Final Day on St Paul, Pribilof Islands, Bering Sea

The weather in St Paul has been unseasonable, to say the least, with the last 2 weeks having been more or less 'wall to wall' sunshine, good thing that it stayed that way for my visit. There was a single exception, my last night here when it 'chucked it down' none stop leaving a trail of overly moist air and a good deal of mist. These conditions were not exactly conducive with 'birding' so by mid-morning and with what proved to be the final species of the stay we headed off to do some sight seeing.

I have been mad keen to view anything to do with the Fishing Industry and today turned out to be an ideal opportunity as Michelle's husband was returning from a few days 'long-lining' for Halibut in the Bering Sea.

Michelle was there waiting as the

Voyager secured alongside the fish quay, and there on deck was

Michelle's husband Terenty, but still family life had to remain on hold as there was much work to be done.

The shore-side crews were also waiting to unload the 6,000lb of prime Halibut, so off Terenty scurried down the fish-hold to begin the process.

Some sizable halibut among that lot.

Inside the Processing Factory

Filleting takes about 15 seconds on each fish,

before they are loaded onto the 'skinning machine'

but it is not known what happens to all that skin.

Packers then send the fillets off all around the world.

There was also time to look around the 'City', starting at the Russian Orthodox Church

and the views from the hillside before

taking a look at the museum.

Seal fur coat.

The small thimble size 'grass woven' objects on the top shelf take a minimum of 100 hours to produce.

Seal Skin Stretchers

and finally a visit to the

where I met the delightful

Aquezina Lestenkof a pillar of the community.

On the way back to the hotel we spotted these 5 Steller's Eiders

you may have to take my word for that!

Day Four on St Paul, Pribilof Islands, Bering Sea

Another post that again is something of a pictorial. All days here are about the same, and so far the weather has been kind, we take breakfast at the communal mess hall at 07:30 and commence 'birding' soon after. This goes on until noon when we break for lunch and then enjoy a 2 hour siesta after which we get going again. Dinner is between 17:00 and 18:00, breaking off when the birds drop off, then recommence directly after and continue through to 22:00 at the earliest. It's great to have the sun still high in the sky at that time of the evening, and awaiting you when you wake up.

Another look at Long-tailed Skua (yes, reverted to the good old English name even though I like the Germanic Jaeger).

At 'Pump House Lake'

Red-necked Phalarope what a cracking little bird, and how often do you see them let alone, as we have been doing, hearing them - perfect!

A single Least Sandpiper tucked away among the other Waders,

while there were several pairs of Semipalmated Plovers breeding.

At last much closer views of Red-legged Kittiwake, but not so

the six or seven Sabine's Gull's that graced our 'scope early in the day.

I don't remember seeing an adult before, and then half a dozen appear.

None closed to less than half a mile so the telescope proved invaluable.

Forrest tells me that it's most unusual to record a Glaucous Gull here during July,

so I was doubly chuffed to pick this one up on the sea-wall.

Have you got fed up with them yet? I haven't.

At the water-side roost there are several dozen of them each evening, but there has been no need to venture out there with chances of disturbing them.

Least Auklet, another nifty 'call'.

The Arctic Fox doesn't turn white in the winter here, this individual just happens to be very pale.

Crested Auklet

Parakeet Auklet

Tufted Puffin

Red-legged Kittiwake

The only 2 flight shots worth keeping (of over 100 taken)

showing red legs, darker mantle and upper-wing, stubby bill plus googly eye.

hat at this time is considered to be a (dark phase) Long-tailed Skua

The images have been sent to the relevant authority

so we're now just waiting the outcome.

Thick-billed Murre

A predated Common Guillemot egg

The Northern Fulmar here range in 'morph' from Jet Black (not Blue) to this White form.

(juvenile) Rock Sandpiper in varying stages of developement.

I'd welcome comments on the 'dark Skua' via captbagsy@waitrose.com