Greg Miller Big Year Series

Alaska: Nome, Utqiaġvik, Kenai Fjords & St. Paul Island

65571421

TOUR FOCUS
BIRDS & WILDLIFE

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SCHEDULED TOURS

2025 :: June 13 - June 30

TRIP LEADERS

TOUR COST

From: $12,000 (See details)
Cost is per person, double occupancy from Anchorage (ANC)

GROUP SIZE

6 - 10 Participants

AVAILABILITY

2025: 3 spaces available

PRIVATE TOUR OPTION

This tour is available as a private trip for any size group. The tour cost will vary with the number of people and any custom requests.

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Highlights of Alaska: Nome, Utqiaġvik, Kenai Fjords & St. Paul Island

  • Ultimate Alaska birding tour!
  • Nome, Utqiaġvik, Kenai Fjords & St. Paul Island
  • Exceptional wildlife-watching experiences!
  • Fantastic photography opportunities!
  • Peak of the nesting season!

Description of Alaska: Nome, Utqiaġvik, Kenai Fjords & St. Paul Island

This 18-day birding and wildlife adventure is the trip of a lifetime! We will visit many of Alaska’s most wild places at the peak of the summer nesting season – Nome to the West, Utqiaġvik (Barrow) to the North, Anchorage and the Kenai Fjords to the South, and St. Paul Island in the Pribolofs – far out in the Bering Sea!

This is truly a bucket-list opportunity for wildlife enthusiasts. Anchorage will serve as our base between excursions to remote outposts, each with their own collection of special target species – many of which we will see engaged in courtship and breeding behavior! We thoroughly cover four major eco-regions of the state, targeting the best wildlife each destination has to offer! The scenery and photo opportunities will be superb every day of the trip! This is the land of the midnight sun, and we will pack each day with many hours out in the field – but there will also be opportunities to sit out a morning, afternoon, or evening excursion if you need to catch up on sleep!

Anchorage. As the largest city in Alaska, Anchorage will be our hub for branching out to the more remote regions of the state. Nestled between Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage features several forested city parks and reserves that we will visit for target species including Canada Jay, Varied Thrush, Boreal Chickadee, Spruce Grouse, Northern Goshawk, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Alder Flycatcher, Black-billed Magpie, Violet-green Swallow, ‘Sooty’ Fox Sparrow, Swainson’s Thrush, and White-winged Crossbill. Westchester Lagoon and Potter Marsh provide good introductions to the breeding waterbirds of this region including Short-billed Gull, Red-necked Grebe, Trumpeter Swan, Hudsonian Godwit, Common Loon, Arctic Tern, ‘Lesser’ Sandhill Crane, and various waterfowl. Beyond the birds, we may also encounter Moose, American Black Bear, Beluga Whale, and Dall’s Sheep! A day trip north to Hatcher Pass may offer sightings of White-tailed Ptarmigan, Hoary Marmot, Collared Pika, and Arctic Ground Squirrels.

Nome. There are daily flights from Anchorage to this remote western outpost along the southern coast of the Seward Peninsula. This region is characterized by vast lowland tundra broken up by patches of drier, upland tussocks, lagoons, and scrubby creeks. Two dirt roads reach inland to the north and west, while a third road stretches east down the coastline. We will spend a day exploring each of these routes. Top bird targets in Nome include Gyrfalcon, American and Pacific Golden-Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwit, Aleutian Tern, Golden Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, ‘Black’ Brant, Cackling Goose, Harlequin Duck, Stejneger’s Scoter, Tundra Swan, Long-tailed Jaeger, Glaucous Gull, Slaty-backed Gull, Wandering Tattler, Surfbird, Red Knot, Black Turnstone, Bluethroat, Northern Wheatear, Arctic Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Wilson’s Warbler, both White and Eastern Yellow Wagtails, Arctic Warbler, Lapland Longspur, ‘Red’ Fox Sparrow, and Hoary Redpoll. Both Willow and Rock Ptarmigan are possible. A major target here in Nome is the rare Bristle-thighed Curlew which have been found nesting in the center of the peninsula and will require a two- or three-mile hike over the tundra to view. Most of the birding will, however, be done from along the roadsides. We will enjoy comfortable accommodations right along the coast. Specialty mammals include Muskox, American Beaver, Arctic Ground Squirrel, and Red Fox.

Utqiaġvik/Barrow. The far-northern outpost of Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow) is where Alaska’s North Slope meets the Arctic Ocean. Our flight from Anchorage will take us over the Brooks Range and more than 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle! This small town is literally at the edge of the World, looking out over the Arctic Ocean. The landscape is fractured into giant polygons of flat tundra, with scattered lagoons and gritty beaches. Utqiaġvik is loaded with hundreds of breeding shorebirds and waterfowl, including two of the most sought-after ducks in North America – Spectacled Eider and Steller’s Eider! We are likely to encounter Greater White-fronted Goose, Red-throated, Pacific, and Yellow-billed Loons, King Eider, Pectoral and Baird’s Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher, Red Phalarope, Glaucous Gull, Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers, Sabine’s Gull, Snowy Owl, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, and both Common and Hoary Redpolls. Much of the birding here will be along the roadsides, with short hikes across the tundra. We may be able to take a special trip out to Point Barrow to search for Polar Bears if conditions are suitable, but can also search for them from town. Various arctic seal species, Bowhead Whale, and Arctic Fox may be seen too! The Chukchi and Beaufort Seas meet at Point Barrow, and can still be locked in with ice at this time of year. Be prepared for cold temperatures (20 to 40°F) and soggy tundra during our stay.

Seward & Kenai Fjords National Park. The crown jewel of the many scenic regions in southern Alaska is the rugged Kenai Fjords National Park on the southeast side of the Kenai Peninsula, a few hours south of Anchorage. This massive maritime park protects seabird nesting colonies that host many thousands of alcids, cormorants, and kittiwakes. The shear number of seabirds, the abundance of marine mammals, and exceptional views of snow-covered mountain peaks and blue glaciers all combine to make this area a tour highlight! Small-group boat tours are the ultimate way to view the regions nesting seabirds and mammals. We’ll be taking an adventurous 10-hour privately chartered boat trip out of Seward and into the fjords that will allow us up-close views of Pelagic and Red-faced Cormorants, Surf and White-winged Scoters, Harlequin Duck, Black Oystercatcher, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common and maybe Thick-billed Murres, Pigeon Guillemot, Parakeet and Rhinoceros Auklets, Marbled, Ancient, and Kittlitz’s Murrelets, Sabine’s Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, and both Horned and Tufted Puffins. Humpback Whales, Dall’s Porpoise, Steller’s Sea Lion, and other marine mammals may be encountered! Lucky groups may also seen Orcas (Killer Whales) or American Black Bears! Lunch will be provided on board. These sheltered, glacier bays are often quite calm but there are a few rough stretches of open water, especially near Cape Aialik. The spruce and hemlock forests in the Seward area are quintessential of southeastern Alaska, and home to a few specialty birds we will target including Rufous Hummingbird, American Dipper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Steller’s Jay, Pine Grosbeak, Townsend’s Warbler, ‘Sooty’ Song Sparrow, and Pacific Wren.

St. Paul Island. This remote island lies 770 miles west of Anchorage in the middle of the Bering Sea and has recently exploded in popularity among birders, naturalists, and those interested in Native American culture. There are four islands which make up the Pribilof chain, and St. Paul Island has the most comfortable accommodations (with shared bathroom facilities), plenty of good food, and excellent local guides. The diversity of rare nesting seabirds on the island is a major draw in addition to the rich potential for vagrant birds from both Asia and America to pop up during spring migration! Red-legged Kittiwake, Thick-billed Murre, both Black and Pigeon Guillemots, Ancient Murrelet, Parakeet Auklet, Least Auklet, Crested Auklet, Rhinocerous Auklet, Horned and Tufted Puffins all nest on the island! An impressive list of Eurasian vagrants have been found in spring including some heavy hitters like Smew, Common and Oriental Cuckoos, Lesser Sand Plover, Ruff, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, and dozens of potential songbird strays. This small island also has endemic subspecies of Rock Sandpiper, Pacific Wren, and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch in addition to potential for a rare McKay’s Bunting. The World’s largest concentration of breeding Northern Fur Seals occurs here, and we’ll be able to visit a few rookeries on St. Paul’s rocky beaches. The island has a variety of habitats to explore including wetlands, grassy tundra, ancient lava flows, and idyllic seaside cliffs. Introduced Reindeer and an endemic form of Arctic Fox may be seen! Flights in and out of St. Paul Island are extremely dependent on the weather, so we have planned this portion for the end of the tour in case we are delayed returning to Anchorage. We highly recommend purchasing flexible tickets for your flight home from Anchorage in the event of flight delays!

Length of Tour

18-days/17-nights

Brief Itinerary

Day 1/ June 13. Arrivals to Anchorage Int. Airport (ANC). Night in Anchorage.

Day 2/ June 14. Flight to Nome. Night in Nome.

Day 3/ June 15. Birding around Nome. Night in Nome.

Day 4/ June 16. Birding around Nome. Night in Nome.

Day 5/ June 17. Birding around Nome. Night in Nome.

Day 6/ June 18. Flight to Anchorage. Flight to Utqiagvik (Barrow).

Day 7/ June 19. Birding around Utqiagvik (Barrow). Night in Utqiagvik (Barrow).

Day 8/ June 20. Birding around Utqiagvik (Barrow). Night in Utqiagvik (Barrow).

Day 9/ June 21. Flight to Anchorage. Night in Anchorage.

Day 10/ June 22. Anchorage & Hatcher Pass. Night in Anchorage.

Day 11/ June 23. Anchorage birding & drive to Seward. Night in Seward.

Day 12/ June 24. Kenai Fjords National Park 10-hour boat trip. Night in Seward.

Day 13/ June 25. Birding Seward to Anchorage. Night in Anchorage.

Day 14/ June 26. Morning birding & flight to St. Paul Island. Night on St. Paul Island.

Day 15/ June 27. Birding around St. Paul Island. Night on St. Paul Island.

Day 16/ June 28. Birding around St. Paul Island. Night on St. Paul Island.

Day 17/ June 29. Flight to Anchorage. Night in Anchorage.

Day 18/ June 30. Departures from Anchorage (ANC).

Cost

Cost is $12,000 per person, based upon double occupancy, from Anchorage (Airport code ANC).
This trip ends in Anchorage (Airport code ANC).

Cost Includes

Cost includes airport transfers during the course of the tour, all ground transportation, accommodations, entrance fees, all meals, the boat trip, and the services of your professional leader(s).

Cost does not Include

Flights to/from destination city, trip insurance, or anything that is not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.

Minimum Number

If fewer than the minimum number of participants registered the trip can still run with a small-group supplement fee per person determined by the number of participants.

Single Supplement

If a single room is preferred, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate for you, a single supplement fee of $800 will be assessed.

Deposit Requirements

A $1,000 deposit per person is required to hold each space on this tour. Deposit may be made online by clicking the "Book Your Trip Now" button and using any credit card. If you prefer, you may call us at 888-875-9453 to pay by phone. You may also mail us a check, however, remember that all space is held on a first come-first served basis as deposits are received.

Minimum Number

If fewer than the minimum number of required participants are registered, we may still be able to run the trip by adding a small-group supplement fee, per person, determined by the number of participants registered.

How to Book

In order to hold your space, click the "Book Your Trip Now" button above and complete the deposit process, including payment of the deposit through our Paypal portal using ANY CREDIT CARD. Upon completion of deposit, please visit our secure, online CLIENT INFORMATION FORM to complete your registration.

Final Payment

For all land-based tours: full payment by check is due 120 days prior to the departure date.

For all boat-based adventure cruises of 7-days or longer: full payment by check is required 180 days prior to departure.

NOTE: If you prefer to use credit card for final payment, a 3% fee may be added to cover the credit card merchant fees we incur.

Good quality hotels throughout.

Activity Level Rating: (Note: 1 is easy and 5 is difficult)

Please be prepared for long days of intense (but fun!) birding. We will often break the day up into morning, afternoon, and evening excursions and you may opt to sit out some of these in order to rest. Some of the best birding happens during the twilight hours during the night. This trip involves multiple flights during the course of the tour, and also an all-day boat trip in the Kenai Fjords. Short hikes will be taken daily, with at least one longer hike over uneven tundra. Biting insects are likely to be encountered. Many locations can be soggy, wet, and cold so proper clothing and gear is required.

Recommended Field Guide

Sibley Birds West and/or the Sibley Birds 2nd Edition app
by David Allen Sibley

 

Merlin Bird ID app
by The Cornell Lab

Non-smoking Tour

This trip is for non-smokers only. Smoking is not permitted at any time during our tour.

Transportation

We will be using 12-passenger van(s) driven by the leader(s).

Purchasing Flights

Do not purchase your flights until the trip has been confirmed to go.

Detailed Trip Information

Upon notification that final payment is due (120 days prior to departure for land based tours / 180 days for boat based tours), you will receive a trip package of detailed information for your tour.

Any additional information about the trip, including lodgings, contacts, participants, meeting locations, etc., will sent about 2 weeks prior to the trip departure, or after final payment is received for late registrants.

Travel Insurance

As with all tours, we recommend purchasing Travel Insurance to help cover your investment, for covered reasons. Please see our section on Travel Insurance.

Passport & Visa

US Citizens may require a visa to enter certain foreign countries. See above for any required visa information.

Participants arriving to the USA from a foreign country may need to get a travel visa to enter the United States. Be sure to check the requirements for your country of origin.

Itinerary Changes

The trip itinerary is developed many months ahead of time. Occasionally, despite our best planning, changes may occur during the trip, or we may be forced to alter our plans. Changes may occur because of weather, road conditions, safety concerns or other circumstances. In these situations, it is the leader(s) responsibility to carefully consider and implement appropriate alternatives. Any additional costs incurred because of changes will be the responsibility of each individual participant. Refunds will not be issued as a result of itinerary changes.

Location Map