Photo above shows you the view from the edge of the Tundra Marsh at Anadyr. Today started off the usual grey, bleak and cold looking usual Siberian day we have had since arriving here last Sunday. Mid afternoon Martin and myself took the bus to the village but bailed out early enough to walk straight down on to the Tundra marsh. It has been over a week that I have been in Russia and finally for the first time since arriving the sun actually showed itself for nearly a full 5 hours. There was no sleet, no snow, no rain, no sea mist just a clear light shaded plae blue sky. This was so needed and so having clear visibility we could actually see the area and for the first time it really felt like summer was finally arriving in the Arctic.
Above and below shows you a few Long Billed Dowitchers that were feeding up this afternoon. This was a group of 40 birds of which were a part of at least 400 birds we had in migration flying over the site. They were nearly all giving a part display song and this was pretty cool to witness such Wader migration like this. I have only uploaded these 2 photo here but I do have better from today.
After leaving the Dowitchers we headed back and took in a few photo opportunities of the Glaucous Gulls that are now starting to sit on nests.
Whilst walking back this "new in" Semi Palmated Plover (below) was alone on one of the small boggy pools of the marsh. Upon returning we later learnt there is a small population of Semi P Plovers breeding in northern Chucotka which was only discovered recently.
Other note worthy sightings today included, 1 Pacific Golden Plover, displaying Sandhill Cranes, a pair of American Wigeon, 2 pairs of Greater Scaup, 2 Whooper Swan's and 2 Lapland Buntings. It is believed that main Wader passage should start any day now. Photo below shows the view of the Anadyr strait where the Tundra land meets the sea and this gives you an idea of the first day of summer in the Arctic for this expedition team.
