With all the Nome specialties 'in the bag', Jason, Devich, and I decided to go out early and look for some photo opportunities. We headed up the Teller Road, finding Willow Ptarmigan and Pacific Golden-Plover along the way. We then drove up to Banner Creek, a small settlement along the Kougarok Road. There, we found Mew Gull, Bank and Cliff Swallows, and Yellow, Wilson's, Blackpoll, and Orange-crowned Warblers. Later in the morning, showers invaded the area, so we headed back into town and got something to eat.
By afternoon, the weather greatly improved, allowing us to head back out the Council Road. At the Safety Sound bridge, we saw eight breeding-plumaged Sabine's Gulls.
Sabine's Gull along the shoreline of the Bering Sea near the Safety Sound bridge. Note the distinctive gray, white, and black upperwing pattern and the black hood on the head.
On a rocky outcropping beyond Solomon, we stopped to scope a Gyrfalcon nest. Watching the male circling above and getting dive-bombed by a Long-tailed Jaeger while the female sat on the massive stick nest was definitely one for the memory books.
Gyrfalcon nest outside of Solomon along the Council Road. This huge stick nest (just above center in this photo) is built on the side of a large cliff face.
Gyrfalcon nest outside of Solomon along the Council Road. In order to appreciate the size of this impressive nest, I've enlarged the nest area and pointed out the Gyrfalcon's head, which is the tiny, dark 'dot' located just to the left of the red line.
Nearby, we spotted Wandering Tattler and Rough-legged Hawk. As we started into the edge of boreal forest before reaching Council, we found an Alder Flycatcher and several Gray Jays.
On the return trip, we watched a pair of Northern Wheatears at Skookum Pass while a rainbow appeared in the distance.
Northern Wheatear at Skookum Pass on the Council Road. Note this female's dark lores, light eyestripe, gray back, and dark wings. The tail's white base and black terminal band are barely visible along its edge. She was carrying food to her young in a nest under one of the rocks.
A rainbow at Skookum Pass on the Council Road. This was taken from the spot where the Northern Wheatears were. The tan cut through the dark green is Council Road continuing on towards the town of Council, 72 miles from Nome.
Mammal highlights between Solomon and Council included about a dozen Snowshoe Hares, a Moose just outside of Council, and several Muskox and a Red Fox.
Snowshoe Hare on the Council Road. We saw at least a dozen of these standing on or along the road between Skookum Pass and the town of Council.
Muskox along the Council Road near Skookum Pass.
Later, a stop at Cape Nome produced the only Common Loon of the trip. With still plenty of daylight to spare, we took a short drive up the Teller Road. A stop at the creek-sized Penny River bridge produced a Spotted Sandpiper, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Northern Waterthrush, and an American Dipper.
American Dipper at the Penny River bridge.
Birds noted at various stops during the day were Red-breasted Merganser, Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail, Common Redpoll, and sparrows that included Fox, Savannah, White-crowned, Golden-crowned, and American Tree Sparrow.
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