One of the primary reasons birders make a pilgrimage out to Nome in early June is to find the Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis). The Bristle-thighed Curlew is an Asian species, similar in appearance to the Whimbrel, and is the rarest breeding bird for any birder to see in North America. It probably is not that rare a species in Alaska; however, except that it prefers to breed on dry tundra of exposed ridges. Nome just happens to be the "closest/easiest" location in Alaska to where you can find breeding pairs.
We left Nome early on the morning of June 7th, to drive north ialong the Kougarok Road for about 72 miles, out to a location called the Coffee Dome. Five vehicles parked on the side of the road and a line people walking up the hill about a quarter of mile above us, told me we had arrived at the Coffee Dome. Next came the "fun" part - walking over 1/2 mile up-hill to the top of the ridge. Tundra is very deceiving, it looks very flat and dry, but can be very wet and hummocky, so you have to carefully pick your way through it. As we got over the first ridge, we could see over 20 birders standing in one location on the next ridge, binoculars up. A Bristle-thighed Curlew overhead in a display flight. After circling, it landed about 70 yards off to the side between my small band of climbers and the main group. For the next hour or so, the bird and 1or 2 more put on a great show for us, making the even harder trek back down the hill well worth it. My pilgrimage to Nome was now a success!
Bristle-thigh Curlew on its High Ridge Habitat
Bristle-thighed Curlew
Birders waiting for the next display flight
