June 23, 2018. Birding Trip Day 16. Barrow.

We spent the day birding all around Barrow, including the road east into the tundra where we had a picnic lunch.

We found three species of eiders (Steller's, Spectacled Eiders, and King) and Red Phalarope on the numerous lakes and ponds along the roads, and we saw displaying Semipalmated Sandpipers and Pectoral Sandpipers in the tussock tundra. We even saw one Buff-breasted Sandpiper. We saw several Snowy Owls, several Pomarine, Parasitic, and Long-tailed Jaegers, a Short-eared Owl, and other fun species.

My highpoint for the day was catching a Northern Collared Lemming by hand. I wasn't sure if it would nip my finger off or not, but luckily I caught it twice without being bitten.

The road to Point Barrow was washed out, so I inquired about hiking the four miles to the point. The locals said I'd be eaten by a Polar Bear. Oops.

Night in Barrow (King Eider Inn).

Trip Map.