Arctic wildlife dog sled tour: seabirds and marine mammals of East Greenland
Join this fantastic trip in the spectacular Liverpool Land. If you are interested in the birds and wildlife of the arctic, this trip is what you should choose. Ann Harding, who is a research biologist with several years of experience in arctic birdlife, will join as a tour leader.
When: 9-16/5 2009
Min. no. of participants: 5
Price pr prs/dbl sled: 17.500 DKK
Included: 2 nights in local guesthouse w/self-catering; sledge trip (10-15/5) including full catering, sledge outfit + boots, sleeping bag, mattress, tent; helicopter tickets to/from town
Not included: catering in guesthouse , flights to/from Greenland.
Background:
This trip is designed specifically for people with a passion for learning about, observing, and experiencing the richness of Arctic wildlife. The area of Liverpool land and Scoresby Sund on the East coast of Greenland has an incredible diversity and abundance of seabirds and marine mammals. The high concentration of life in this region is largely governed by the year-round area of open water (Polynia) located at the mouth of Scoresby Sund and the highly productive waters that flow south along the coast. This wealth of wildlife enables good hunting for the local village of Ittoqqortoormiit, and provides an incredible opportunity for people to observe marine mammals and experience the excitement of thousands of Arctic seabirds returning to their breeding sites in the spring.
The trip will be guided by experienced mushers from Ittoqqortoormiit and Ann Harding, an English-speaking wildlife biologist based in Alaska. The guides have a tremendous knowledge about dog-sledding, local wildlife and hunting. Ann has over 15 years experience working with Arctic seabirds in Alaska, Svalbard and Greenland. She has spent the last four summers studying the feeding and breeding ecology of Little Auks at Kap Höegh, a large colony on the coast of Liverpool land.
The group will travel by dog sledge, a traditional, quiet way of travel which is ideal for observing wildlife, and will sleep in tents and local hunting cabins. The tour route and schedule can be flexible and tailored, according to individual interests and the activity and timing of the birds. The schedule will also depend on local weather, ice and snow conditions.
Tour description :
9/5: Arrival in Ittoqqortoormiit. Overnight stay in local guesthouse.
10/5: The first day we will travel by sledge to Kap Tobin, a small hunting village within walking distance to the open water at the mouth of Scoresby Sund. Here we will spend some time walking out to the Polynia and watching the feeding activity of Brünnich’s Guillemots and Little Auks that breed locally in large numbers. We should also see Black Guillemot, Northern Fulmar, Glaucous Gull and Common Eider, and there is a good chance of spotting the Ivory and Sabine’s Gull. In addition to birds, we might see both the ringed and bearded seal, and there is a possibility of walrus, polar bear and narwhal at the ice edge. The Polynia is a vitally important area for seabirds to feed when they return to the colony in the spring, and it provides an intense concentration of life and activity to observe. It is also an important location for people in Ittoqqortoormiit to hunt ringed and bearded seal.
11/5: We will then travel over the glacier to the large Little Auk colony at Kap Høegh. We will pass Raffles Island, an important breeding site for Brünnich’s Guillemot in East Greenland. Black-legged Kittiwakes, Northern Fulmar, and Atlantic Puffin also breed on Raffles. We will stay at a hunting cabin at Kap Høegh and have a couple of days enjoying the spectacle of the Little Auk colony.
12/5: Our tour leader Ann has done several years of scientific studies at exactly this place. She will lead us to the top of the eastern bird cliff and show us the Little Auk colony. The view is excellent from up there and gives a good opportunity to look for polar bear down at the sea ice at the same time.
13/5: With the cabin as base, we will go with dog sledge to Glasgow Island, where Barnacle Geese breed on cliffs just a few hours ride north of Kap Høegh.
It will take a day tour to observe them breeding on the steep cliffs above the sea ice. Although the tour is focused on seabirds and marine mammals, there is a very good chance of seeing arctic hare and arctic fox at Kap Høegh.
14/5: Today we will visit the western bird colony of Kap Høegh – even though the Little Auk is a small bird, its huge numbers can turn parts of the white snow surface black.
15/5: We will go back to Ittoqqortoormiit trough Lillefjord and along the glacier valley, leading to the river delta at town. The last night we will spend at the guesthouse, enjoying a nice hot shower before departure the next day.
