High Arctic & Northwest Territories

This very special tour takes in three different areas; the exquisite high Arctic tundra above the Arctic Circle and far north of the treeline, the boreal forest and lakes around Yellowknife, NWT, and the aspen parkland and potholes of Central Alberta. We encounter a diverse array of birds and other wildlife, from King Eiders to northern owls, Pacific to Yellow-billed Loons, Long-tailed Jaegers to Sabine’s Gulls, Musk Oxen to Arctic Foxes, and much more. The area is also steeped in history and culture, from explorers searching for the Northwest Passage to the Inuit of the western Arctic. The high quality, cultural experience and exciting wildlife viewing make for a long-remembered tour!

Highlights:

• Amazing wildlife, from Muskox to jaegers and King Eiders to Yellow-billed Loons, amidst fascinating tundra and taiga habitats
• Great breeding bird and flower photography opportunities
 

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival and Orientation
The tour begins in the evening in Nisku, just south of Edmonton, Alberta, and close to the airport. We meet for dinner at 6:30 pm for a meet-and-greet and for a brief introduction and orientation. Night in Nisku.

Day 2 - Elk Island National Park
We leave Nisku early and head towards Beaverhill Lake in the aspen parkland. The small wetlands in this area are very productive, and hold breeding populations of Red-necked, Eared and Pied-billed Grebes, Black Terns, Ruddy Ducks and several other species of waterfowl, American Avocet, Wilson’s Phalarope and Franklin’s Gull. Swainson’s and Red-tailed Hawks hunt over pastures that are occupied by Richardson’s Ground-Squirrels. Beaverhill Lake has been shrinking in size, and the shorelines are now grassy fields, where Mountain Bluebirds, Vesper Sparrows and sometimes Short-eared Owls breed. We then head to Elk Island National Park; about 230 species of birds have been identified in the park and many nest there. Year round residents include Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers, and Boreal Chickadees. Migrant and nesting passerines include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Gray Catbird, Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, Le Conte’s, Nelson’s Sharp-tailed and Clay-colored Sparrows, Northern Waterthrush and Mourning Warbler. The marshes and ponds support a diverse array of waterfowl, including White Pelican, Trumpeter Swan and Ring-necked Duck. The park is also home to some 44 different kinds of mammals, including wapiti (elk), moose, white-tailed deer, coyote, muskrat and porcupine. The most noticeable of the park’s mammals—and we are likely to see them—are the two different sub-species of bison.
In mid-afternoon, we head north of Edmonton, to the edge of the boreal forest. Our target species are northern owls such as Great Gray, Northern Saw-whet, and Northern Hawk-owl, and we will look for them if they are known to be present. We could also add to our tally of mammals with beaver and red fox. Night in Nisku.

Days 3, 4 and 5 - Yellowknife
We leave Nisku, head to the airport and board our plane to Yellowknife, North West Territories. Whilst in the Yellowknife area, we explore the boreal habitats in the Great Slave Lake area, looking for specialties such as Red-necked Grebe, Mew and Bonaparte’s Gulls, Rusty Blackbird and Sandhill Crane, and possibly White-winged Crossbill, Northern Shrike and Bohemian Waxwing. We should encounter several boreal forest species such as Tennessee, Blackpoll and Orange-crowned Warblers, Alder and Olive-sided Flycatchers, Gray Jay and Lincoln’s Sparrow, and Lesser Yellowlegs perching on the tops of trees! Northern Goshawk is possible. A special treat will be a boat ride in Yellowknife Bay, an arm of Great Slave Lake, the second largest in Canada; weather permitting we take a boat ride among the house boats and islands of the bay, and have a chance at lake species such as Surf and Black Scoters, Pacific Loon and Arctic Tern. Yellowknife has its share of unique restaurants and we’ll take in a couple during our stay.
Nights in Yellowknife.

Day 6 - Flight to Cambridge Bay
We spend the morning birding around the Yellowknife area before taking an afternoon flight to Cambridge Bay. We spend the rest of the day getting our bearings about town, and noticing that the common town birds are Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs - quite a change from House Sparrows and Starlings! Night in Cambridge Bay.

Days 7 - 10 - Cambridge Bay
Whilst at Cambridge Bay, we make daily excursions to the various accessible locations around town. One day we travel by vehicle on one of the few roads in the area to the base of Mount Pelly, providing the road is passable. Here we become acquainted with common bird species such as American Golden Plover, Semipalmated, Baird’s and Stilt Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalarope, Long-tailed Jaeger, Arctic Tern, Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur and Snow Bunting. American Pipits breed on the slopes of the mountain. The loon that breeds in the larger lakes in this area is Yellow-billed Loon, and we will look for nesting pairs of this impressive bird. We should also find several groups of Muskox, and see Arctic Foxes and Arctic Hares, on the way to Mount Pelly.

On another day, we travel along the West Arm to Dease and Simpson Straits, which overlook the Northwest Passage. Throughout the trip we periodically hike out onto the tundra looking for signs of the famous arctic rodents, lemmings. If their numbers are high, we should see many of the predators whose numbers depend on lemming populations, such as all three species of jaegers, Snowy Owl, and Rough-legged Hawk. As well, we will enjoy the abundant waterfowl, loons, and shorebirds perhaps with their broods. Greater White-fronted Geese, King and Common Eiders, and Long-tailed Ducks should have flotillas of young, Pacific Loons will be on just about every medium-sized pond, and lots of shorebirds including Ruddy Turnstone, Pectoral and White-rumped Sandpipers will be scattered over the tundra. Our eyes will be constantly searching the chilly frozen waters of the Northwest Passage for Ringed Seals hauled up on the ice.

We drive along an inlet of Dease Strait to view the remains of Roald Amundsen’s ship, the Maude. We also visit an ancient traditional Inuit hunting site, marked by stone tent rings and seal caches on the tundra. Close by is an area that holds nesting birds such as Red Phalarope, Sabine’s Gull, and Tundra Swans. We will have time to carefully study the beautiful flora and butterflies of the tundra, and revisit areas for a second try as well. Some species, such as Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Rock Ptarmigan, will require persistence, luck and patience. We also visit the town dump, where Glaucous and Thayer’s Gulls gather, and in the past we have found Slaty-backed and Glaucous-winged Gulls. Nights in Cambridge Bay.

We will have the opportunity to get in some souvenir shopping in town. On Day 10, we board our plane for Yellowknife and on to Edmonton. Last night in Nisku.

Day 11 - Departure
The tour concludes after breakfast.

Featured birds & Mammals:

• Yellow-billed Loon
• King Eider
• Sabine's Gull
• Red Phalarope
• Long-tailed Jaeger
• Snowy Owl
• Thayer's Gull
• Great Gray Owl
• Muskox
• Arctic Fox

Date: June 27 - July 7, 2012

Duration: 11 days

Price: $5,450 USD + 2.5% GST, $5,250 CAD + 5% GST; single supplement $725 USD + GST, $695 CAD + GST.

Limit: 12 people

Tour Starts & End: Edmonton, Alberta

What to Expect

• Warm and possibly cold weather
• Wonderful mammals including Muskox right outside of town
• Flights from Edmonton to Yellowknife and to Victoria Island plus return included
• Easy to moderate walking, short drives, comfortable vehicles
• 4 to 8 participants with one leader; 9 to 12 with two leaders
• A two hour boat trip in Yellowknife Bay
• Includes breakfasts and lunches; dinners not included

Because Victoria Island has a relatively small road network, meals will be slotted in around bird activity and weather patterns. We are never more than an hour’s drive from the Hotel. There will be no need for early morning risings as we will witness 24 hours of daylight! Bird activity often peaks at mid-day! Polar Bears are unlikely to be encountered; however we should see Musk-Ox, Arctic Fox, Ringed Seal, Arctic Hare and lemmings. We can expect a high diversity of land and water birds during our visit to central Alberta and the Yellowknife area.

Our daily itinerary will be responsive to weather conditions. Driving will be limited to either small or moderate stretches. Lunch will be variable in time and location depending on the day and the level of birding. The weather can vary from a sweltering 25C to around freezing in the day, with frequent night-time frosts. It may snow, and participants should layer their clothing as conditions can change quickly while we are in the field. Participants should include bug repellent and perhaps a head net in their luggage, as there will be some mosquitoes, especially in Yellowknife! Sturdy footwear that will keep your feet dry is recommended, as we will be doing some tundra hiking. Each evening a log-call follows the evening meal. We review the day’s events, birds, mammals and other observations and look forward to the next day’s activity.
 

Previous checklists from our High Arctic and NWT tours:

2009 High Acrtic and NWT tour (pdf)
2008 High Arctic and NWT tour (pdf)
2007 High Arctic and NWT tour (pdf)
2006 High Arctic and NWT tour (pdf)
2005 High Arctic and NWT tour (pdf)
2004 High Arctic and NWT tour (pdf)
2003 High Arctic and NWT tour (pdf)