12 Jul 2018

Thousands of Gray & Humpback Whales

Yttygran & Dezhnev

As we sailed towards the famous whalebone alley on Yttygran Island we were surrounded by numerous Humpback  and Grey whales, in fact we estimate without exaggeration that from here northwards we have literally seen thousands of whales along this coast. Ashore at Whalebone Alley, we were greeted by the rangers from Beringia National Park who introduced us to the history and significance of whalebone alley. The afternoon saw us birding on the tundra or soaking in the hot tub at Gil’mimyl, the waters of the hot tub were a little on the warm side but our Captain led the charge getting the swimming started!

Somebody had said a good word for us with the weather gods as we approached Cape Dezhnev, the sea was nearly perfectly calm with an atmospheric fog swirling along the coast. The numbers of birds heading north during the morning was remarkable as squadron after squadron of Crested and Least Auklets, Short-tailed Shearwaters and Guillemots streamed past the cape. We were also fortunate enough to find several groups of Spectacled Eiders feeding along the shoreline…then it was time to head ashore. Climbing up onto the cape we were greeted by the remains of the community of Neskahn and the former border guard post – both watching out over the Bering Strait for different reasons. The wildflowers were blooming in profusion and because there wasn’t a breath of wind most people were positively overheating. During the afternoon we visit the village of Uelen where we were introduced to the beautiful ivory carvings that have been produced in the community over the last 70 years and are displayed in the museum.

©Heritage Expeditions. Whalewatching Image from 2017 Expedition