Nome, Alaska — Bryan Holliday Photography
Expected Species: Arctic and Aleutian Tern, Willow and Rock Ptarmigan, Red-throated Loon, American Golden-Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Mew and Glaucous Gull, Arctic Warbler, Bluethroat, American Tree Sparrow, Wilson’s Warbler, Lapland Longspur, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Western Sandpiper. We also have the option of trying for the Bristle-thighed Curlew and Whimbrel. If the Golden Eagle and Gyrfalcon use the same nesting area again next summer, we can also try for them. There are many more species than what I have listed. We will take advantage of any good opportunities we find along the way.
Itinerary: When it comes to serious bird photography, normal schedules are out the window. We will adapt to be out shooting when the light and the bird activity is the best.
Day 1 – mid-day arrival, settle into hotel, introductions, evening shoot, midnight nap
Day 2-5 – early morning shoot (time will depend on where we go that day), lunch in town, sleep during afternoon, dinner in town, evening shoot until we run out of light and bird activity, midnight nap
Day 6 – short morning shoot, pack up and check out, tour ends late morning when it’s time to go to the airport
Travel Considerations: You will need to arrive in Nome by late afternoon on Day 1. There are daily flights from Anchorage around lunchtime. I will pick you up at the airport and we’ll head to the hotel to get settled in before we start the tour. Plan to fly out of Nome on Day 6 back to Anchorage, which leaves late morning.
Accommodations: Lodging is limited in Nome. I have made arrangements and the lodging is included in the tour price. We will be staying at the Aurora Inn and will be sharing two rooms. It is double occupancy. Each person will have a queen bed and a shared bathroom. Therefore, I have space for a couple and one male, or two females and one male, or 3 males. The Aurora Inn is the nicest hotel in Nome and we should be quite comfortable.
Vehicle: Ground transportation in Nome is also included in the price of the tour. We will travel together in a nice Ford Explorer that will hold the four of us and our gear.
Meals: There are a handful of restaurants in Nome that we have to choose from for lunch and dinner. We will be leaving before they are open for breakfast, so we will bring along in the car whatever you like to eat during the morning. We will plan to make a trip to the little grocery store the first day we are there to get what we need. It’s also easy to pop over there any afternoon if you need to get more food. Meals and all food/drink are not included in the tour price.
Physical Activity: Easy to Moderate. There are 3 main roads out of Nome that traverse the diverse terrain for a couple hundred miles. We will travel much of that in search of the variety of habitats and birds that breed there. We are often not too far from the vehicle, but we do have the opportunity to hike for some birds, such as the bristle-thighed curlew, which requires a 45 minute trek up a large hill. That would be one of the more strenuous excursions and is optional. We also have the option of getting into some small ponds with our chest waders on.
Equipment: You will get the best images with a 500mm or longer lens. It’s a good idea to bring extenders too. You will also want a landscape lens. If you have a mid-range zoom and want to bring it, you may find some times you wish to use that. But most of the time the more focal length you have, the better. Also bring chest waders if you would like to get in the water. If you don’t have them or wish to bring them, hip waders or rubber boots can at least get you at the edge.
Other things to bring: I will email a list of helpful tips for clothing and such after receiving your registration.
Payment: Your deposit can paid with credit card or Paypal by using the link at the top of the page. Once your deposit is processed, I will email you the registration form and waiver so you can print it out, complete it, and send it back. This will hold your spot. The balance can be paid by personal check or credit card (additional transaction fees apply for credit card payment) anytime up to 90 days before the trip.
