SPITSBERGEN TOUR REPORT - Birdquest

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TETRAONIDAE Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus: Excellent scope views of two males on the rocky hillside above Blomstrandhalvøya and superb views of two males and a female on the boulder slopes at Bockfjorden. The males were still in their all-white winter dress and easy to spot, but the female was extremely cryptic. CHARADRIIDAE Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula: A pair at Ny Ålesund and a pair at the Sorgfjord remain our only observations. This is a rather scarce breeding bird in Spitsbergen, with a population of only 50-400 pairs. SCOLOPACIDAE Sanderling Calidris alba: Great views of nine birds, mostly in full breeding plumage, on the beach at the Sorgfjord. This is another very scarce breeding wader in Spitsbergen, where the total population is estimated at only 20-100 pairs. Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima: Much the commonest breeding wader in Spitsbergen, present at most of our landing sites, but remarkably cryptic in its rather sombre breeding dress. Birds were observed in ‘song flight’ and courtship display on several occasions. The “one wing lifting” display was well worth witnessing at close range. The Spitsbergen breeding population is estimated at 2,000-10,000 pairs. Dunlin Calidris alpina: Just two in the Longyearbyen area upon arrival in the archipelago. Only 100- 200 pairs of Dunlin breed in Spitsbergen, but the population appears to be increasing. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres: Just a single bird in breeding plumage was noted in flight upon leaving the Isfjord. Yet another scarce breeding wader in Spitsbergen, where there are reckoned to be only 50-500 pairs. PHALAROPODIDAE Red Phalarope (Grey Phalarope) Phalaropus fulicaria: Cracking views of eight in the Andøyane Islands were followed by observations of a pair at the Sorgfjord, one at Fuglesangen, two at Prins Karls Forland at a single at Eidembukta. Definitely one of the star attractions for the birders, and vastly more attractive as ‘Red Phalaropes’ in their breeding plumage than as the ‘Grey Phalaropes’ that we are more accustomed to seeing further south. Between 200 and 1,000 pairs breed in Spitsbergen. STERCORARIIDAE Pomarine Skua (Pomarine Jaeger) Stercorarius pomarinus: One was seen by Stewart in the Hinlopen Strait upon approaching the Alkefjellet and we all saw one at the edge of the pack ice on Polar Bear day. Both were light morph birds with full tail-streamers. These were presumably non-breeding birds, as the nearest known breeding grounds are in Novaya Zemlaya. The scientific epithet is derived from the Greek poma, a lid and rhinos, the nose, as this species develops a sheath or cover over the nostrils during the breeding season. Arctic Skua (Parasitic Jaeger) Stercorarius parasiticus: Much the commonest skua in Spitsbergen, present throughout the areas that we visited, and showing very well on many occasions. We witnessed some spectacular aerial chases, with up to four birds harassing a single Black-legged Kittiwake. The great majority were light morph birds, although there were one or two intermediate and dark morph individuals. (Dark morph birds are much commoner at lower latitudes, e.g. in Scotland). The Spitsbergen breeding population is estimated at 1,000-2,000 pairs. Long-tailed Skua (Long-tailed Jaeger) Stercorarius longicaudus: We had superb views of a breeding pair near the old marble mine at Blomstrandhalvøya. Only a few pairs of Long-tailed Skuas breed in Spitsbergen, presumably because of the complete absence of lemmings, their preferred prey during the breeding season. 6 <strong>Birdquest</strong>: Spitsbergen 2007
Great Skua (Bonxie) Catharacta skua: Singles and pairs were observed on a number of occasions throughout our cruise. This is a relatively recent arrival in Spitsbergen, first recorded breeding in 1976, but now obviously quite common. The latest estimate puts the breeding population at 200-500 pairs. LARIDAE Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini (NL): Alan saw a single bird at the edge of the pack ice, just as we were observing a Polar Bear. The only regular breeding site of this attractive species in Spitsbergen is Moffen island, but our visit there was thwarted by dense fog. (According to BirdLife International, there were only four pairs of Sabine’s Gulls breeding in Spitsbergen in 1993). Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus: Common and widespread. A beautiful gull, but also the main avian predator in the islands, posing a constant threat to the auks, waders and terns. The Spitsbergen breeding population is estimated at 4,000-10,000 pairs. Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus: An adult showed in the distance at Blomstrandhalvøya and a first summer bird was identified amongst a flock of Glaucous Gulls at the Walrus haul out on Prins Karls Forland. This remains a scarce breeding bird in Spitsbergen (50-150 pairs), although it first colonised the islands way back in 1930. Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla: An abundant bird throughout the islands, breeding in large numbers on the auk cliffs in Hinlopen Strait, and commonly encountered far out at sea. The Spitsbergen breeding population is estimated at 265,000-275,000 pairs. Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea: Surely the special bird of the ice and avian symbol of the High Arctic. We found at least nine individuals: one at the husky kennels at Ny Ålesund and eight over the drift ice and amongst the ice floes near the Monaco Glacier in the Liefdefjord. All were adults in their immaculate whiter-than-white plumage. The most recent estimate of the breeding population in Spitsbergen is only 50-200 pairs. STERNIDAE Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea: A common bird throughout the islands, nesting at most of our landing sites and taking a very strong dislike to intruders. Always good fun being attacked by these dashing and fearless birds. The Spitsbergen breeding population is estimated at 5,000-10,000 pairs. ALCIDAE Brünnich’s Guillemot (Thick-billed Murre) Uria lomvia: Abundant at sea, and observed at very close quarters from the zodiacs at the huge breeding colony at Alkefjellet in Hinlopen Strait. The total breeding population of this species in Spitsbergen has recently been estimated at 850,000 pairs! This is very much the High Arctic counterpart of the Common Guillemot, breeding no further south in Europe than northern Norway and Iceland. Black Guillemot (Tystie) Cepphus grylle: Common and widespread. Especially common in the Raudfjord, Liefdefjord and Hinlopen Strait, and often encountered on and around ice floes, but also found far out at sea. The Spitsbergen breeding population is estimated at 20,000-50,000 pairs. Little Auk (Dovekie) Alle alle: Definitely one of the special birds of Spitsbergen, and an obvious favourite with many of the group. We had dozens of close encounters with little flocks zipping by the ship or bobbing about on the water. One of the highlights of the tour was being able to just sit amongst dozens of these little birds full of character in the large colony on the island of Fuglesangen. These delightful creatures were totally unconcerned by our presence and just sat at close quarters on the boulders and rocks under which they breed and really showed off, offering stunning views. Their constant maniacal cackling was a real feature of our visit. The Little Auk is much the commonest seabird in the Spitsbergen archipelago, with a breeding population estimated at between one and three million pairs. 7 <strong>Birdquest</strong>: Spitsbergen 2007
Page 1 and 2: LEADER: MARK VAN BEIRS SPITSBERGEN
Page 3 and 4: oarded the zodiacs for a leisurely
Page 5: SYSTEMATIC LIST Species which were
Page 9: The endemic Spitsbergen race platyr

SPITSBERGEN TOUR REPORT - Birdquest

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