Day 1 (June 4) - Arrive Anchorage

We arrive in Anchorage in the afternoon and transfer to the Holiday Inn Express. A couple of local parks (Northwood Park and Westchester Lagoon) are just a short distance away and may provide our first looks at Trumpeter Swan, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Violet-green Swallow, Boreal Chickadee and Red-necked Phalarope. The trip starts with dinner, but we’ll do a little local birding if we have the energy!

Day 2 (June 5) - Explore Anchorage area in the morning and head to Denali

After breakfast we’ll take some time to explore Anchorage, birding Westchester Lagoon and the Knik Arm waterfront where we’ll likely see nesting Trumpeter Swan, Sandhill Crane and Red-necked Grebe, as well as Arctic Tern, Steller’s Jay and Orange-crowned Warbler. If the tides are favorable, we may find Hudsonian or Bar-tailed Godwit on the mudflats. In the late morning we head north to Denali, where we’ll spend the next 3 nights.

On route to Denali National Park and Preserve, we’ll explore a portion of the Denali Highway, a dirt road that passes through wonderful habitat for Trumpeter Swan, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Pacific Loon, nesting Semipalmated Plover and breeding waterfowl. If we’re lucky we may find Three-toed Woodpecker or Northern Hawk Owl. We’ll also want to have some time to explore the grounds of our inn and wander down to the shore of Lake Otto. The lake often attracts Bufflehead, scaup, nesting Lesser Yellowlegs, as well as Moose! Overnight Denali Lakeview Inn

Day 3 (June 6) - Exploring Denali National Park

We’ll have two full days to explore Denali NP, perhaps the most beautiful and wildest of our national parks. A landslide has blocked the road that cuts deep into the park, but between the extensive trail network near the visitor center and the road and surrounding area out to East Fork, there is still plenty to enjoy. Birds here are plentiful and accustomed to people. Willow Ptarmigan are often seen right along the roads, while Rock Ptarmigan frequents the more rocky tundra away from the willow thickets. Arctic Warbler nests in the NP and will be in full song. The Arctic Warbler is the sole nesting species of the Old World warblers in the United States. Golden Eagle, and the much scarcer Gyrfalcon, nest on craggy mountainside, while Wandering Tattlers and American Dippers frequent rushing streams throughout the park. You’ll also enjoy some amazing landscapes and abundant mammals, including Caribou, Moose, Dall’s Sheep and Grizzly (Brown) Bear, often seen from the bus that transports visitors into the park. Of course, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for sunny, clear weather and an opportunity to see the majestic peak of Denali, the highest peak in North America at 20,310 feet. Overnight Denali Lakeview Inn

Day 4 (June 7) - Exploring the Denali region

Today we’ll explore more of Denali NPP and the local area, perhaps concentrating on finding birds we’ve missed. Has Arctic Warbler eluded us so far? Or perhaps a nesting Pacific Loon will provide an amazing photo opportunity. Walking one of the braided streambeds in the park may yield nesting Wandering Tattler or a more rigorous hike on the Savage Alpine trail could turn up nesting Long-tailed Jaeger or Surfbird. We’ll also make sure we get some quality time with birds of the boreal forest - Boreal Chickadee, Spruce Grouse, Canada Jay, Bohemian Waxwing, Blackpoll Warbler and Swainson’s Thrush. Overnight Denali Lakeview Inn

Day 5 (June 8) - Denali to Wasilla 

We’ll explore some birding areas on our way to Wasilla, or if time allows, we’ll spend the afternoon birding Independence Mine and Hatcher Pass. The rocky slopes of the pass are a good location for White-tailed Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, displaying American Pipit and Wandering Tattler. Independence Mine showcases the historic gold mining of the region. It’s also a good place to look for Golden-crowned, Fox, White-crowned and Savannah Sparrow, frequenting the thickets on the mine property. At times Northern Wheatear or Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch may be seen on the rock-studded slopes. As we descend in elevation we’ll check the stream crossing for American Dipper and Harlequin Duck. Overnight Wasilla, Grand View Hotel

Day 6  (June 9) - Birding our way to Seward

Today we head south toward Seward, where we’ll spend our final three nights. There are plenty of places to stop on route. Potter Marsh, just south of Anchorage, has a wonderful boardwalk where we can look for Sandhill Crane, Swainson’s Thrush, and Wilson’s Warbler. As we head further south towards Seward, we’ll keep watch for Beluga Whale in Turnagain Arm. If the tides are right, the Belugas can be seen right from the roadside. After checking into our hotel and dinner in Seward, we’ll take a stroll along the waterfront, keeping an eye out for Marbled Murrelet, Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet, Wandering Tattler and Pelagic Cormorant. Sea Otters are often seen close to shore in Seward. Overnight Breeze Inn, Seward

Day 7 (June 10)  - Exploring Seward

We’ll have a more leisurely day today to bird the local area and visit the Alaska Sea Life Center. We’ll start our morning birding the road to Exit Glacier. Part of the Kenai Fjord National Park, a fairly easy trail in the park leads to an overlook near the foot of the glacier.  Many western bird species are near the northern edge of their range in Seward - Townsend’s Warbler, Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Rufous Hummingbird.

The Alaska Sea Life Center is a premier aquarium dedicated to marine research and education, and is the only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility in the state. We’ll have some close encounters with puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions, and other Alaska marine life.  Overnight Breeze Inn, Seward

Day 8  (June 11) - Resurrection Bay Boat Trip

Today we’ll get out on the water with an all day boat excursion in Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fjords. Seabirds are back and starting to nest - everywhere! Pelagic and Red-faced Cormorant, Parakeet Auklet, Horned and Tufted Puffin and 3 species of murrelet - Marbled, Ancient and Kittlitz’s - will all keep us engaged and entertained. It’s possible to observe 10 species of alcids on this excursion! And birds are just part of the attraction - the natural beauty of the area is astounding with surreal glaciers, lofty mountain peaks and picturesque rocky islets. Marine mammals are plentiful too, including Steller Sea Lion, Orca, Fin Whale, Dall’s Porpoise, and more Sea Otters. Overnight Breeze Inn, Seward

Day 9 (June 12) - Return to Anchorage and flights home

We’ll have a long drive back to Anchorage today for our afternoon flight home (arrival back to Vermont will likely be the following morning).

Optional Post-trip Extension: Birds of Nome: Nome is one of the most accessible areas in the US to observe nesting shorebirds on the tundra, including Pacific Golden-Plover, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Black Turnstone, Wandering Tattler, Surfbird and Red-necked Phalarope, as well as that champion of long-distance migration, the Bristle-thighed Curlew. Landbird diversity is lower but very exciting with some species that nest only in this small region of the United States, including Northern Wheatear, Bluethroat and Eastern Yellow Wagtail. There’s also a good chance we’ll find Gyrfalcon, our largest and rarest falcon species.  Contact guide Chip Darmstadt directly at [email protected] for information about this post-trip extension.