Adak Birding Tours

Aleutian Outfitters is the only local birding company that offers guided birding tours of Adak Island. Because we operate year round on Adak we specialize in being able to provide custom tours every month of the year. And there is no minimum for participants on any tour. In fact we are more than happy to spend one on one time with a client. Your guide, Isaac Helmericks, is a third generation Alaskan and he has spent time birding in just about every main location in Alaska. Including the entire North Slope, Barrow, Nome, the Interior, South Central, South East all the way to Ketchikan, and now all the way West to Adak Island.

May and September are normally the “really good” times of year for Asian rarities or other birds only seen during migration.

But Adak offers great birding in the other months as well. Summer months can be a great time to see local specialties such as Whiskered Auklets, Marbled and Kittlitz’s Murrelets, Red Faced Cormorant, Aleutian and Arctic Terns, Rock Ptarmigan and Pacific Common Eiders. In the first week of July 2009 we also recorded Common cuckoo, Common Pochard, White Winged Tern and in early August we had Red Necked Stint and Gray Tailed Tattler.

Winter months are not your typical birding months but Adak does offer some great birding then too. Tufted Ducks, Smew, and Whooper Swans all winter on Adak Island on a regular basis. Large flocks of Emperor Geese also spend the winter months on Adak and provide fantastic opportunities to photograph and watch these beautiful geese up close and personal.

For your convenience we have outlined a few tour dates below that you might be interested in. These are the dates that we have determined to be the “best” in terms of Asian rarities based off of historical sightings. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in other dates or if you are interested in a particular species.

Available Tours:

Tours can be booked year round! Call or email if you have specific dates in mind. Below are some dates that we have set up if the number one goal is to see Asian migrants.

Birding Adak May 2012!

The spring migration is coming. This is an excellent time to see the waterfowl and shorebirds passing through in their breeding plumage.

Recommended spring tour dates:

• May 13th-20nd, 2012
• May 20nd-27th, 2012

Adak Tour Description:

Day 1:

You will arrive on Adak in the late afternoon aboard an Alaska Airlines jet and will be met at the airport by your local guide Isaac. After introductions and everyone’s bags are retrieved we will make the short 2 min drive to your lodging. This is a very comfortable 3 bedroom ranch style duplex with full kitchen, washer/dryer and most other comforts of home.

Birding will commence immediately after everyone is settled. One of the main advantages of using Aleutian Outfitters is that your local guide will have already spent countless hours birding Adak in the days before your arrival and will have numerous birds already located. Timing is crucial when spotting Asian rarities and not wasting time driving around looking for birds will be a huge benefit. Some highlights of recent tours were Common Pochard, Taiga and Tundra Bean Geese, Tufted Ducks, Eurasian Wigeon, Aleutian Green Winged Teal,Falcated Ducks, Hawfinch, Brambling, Black Headed Gull and several Common Cuckoos.

Day 2-7:

The rest of the week will consist of birding as much of the islands hot spots as we can. This consists mostly of birding out of the vehicle as we drive from one area to another. Being mobile and continually checking the same spots throughout the week will yield the best opportunities for Asian migrants. The terrain can vary from tundra or marshes and small fresh water ponds to the lagoon and tidal flats. There will also be some beach habitat which is mostly sand or small rocks. Hiking is generally mild and we will never be far from the road system and vehicle.  Some more recent highlights include Common Greenshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Bar Tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, Red Necked and Long Toed Stint.

Cost:

$3500 per person.  We are currently offering a 10% discount for multiply weeks booked together. This is the most cost effective and will provide you the best chance of seeing the Asian rarities!

Includes:

Upon your arrival in Adak, 7 nights lodging, all meals, transportation, guide service, taxes, and land use permits. Birding with the only local professional bird guide that lives year round on Adak. All meals are home cooked and specialize in fresh Alaskan seafood such as Halibut, Red Salmon and King Crab all caught right here around Adak.

Not included:

Air fare to and from Adak Island, alcohol, phone calls, and any personal expenses (purchases at the local store etc.)

Participants:

Limited to 7 persons.

Leader:

Isaac Helmericks

Reservations:

Reservations can be made by email or phone with a follow-up deposit due within two weeks to confirm reservations

Deposit:

A $500 dollar deposit is required for any tour bookings. We cannot guarantee a spot on the tour until the deposit is received. Payment is due in full 120 days prior to start of the tour.

Refund and cancellation policy:

Aleutian Outfitters will offer a 100% refund on deposits for trips canceled 120 days prior to first day of your scheduled tour, minus a $100 dollar processing fee. No refund can be made within 120 days of booked tour unless a replacement can be arranged.