5 August, 1997

Tuesday, August 5, 1997.

Today it is overcast, calm, warm and we have a light rain. The insects are more noticeable and the bug face net is very welcome. At 3.0 I observe a hovering Longtailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus). Bird activity in the area is light, so I moved closer to the Dalton Highway and stationed myself at 2.7. Observed here was an Arctic Loon and a Glaucous Gull. I observed numerous birds eating insects in the willows and at the waters edge, I believe one of the previously un-identified birds is a Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis). I also spotted a Common Raven (Corvus corax) at the Kuparuk River bridge.

We had an overnight rain, so I checked the traps in the experimental zone and found that when the cards were wet, the insects were able to land on the cards and fly off again. The adhesive in combination with the rain may have been reduced.

I positioned myself at 1.065 km where I observed a lot of birds eating insects at the waters edge. At least one of the birds is a Lapland Longspur, one other bird is probably a Savannah Sparrow.

On our way back to camp, we spot a herd of muskox and one calf on the ridge. They are casually grazing across the tundra and soon stop to rest. Using binoculars we got a pretty good look at the herd.