Update from James Phillips who is now back in the UK
White-billed Diver on Lake Pekul’neyskoye. Photo by James Phillips.
There are certain iconic birds that capture the imagination, that define a given landscape or habitat or are just emblematic of those beautiful remote wild places that we all on occasion dream about.
The White-billed Diver or the Yellow-billed Loon (as it is known in North America) is one such bird and a true species of the arctic wilderness, occurring across the Eurasian, Russian and North American arctic, breeding on lakes and slow moving rivers in low lying tundra regions.
A number of these wonderful birds nest on Lake Pekul’neyskoye, a huge deep freshwater lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks and vast rolling tundra hills which forms an integral part of the land of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Meinypil’gyno.
A nice local link to this is that the species was actually first described by G. R. Gray in 1859 and named Gavia adamsii after the surgeon Dr Adams who collected the first specimen aboard the H.M.S. Enterprise during the vessel’s voyage through the Bering Strait, not too far away from Meinypil’gyno itself.
As we carried out our spoonie field work each day we would catch distant glimpses of these most magical of birds as they commuted between the lake and the open Bering Sea, and sometimes we would hear their eerie laughter-like flight calls as they flew by.
Then one day while taking a short lunch break upon the shores of the mighty lake Chris Kelly and I happened upon a wonderful experience with the Loons. In beautiful still conditions with the lake surface looking like a huge reflective mirror, we came across three adult summer plumaged birds close inshore in a secluded bay. They seemed very inquisitive, drifting in closer and closer to where we were standing watching from the shore.
AND they really did come in very close…..
Loons coming close. Photo by James Phillips.
This gave us a unique opportunity to study these exquisite looking birds at close quarters and to view their intricate, perfectly defined lattice-like patterned plumage, their strange piecing red eyes, that amazing huge yellow bill. The behaviour and interaction between the three birds was fascinating, including one bird giving an amazing territory call, the sound of which carried across the huge still lake……
And closer. Photo by James Phillips.
And closer. Photo by James Phillips.
And closer. Photo by James Phillips.
And who knows, these birds may even be related to the very first birds described to science back in 1859 from aboard the H.M.S Enterprise.
Crikey, it looks like I managed to post this properly – unless someone tells me otherwise!
This was my first attempt to post one of these blogs as I’ve never used any website software before, and I’m finding it all a bit bemusing! More apologies for the lack of blog posts this summer, due to a combination of a very busy team and poor internet connections. We are hoping to make up with it over the next couple of weeks.
This sounds like an amazing experience for James and Chris.
Astonishing, truly mouthwatering photos of one of the most beautiful birds on the planet. Congrats for the mindbloing experience
Stunning photos and a great blog, James. Well done! More please!!!
What a wonderful post James, Chris and well done Baz. STUNNING photos James and what an incredible experience to add to your short break for something to eat after the frantic days earlier in your visit to Chukotka. Next time you need to do some video and capture the lovely sounds of these birds! Chukotka is a great place to see them and I love the way they carry their heads with the bill tilted upwards in full view as if they are almost sky gazing. I wonder if the bill colour or size is a courting mechanism.
The wonderfully smooth water is perfect for fantastic reflections. I hope all is going well with the eggs/hatching process.
Helena
OMG! I’m a bird watcher and this would be a dream bird to see! They look unreal. Like carved from wood ! Beautiful capture!