I spent over 8 hours walking two of our plots doing snow surveys, re-sighting banded birds and looking for nests. There is still plenty of snow out there, so walking was tough and exhausting. But, being on the tundra for 8 hours, something interesting is going to happen. The first point of interest was the American Golden-Plover nest I found. It was complete with 4 eggs and the female was incubating... until I came along.

This was the only shorebird nest I found for the day because I had to spend most of the time walking the plots doing snow surveys. However, I did come across some color-banded Dunlin. Check out their colors!

I also found a spot that seems to be a resting area for Jaegers. I counted over 100 Pomarine Jaegers resting on the snow and flying around in one area alone! I only saw 1 Long-tailed Jaeger today. The Greater White-fronted Geese are starting to set up nests, and I also found one of those today, with 5 eggs.

There were lemmings all over the place, almost anywhere I looked I could see them scurry across the dry, exposed areas on the tundra. I even managed to catch 2 of them with my hands! They can bite, but this one didn't. 

After my 8 hours roaming the tundra, I drove a little down the road I parked on because I heard there were some Eiders down there. I finally found my lifer Steller's Eider. Actually 7 of them! Here is a shot of a male and female. 

Our whole crew took the ATV's out to Point Barrow tonight to look for Polar Bears. Unfortunately, no Polar Bears, but plenty of ice for them to hide behind. I will be going back soon. We did see 2 Short-eared Owls though.

While on the tundra today, I witnessed Pomarine Jaeger courtship. During the courting process, the male will grab a lemming and share it with the female as they maul it together. I captured it on video. I will try to upload it to my video section, but it will most likely be too large of a file for this internet connection. Look foreword to it when I return! Here is another Red Phalarope shot, just because they were so close!

Tomorrow is my first day off. The plan is to do some seawatching and then birding around town fairly hard. It still is a perfect time for vagrants.

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