I spent the weekend along the Denali Highway, between Paxson and Maclaren Summit. Most of the birds are in (excepting Arctic Warblers, Smith's Longspurs and Whimbrel). Lots of singing and turf fights. Tundra flowers coming along very nicely. About half of the ice out of the big lakes. Ice in Big Tangle Lake still has the Delta River Canoe Trail closed. Very large numbers of Harlequin Ducks in the Tangle River. Oh, and no mosquitoes yet. Spring is ahead of schedule.
For those who haven't been there, this is one of the prettiest, least appreciated parts of road-accessible Alaska.
Posted by David Taylor on June 10, 2009 at 3:54 AM
Sounds awesome Jim - can't wait to get back up there soon. Heading to Cordova this weekend though, so it may have to wait another 1 1/2 - 2 weeks.
Thanks for the update
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on June 10, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Thanks for the update Jim.
Some of the high country around Seward like the Lost Lake Trail is almost a month ahead of last year as far as snow melt and wildflowers.
I'll be there, Jim, but not until around July 29. My son and I will be staying at Maclaren Lodge on the 30th and Tangle River Inn on the 31st and August 1, should you happen to be up there at that time. Have fun in Cordova, Dave. That is another spot I would like to visit some day.
I am renting a couple of lenses for the time up there Jim, the Nikon AF-S Zoom Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF Lens and the Nikon Telephoto AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D ED-IF Autofocus with the 1.4x extender. Any tips on use? I know the 14-24 is really for the 35mm format, but my understanding is it works beautifully with the D300, just the crop to consider. The 300 with extender gives me a 5.6 @ 420mm, faster and better than my trusty, rusty 80 - 400mm. Anyway, it was what I could afford. The really good stuff rents for an arm and a leg.
I'm unsure if I'll be in the Denali country then or not. I'll be there this weekend.
Some of the tundra-breeding shorebirds will be gone by the end of July, but waterfowl will still be around and passerines. If you don't have it yet, get a copy of The Birder's Guide to Alaska, Second Edition, for the good birding locations.
I've located Smith's Longspurs, Whimbrel, Wandering Tattlers, Long-tailed Jaeger and a few other target birds. Email if you'd like specific directions. I'll be down that way this weekend (my wife does the annual Breeding Bird Survey on the eastern Denali Highway) and should come back with more specific locations. The alpine flowers should still be in bloom at higher elevations.
They usually have a Say's Phoebe breeding at Maclaren, although I haven't confirmed it with Susie and Alan this year. I do know that Susie had a pretty amazing Eurasian Collared Dove there last weekend. A first record for Interior Alaska. All of my listing buddies hit the road immediately.
It can be kind of rainy and cold in late July and early August; plan accordingly.
Thanks, Jim. I will bring layers and gear. Give me one sunshiny, partly cloudy day! I know that's a lot to ask of Alaska, the land of the blue tarp and perpetual rain. I understand the summer has been pretty good; maybe it will hold. But then I remember one late summer trip where it rained for ten days straight!
I will try to get The Birder's Guide to Alaska or a reasonable facsimile thereof. Go ahead and email me specific directions after you get back this weekend. Thanks for your help and advice!
Discussion
5 repliesFor those who haven't been there, this is one of the prettiest, least appreciated parts of road-accessible Alaska.
Thanks for the update
Some of the high country around Seward like the Lost Lake Trail is almost a month ahead of last year as far as snow melt and wildflowers.
I am renting a couple of lenses for the time up there Jim, the Nikon AF-S Zoom Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF Lens and the Nikon Telephoto AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D ED-IF Autofocus with the 1.4x extender. Any tips on use? I know the 14-24 is really for the 35mm format, but my understanding is it works beautifully with the D300, just the crop to consider. The 300 with extender gives me a 5.6 @ 420mm, faster and better than my trusty, rusty 80 - 400mm. Anyway, it was what I could afford. The really good stuff rents for an arm and a leg.
I'm unsure if I'll be in the Denali country then or not. I'll be there this weekend.
Some of the tundra-breeding shorebirds will be gone by the end of July, but waterfowl will still be around and passerines. If you don't have it yet, get a copy of The Birder's Guide to Alaska, Second Edition, for the good birding locations.
I've located Smith's Longspurs, Whimbrel, Wandering Tattlers, Long-tailed Jaeger and a few other target birds. Email if you'd like specific directions. I'll be down that way this weekend (my wife does the annual Breeding Bird Survey on the eastern Denali Highway) and should come back with more specific locations. The alpine flowers should still be in bloom at higher elevations.
They usually have a Say's Phoebe breeding at Maclaren, although I haven't confirmed it with Susie and Alan this year. I do know that Susie had a pretty amazing Eurasian Collared Dove there last weekend. A first record for Interior Alaska. All of my listing buddies hit the road immediately.
It can be kind of rainy and cold in late July and early August; plan accordingly.
I will try to get The Birder's Guide to Alaska or a reasonable facsimile thereof. Go ahead and email me specific directions after you get back this weekend. Thanks for your help and advice!