I was in Nome June 2-4 trying to get a good look at one of my 8 remaining unseen ABA Code 2 birds, the lovely Bluethroat. \u00a0Bluethroats are found primarily in Asia and Europe, but western Alaska sees a fair number of breeders there during the brief spring and summer.\u00a0 I have seen Bluethroats in India, but never in North America. \u00a0Two prior visits to Nome late in June had failed to produce a view, although other birds were plentiful.\u00a0 This trip was a success, producing number 730 for my North American count.<\/p>\n
Nome in early June, at least this early June, was crowded with birders and fisheries people, who were having their annual convention there.\u00a0 I was lucky to find a vehicle to rent and a room to stay in. (Phone calls a few days before my arrival indicated everything was taken).\u00a0 \u00a0A local tour guide, Richard Benville, whom I have worked with in the past when I was in Nome, was extremely helpful on both counts, and with his help I was able to rent an F-150 and drive where I wished, and to sleep in nice quarters, one night at the Nugget and one night at the relatively new Dredge 7.<\/p>\n
My top priority, of course, was to see Bluethroats.\u00a0 On the morning of the third I started driving the Kougarok road. The weather was cool and foggy.\u00a0 \u00a0At mile 22.8, I spotted a Bluethroat male, perching up on a small bush and was able to scope it for a few seconds before it dove into the underbrush.\u00a0 Soon it flew up, accompanied by what I believe was a female Bluethroat, and displayed briefly in the air before again disappearing.\u00a0 Continuing along the road, just before the bridge over the Grand Central River, my luck improved even more when a Bluethroat male made its way along the edge of the road, and was most cooperative in staying visible for quite a long time.\u00a0 The bird is even more beautiful than the pictures that I have seen would have led me to believe.\u00a0 I did not take pictures, but anyone wishing to see pictures of Bluethroats can do so by Googling \u201cBluethroat\u201d and going to Wikipedia, which also contains a nice summary of its ornithological status.<\/p>\n
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I was in Nome June 2-4 trying to get a good look at one of my 8 remaining unseen ABA Code 2 birds, the lovely Bluethroat. \u00a0Bluethroats are found primarily in Asia and Europe, but western Alaska sees a fair … Continue reading