Across North America spring migration is eagerly awaited and universally celebrated by birders. Thoughts of northbound migrants returning to their breeding grounds keep northern birders going through the long winter months and those same thoughts bring many southern birders north each spring—north to one of the continent’s hottest birding locations. The vast numbers of migrating and local breeding seabirds, diversity of Alaskan and arctic specialties, and the impressive regularity with which Asian vagrants show up combine to make the Siberian Yup’ik village of Gambell one of North America’s most exciting birding destinations.
The list of rarities that has occurred at Gambell over the years is staggering and includes such birds as White-tailed Eagle, Tundra Bean-Goose, Whooper Swan, Black-tailed Gull, Green Sandpiper, Temminck’s, Least, and Long-toed Stint, Jack Snipe, Common Cuckoo, Common House Martin, Olive-backed Pipit, Stonechat, Eye-browed Thrush, Red-flanked Bluetail, Eurasian Bulfinch and Hawfinch! Common Ringed Plover, Red-necked Stint, Bluethroat and Red-throated Pipit are regular. Time spent at the seawatch might produce all four species of eider, Emperor Goose, or Ivory Gull.
Our Approach to Birding Gambell
Depending on the tour, we either stay in rented houses or in the community “lodge.” In both cases, the accommodations are basic but quite comfortable. The houses we rent are typically three or four-bedroom houses with one bathroom each, a kitchen, and a living room area. Both houses are sparsely furnished, with some of the rooms set up with beds and some set up with cots. If we use the lodge, there are up to 15 rooms with two twin beds each and shared bathrooms down the hall. There is a large kitchen, dining area, and lounge. When using the lodge we are often sharing the facilities with other birding groups.
We bring all of our food with us to the island and prepare all meals at our accommodations. Single accommodations may not be available on this tour. Gambell residents voted many years ago to make alcohol illegal in town. No visitor is exempt, and we absolutely comply with this law.
This tour involves a lot of walking. However, in 2010, Gambell built a road system, vastly improving the walking conditions around the village, and the harrowing tales of walking miles through the famous Gambell pea gravel are now longer part of the Gambell experience. We also use our custom-designed birding “bus” that we tow behind an ATV. The bus has the ability to carry six to eight birders comfortably and safely. We have found the bus to be the best way to travel between birding habitats quickly and safely.
Birding at Gambell is a unique experience, from the incredible birds to the location (you can see Siberia on a clear day) to the Siberian Yup’ik people who have made their living from the Bering Sea for thousands of years on this spot. It is truly unlike any other birding experience in North America.
The trip price includes: all flights from Anchorage to Gambell and back; lodging in Gambell in shared accommodations at a rented home or the community lodge; all meals in Gambell; WBA guides; permits. The trip begins and ends at the Anchorage airport. You are responsible for your Anchorage lodging, meals and other Anchorage arrangements. Single occupancy may not be available on our Gambell trips.
