14 Jul 2019

Sovetskaya River and Lake Komsomol

The clouds hung low in the cool morning air with Kaptian Khlebnikov anchored off Ptichy Bazar. Ferrying ashore in Zodiacs, expeditioners split into two groups to explore the soggy tundra. Wrangel Island Ranger Gennadiy showed us one of the primitive shelters rangers use for surveying and other work. Inside were two small bunks, a primitive wood stove, and table and shelf with a very sparse collection of tinned food. The exterior of the window was covered with razor-sharp iron spikes to ward off any four-legged intruders, though Gennadiy said that he's yet to see a bear at this particular cabin.

Later in the day we travelled to Sovetskaya River sand spit to explore. Aaron, our Expedition Leader, explained the perimeters within which we needed to stay, each marked and overseen by a guide. With bird expert Christoph, we watched a pair of Snow Bunting come and go from their nest hidden among several abandoned oil barrels. Both parents share in chick rearing so it was a great opportunity to practice gender identification. We also spot three kinds of Skua (Long-tail, Arctic and Pomarine) flying over misty Lake Komsomol.

Image from file (c) A.Tockston