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Beringia Birders Yahoo Group · Bird Watching Tours · Check List (Requires Acrobat Reader) |
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Nome is a little know treasure for birders. The city of Nome is bounded by tundra on three sides and the Bering Sea coast on the other. Once the ice begins to break up, migration begins. Virtually the entire area of the Seward Peninsula that is accessible by road from Nome is comprised of extremely valuable nesting areas for many bird species including most North American waterfowl. Safety Sound, less than twenty miles from Nome on the Nome Council road, is a migrant trap before breakup. Observers have noted Emperor Geese, and Stellar's Eiders in this area. A Whooper Swan was sighted there for three weeks in the spring of 1991. Off-shore in open patches of water, called leads, ringed seal often bask on ice ledges. These leads also concentrate migrating waterfowl: Scoters, Eiders, Harlequin Ducks, Old Squaws, Arctic and Pacific Loons and, occasionally, Yellow-Billed Loons. Tufted and Horned Puffins, Common Murres, and Pelagic Cormorantare all possibilities in this bird rich area. The terminus of this road is Council, and is the only place accessible from Nome where boreal species may be found. Along the Kougarok Road, cliffs provide nesting habitat for Gyr Falcon, Golden Eagles, and Peregrine Falcons. The high, rocky ridges also boast nesting Wheatears. Bluethroats, Wandering Tattlers, and Bristle-Thighed Curlewsare also abundant along this road. Arctic Warbler can be seen along the Penny River. Spring and break-up come late to Nome, near the end of may. The best time for birding in and around Nome is normally in early June. At that time, the melting ice along the southern Seward Peninsula forms migrant traps and birding from the road system is most productive. This season is called break-up in Alaska, occasionally roads are closed because of flooding or washouts. Travelers should plan for all sorts of weather, but it is this changeable climate that brings in the rare migrant species and settles them into small ponds to wait for better flying weather. This is also the time of year when changing weather systems bring large numbers of accidentals to the area. Some species, however, such as the Snow Bunting, are best seen in late March and are difficult to find during the summer. Many species take advantage of the long days and abundant food sources to nest and raise young. Birding is good into Mid-August when migration is in full swing. Nome is truly a birding treasure.
Beringia Birders Yahoo Group Beringia Birders is a forum for birders to share information about birds and birding in Alaska's far west and north, from Adak to Kaktovik, and points between, including the Seward Peninsula. These are some of the companies that bring tours to Nome for birdwatching. It is also very easy to do this on your own by renting a vehicle. Nome has three main roads which are each about 70-80 miles long. The roads are safe and well maintained. Maps of the area are available upon request from the Nome Visitors Center. Nome Visitors Center keeps a "birding board" which all the birders update and check daily. This is a very popular display and should not be overlooked while in Nome. Attour,
Inc
Borderland Tours
High
Lonesome Eco Tours
Nature Alaska Tours
Penfeathers Tours
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
Wilderness Birding Adventures
Wings
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