Border Patrol in control – 22 May 2011
03 Jun 2011
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22 May 2011 I woke with a migraine, not a great start to the day, Nige and I were getting up and ready when a knock at the door revealed seven border officials. We spent much of the morning with them, they checked out our details and later we were told we could go about our business a
Continue Reading →How much for the tomatoes? – 21 May 2011
03 Jun 2011
21 May 2011 I headed out across the Tundra during the morning with Nige and Jochen, a close Willow Grouse walked ahead of us. A Short-eared Owl and Arctic Skua were dominating the area, Long-billed Dowitchers, c200 in total were flying over calling and displaying. Otherwise it was a s
Continue Reading →Fresh fruit and veg at last – 20 May 2011
03 Jun 2011
20 May 2011 We woke at around 0630, I got ready to go out, I needed a long walk to make up for the day spent inside hanging around for nothing yesterday, Nige was spending the morning working on his laptop. I got my outdoor gear on and headed out across the Tundra from the airport. On
Continue Reading →Another delay, still no equipment – 19 May 2011
03 Jun 2011
19 May 2011 Woke at 0600 drank tea and got ready for the day, we visited the small shop which is at one end of the accommodation. Our current routine now is to buy a drinking yoghurt, some bread if they have any or breadsticks if not and eat it with cheese triangles or salami for brea
Continue Reading →The cancelled flight, time to prepare with vodka – 18 May 2011
02 Jun 2011
18 May 2011 Flight cancelled for today so no equipment to sort, I headed out with Simon to count birds locally and explore. The snow in the air and bright light made it extremely difficult to watch birds, we needed to keep sunglasses on and found it hard to see them clearly. I had sto
Continue Reading →Our first meal – 17 May 2011
02 Jun 2011
17 May 2011 Both of us tried to stay awake until 2100 but as soon as we led down at 1800 we slept, I awoke at 0100 and got back to sleep at 0330, we both got up at 0530, hungry and thirsty, we went to see if we could get a drink from the airport but it was closed, we had been advised
Continue Reading →Meeting the rest of the team before we leave for Chukotsk – 15 May
02 Jun 2011
15 May 2011 – 1400hrs We met up with a number of our expedition party at Liza’s flat at 1400, this consisted of, Simon, Garit, Grigor and, the charming Evgeny, who talked through what to expect and the rough plan of the expedition. It was very inspiring and whetted the appetite
Continue Reading →Arriving in Moscow – 14 May 2011
01 Jun 2011
14 May 2011 After two days off work on annual leave I have been preparing for this trip, buying all sorts of things that are needed and will be essential. The day has arrived where I must say goodbye and begin travel. The last two hours at home and being dropped off at WWT Slimbridge
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Saving the Spoon-billed Sandpiper
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