bach (Part VI)

 

Having taken the Alaska Express, with again no sign of David Cartier, from Fairbanks as far as Denali, for a 2 days stop over, it was then onto the mighty 

 McKinley Explorer

 to complete that 260 miles part of the jaunt to Anchorage.

No delays there except for a delicious fish dinner and a good night's sleep

before boarding the relatively small aircraft which would take us eventually to

 SAINT PAUL ISLAND

(⅔’s of the way the east coast of Russia and most northerly of the 2 small islands below the key)

deep into the 

BERING SEA
and one of the most remote places ever visited.

The word 'eventually' was used above as there was to be a 1 hour 30 minutes stop over in

NOME

which seemed to be something of a bugbear to the vast majority but there was to be a
Massive Wildlife Bonus.
As the aircraft lost height prior to landing a huge pod of   

BELUGA WHALES
could be seen in the estuary below. With the aid of the ever present binnoculars
even the eye-balls of these fantastic creatures (never encountered before) could be seen.

First sight of Saint Paul Island
with a fluctuating population of about 500

On landing I got so mesmerized by the

GREY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES

that all sense of time and place seemed to have disappeared.
Turning the airfield and arrivals lounge were empty of people
but never fear Forest Rowland turned up appologising for being a little late!
He, a most well thought of ornithologis in the US was to be my guide for the next 4 days,
however from here we will turn over to a pictorial else we'll never get finished.

Asked if I wanted to head to the target bird first, which had been on station for some days, it was decided to strike while the iron was hot, but in slow time so we could enjoy much along the way.
First port of call was the

NORTHERN FUR SEAL
COLONY

then in no particular order

ARCTIC FOX

but we didn't see an adult at all

 HARLEQUIN DUCK

by the 'hundreds'

WHIRLY LOUSEWORT

the only Plant name remembered

PELAGIC CORMORANT

What the Americans call
RED PHALAROPE
as they usually see them in breeding plumage

and which we named Grey, I think the Yanks should have it

male and female

LAPLAND BUNTING

We have a good number more images to post, but for now we take a short break.

Jonathan Livingstone Seagull - Richard Bach (Part V)

Over dinner at their home in Fairbanks, Alaska that evening Nick's mum Rachel 

had made it quiet clear that I could stay with them as long as was needed and each day she would transport me to any location of my choosing. Having visited the town before 

it was considered that 2 days and 3 nights would be adiquate to visit both

and on the following day the

MUSEUM

This visit really needs no explaination, so the series of images should surfice.

 SANDHILL CRANES

 were certainly the

 Stars of the Show

 but as with the prevoius visit

 there was much besides.

 AMERICAN ROBIN

SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER

 ????

 SAVANNAH SPARROW

 BEAVER

ALASKAN AIRWAYS
close by

 SOLITARY SANDPIPER

YELLOW WARBLER

It is of note that both Savannah Sparrow and Yellow Warbler have been recorded and seen well at
Portland, Dorset

Not so memerable was the Sandhill Crane just outside of 
Sumbugh Airport on Shetland.
We had been drilling for 6 months on the Stena Hunter west of the islands for
Joe Shell with the contract being ended the very week the Crane arrived.
Had things remained as they were Sandhill Crane would surely have been added to my
Great Britain List

Rachel had also advised that once my day was over to simply approach
anyone and ask them to phone her for a ride back - that also worked perfectly.
Next day she dropped me at the

 with its Space Age architecture

 and its wealth of intrest within

 Pity there isn't time to show all of the artifacts

 but there was something close to the end of the visit which was taken as an

 OMEN

a plaque referring to the
RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
we'll have to wait and see!!
That evening the family took me to a

 which was an ideal opportunity to show my gratitude

 but they simply would not hear of it!

 It has to be said that this has been my experience right across all of the
50 STATES
they are, in general a kind and generous nation!

 The park was also something of a

 TRANSPORT MUSEUM
with this

MISSISSIPPI QUEEN

particularly catching my eye.
It was then back overland to Anchorage and the next day and then onward to Seward for the

Of this magical place we will add just a taster as there isn't enough of life left to add more!!

HUMPBACKED WHALE

PIGEON GUILLEMOT

GLACIER CALVING

more
HUMPBACKS
and 

 DALL'S PORPOISE
got to rush, have a flight to catch!