Alaska Yukon NWT 2024
I am posting my best photographs from the trip, however, these don't cover the whole trip. Visit my homepage, where photographs from previous years for Alaska, Yukon, and NWT trips are found
Juvenile Swainson's Hawk, somewhere in British Columbia.
Driving, I spied this Moose, but it was a log, LOL!
This Black Bear was observed in the Yukon northeast of Carcross.
Seemed to have a wound on it's side.
A closer view suggests that the bear tussled with a porcupine and got the worst of the battle.
Further north in the Yukon, spied this Bald Eagle.
Now on day 6, in Alaska on the Dalton Highway (Ice Road trucker road). This is a juvenile Bald Eagle, and it was crying the whole time.
Nice view of the Dalton. The day before was very rainy.
Now I am just over the Yukon River, and along an access road to the Alyaska Pipeline. Gulls can be very agressive, and this one took a run at me.
His perch, a heat vent for the pipeline.
I fished for grayling under a bridge over the Kanuti River. Caught one, and then a big northern went for my lure, a Mepps 0 on 6 lb test, no leader, so I yanked it from his mouth to save the lure. But, I quickly realized that was a Sheefish, a type of Whitefish, delicious, and possessing a soft mouth. So, I tossed the lure and landed this beauty. These go to over 50 lbs - this was a first for me.
Another view.
Scenery north of the arctic circle.
Approaching the Brooks Range.
I fished in Toolik Lake one afternoon, and caught 3 Grayling and 3 Dolly Varden, but then two Loon appeared, and the fishing was done. The Loons were quite aggresive, as I had the fish on a stringer and they wanted them. Had to fight them off.
Now about a week later. I am crossing the Yukon River by ferry, to enter Dawson City.
Two Polygonia faunus arcticus and a Limenitis artemis rubrofasciata on North Fork Road.
Another group of Polygonia faunus arcticus.
Anither shot. This road is now Indian property, and someone asked me to go to town to get a permit.
One more shot.
Now I have driven the Dempster, passed Inuvik, and am heading toward Tuktoyatuk on the new road. Spied these swans walking to the pond.
A Grey Goose.
Have yet to ID.
Sandhill Cranes, probably a family.
Another shot.
The locals store their snow machines on the tundra during the summer.
Yet to ID.
Yet to ID.
Made it to Tuktoyatuk. Trip from Dawson was interesting, as the temperatures soared to 91F for several day, records for Inuvik. The faunus did not fly on these hot days. Then, the temperature dropped to the 50s, and that day I made it to town. I did not spend as much time here as I should, but headed back south to spend the nex week mainly watching birds.
Have yet to ID.
Two Cranes, one seems to carry a colt, a young Crane.
Spied these weather gauges.
Googled them, but not sure as to what they do.
About 10 miles north of Inuvik, a fox family. Saw 3 kits, and they were very active.
They were curious of me.
Testing the air.
Yet to ID.
Same one.
These decoys get me evey time, thought it was a good bird from afar.
A Loon family.
A Short-eared Owl. Common on rainy days, but I could nevr get a close photo.
A Long-Tailed Jaegar. These often put on quite a show.
The 3 kits, near their den.
This one is easy, a Green-winged Teal.
I split a large protein bar into 3, and tossed it to the kits. They did pick these up, but did not eat them.
Yet to ID.
Locals checking for Cloud Berries.
Another Jaegar.
A Coast Guard vessel on the Mackenzie River, Inuvik.
I parked at this spot for 5 days. In the evening, thousands of Scaups flocked here.
Another view, looking west.
I followed this Whimbrel for an hour trying to get shots. This was my best.
Scenery shot.
Here are the Scaups flocking to roost for the night.
These don't do justice to the mass of birds.
Many landing.
A lone gull nesting among the ducks.
I often mention Moose Lake, and Moose Lake bog. This is about 75 km south of Inuvik, and a good spot for butterflies.
This is at a drain, they accumulate at these spots.
The obligatory Arctic Circle shot.
I now started to see more butterflies. In this gravel pit near Teal Lake, I found Polygonia faunus arcticus quite common, in damp spots.
Just right of the above shot.
And further right, an access roaf where they congragated.
I am now about to enter BC. This is looking back to the Yukon welcome sign.
The BC welcome sign. I am headed down BC 37.
The first 50-60 miles were burnt, bummer.
Camped that night along a dry wash.
Nice ground cover.
Not sure, maybe some type of willow?
Now just south of Hixon, BC. This is a good spot for buttereflies, and I visited in 2021. However, not many were on the wing this day. This is the bridge over Hixon Creek.
One trap.
Looking toward 2 more.
My rig.
And the final shot. Was a great trip!
I am posting my best photographs from the trip, however, these don't cover the whole trip. Visit my homepage, where photographs from previous years for Alaska, Yukon, and NWT trips are found
Juvenile Swainson's Hawk, somewhere in British Columbia.
Driving, I spied this Moose, but it was a log, LOL!
This Black Bear was observed in the Yukon northeast of Carcross.
Seemed to have a wound on it's side.
A closer view suggests that the bear tussled with a porcupine and got the worst of the battle.
Further north in the Yukon, spied this Bald Eagle.
Now on day 6, in Alaska on the Dalton Highway (Ice Road trucker road). This is a juvenile Bald Eagle, and it was crying the whole time.
Nice view of the Dalton. The day before was very rainy.
Now I am just over the Yukon River, and along an access road to the Alyaska Pipeline. Gulls can be very agressive, and this one took a run at me.
His perch, a heat vent for the pipeline.
I fished for grayling under a bridge over the Kanuti River. Caught one, and then a big northern went for my lure, a Mepps 0 on 6 lb test, no leader, so I yanked it from his mouth to save the lure. But, I quickly realized that was a Sheefish, a type of Whitefish, delicious, and possessing a soft mouth. So, I tossed the lure and landed this beauty. These go to over 50 lbs - this was a first for me.
Another view.
Scenery north of the arctic circle.
Approaching the Brooks Range.
I fished in Toolik Lake one afternoon, and caught 3 Grayling and 3 Dolly Varden, but then two Loon appeared, and the fishing was done. The Loons were quite aggresive, as I had the fish on a stringer and they wanted them. Had to fight them off.
Now about a week later. I am crossing the Yukon River by ferry, to enter Dawson City.
Two Polygonia faunus arcticus and a Limenitis artemis rubrofasciata on North Fork Road.
Another group of Polygonia faunus arcticus.
Anither shot. This road is now Indian property, and someone asked me to go to town to get a permit.
One more shot.
Now I have driven the Dempster, passed Inuvik, and am heading toward Tuktoyatuk on the new road. Spied these swans walking to the pond.
A Grey Goose.
Have yet to ID.
Sandhill Cranes, probably a family.
Another shot.
The locals store their snow machines on the tundra during the summer.
Yet to ID.
Yet to ID.
Made it to Tuktoyatuk. Trip from Dawson was interesting, as the temperatures soared to 91F for several day, records for Inuvik. The faunus did not fly on these hot days. Then, the temperature dropped to the 50s, and that day I made it to town. I did not spend as much time here as I should, but headed back south to spend the nex week mainly watching birds.
Have yet to ID.
Two Cranes, one seems to carry a colt, a young Crane.
Spied these weather gauges.
Googled them, but not sure as to what they do.
About 10 miles north of Inuvik, a fox family. Saw 3 kits, and they were very active.
They were curious of me.
Testing the air.
Yet to ID.
Same one.
These decoys get me evey time, thought it was a good bird from afar.
A Loon family.
A Short-eared Owl. Common on rainy days, but I could nevr get a close photo.
A Long-Tailed Jaegar. These often put on quite a show.
The 3 kits, near their den.
This one is easy, a Green-winged Teal.
I split a large protein bar into 3, and tossed it to the kits. They did pick these up, but did not eat them.
Yet to ID.
Locals checking for Cloud Berries.
Another Jaegar.
A Coast Guard vessel on the Mackenzie River, Inuvik.
I parked at this spot for 5 days. In the evening, thousands of Scaups flocked here.
Another view, looking west.
I followed this Whimbrel for an hour trying to get shots. This was my best.
Scenery shot.
Here are the Scaups flocking to roost for the night.
These don't do justice to the mass of birds.
Many landing.
A lone gull nesting among the ducks.
I often mention Moose Lake, and Moose Lake bog. This is about 75 km south of Inuvik, and a good spot for butterflies.
This is at a drain, they accumulate at these spots.
The obligatory Arctic Circle shot.
I now started to see more butterflies. In this gravel pit near Teal Lake, I found Polygonia faunus arcticus quite common, in damp spots.
Just right of the above shot.
And further right, an access roaf where they congragated.
I am now about to enter BC. This is looking back to the Yukon welcome sign.
The BC welcome sign. I am headed down BC 37.
The first 50-60 miles were burnt, bummer.
Camped that night along a dry wash.
Nice ground cover.
Not sure, maybe some type of willow?
Now just south of Hixon, BC. This is a good spot for buttereflies, and I visited in 2021. However, not many were on the wing this day. This is the bridge over Hixon Creek.
One trap.
Looking toward 2 more.
My rig.
And the final shot. Was a great trip!
