Bird of the Week – Whimbrel
At a little over 17 inches tall, this is one of the larger shorebirds that breeds in wetter alpine tundra areas in Alaska. The long, downcurved bill and distinctive white and brown-striped head make the bird easy to identify. You’ll likely hear the haunting, hollow whistle call before you find this bird; despite its size, it can be hard to see, especially hunched down on a nest. This bird was photographed on the east end of the Denali Highway. Technical stuff: f5.7, 1/320, ISO250 More bird photos at Frozen Feather Images.
Bird of the Week – American Golden-Plover
American Golden-Plovers breed in the northern two-thirds of Alaska, after migrating up from South America. This pretty lady was at Eagle Summit, working hard to lead WC away from her nest. If you walk on alpine trails or terrain in Interior Alaska, especially drier tundra, you’ll hear the distinctive “tk-wheee” call as the male and female work to divert your attention to them. Technical stuff: f7.1, 1/320, ISO200 More bird photos at Frozen Feather Images.