Alaska: Fall Migration at Gambell & Nome

  • Aug 30 to Sep 8 2025

    Raymond VanBuskirk (and Debbie Brooks as cook)

    Additional days in Gambell to Sep 12
Fall in Alaska is a beautiful time, with the colors turning on the tundra...
Fall in Alaska is a beautiful time, with the colors turning on the tundra...
...and juvenile shorebirds like this Pacific Golden gearing up for their first fall migration.
...and juvenile shorebirds like this Pacific Golden gearing up for their first fall migration.
The weather can be downright comfortable...
The weather can be downright comfortable...
...and the local wildlife downright curious.
...and the local wildlife downright curious.
We'll have a day in Nome to look for mainland species such as Willow Ptarmigan...
We'll have a day in Nome to look for mainland species such as Willow Ptarmigan...
...and breeding plumaged Red-throated (and Arctic) Loons.
...and breeding plumaged Red-throated (and Arctic) Loons.
Some years the local colony of Aleutian Terns are still active during our visit...
Some years the local colony of Aleutian Terns are still active during our visit...
...and Whimbrel generally are flocking in large numbers along the coast.
...and Whimbrel generally are flocking in large numbers along the coast.
Perhaps we'll find a surprise or two around Nome like Spectacled Eider...
Perhaps we'll find a surprise or two around Nome like Spectacled Eider...
...or see head-locking Musk Ox or...
...or see head-locking Musk Ox or...
...sprightly Short-tailed Weasels along the Nome roads.
...sprightly Short-tailed Weasels along the Nome roads.
After our Nome day we will fly out to Saint Lawrence Island...
After our Nome day we will fly out to Saint Lawrence Island...
...and the town of Gambell.
...and the town of Gambell.
The boneyards are lush compared to the spring...
The boneyards are lush compared to the spring...
...and harbor a wider array of passerines like this Northern Wheatear, heading off to Sub Saharan Africa...
...and harbor a wider array of passerines like this Northern Wheatear, heading off to Sub Saharan Africa...
...or stray species  like this Little Bunting...
...or stray species like this Little Bunting...
...Siberian Accentor or...
...Siberian Accentor or...
...even a Brown Shrike!
...even a Brown Shrike!
Some birds from 'our' side of the pond occur too like this Golden-crowned Sparrow...
Some birds from 'our' side of the pond occur too like this Golden-crowned Sparrow...
...and in some years we find young Snowy Owls nearby, feasting on the numerous Tundra Voles.
...and in some years we find young Snowy Owls nearby, feasting on the numerous Tundra Voles.
Although never numerous a wide array of shorebirds can occur here too, this Buff-breasted Sandpiper was a 2016 treat for us.
Although never numerous a wide array of shorebirds can occur here too, this Buff-breasted Sandpiper was a 2016 treat for us.
Although basic the lodge at Gambell is comfortable...
Although basic the lodge at Gambell is comfortable...
...and sea watches are much warmer in the fall!
...and sea watches are much warmer in the fall!
Young Auklets are frequently spotted, sometimes land bound...
Young Auklets are frequently spotted, sometimes land bound...
...and we can usually spot some Least Auklets...
...and we can usually spot some Least Auklets...
...and Crested Auklets still on their breeding cliffs above town.
...and Crested Auklets still on their breeding cliffs above town.
Juvenile Black-legged Kittiwakes are a striking and regular sight at the sea watch...
Juvenile Black-legged Kittiwakes are a striking and regular sight at the sea watch...
...and we'll keep an eye out for migrating Yellow-billed Loons...
...and we'll keep an eye out for migrating Yellow-billed Loons...
...or Emperor Geese.
...or Emperor Geese.
All too soon we'll head back to Nome, watching as we taxi out...  just in case...
All too soon we'll head back to Nome, watching as we taxi out... just in case...
Photo credit: Gavin Bieber and Greg Greene
2025 Tour Price
$6,650
2025
Single Room Supplement $660
Extension (Additional Days in Gambell) $1,950
Extension Single Room Supplement $190
This tour is limited to 10 participants with one leader; 18 participants with two or more leaders.
Tour balances paid by check/bank transfer may carry a 4% discount

Birding on the Bering Sea outposts during the early autumn offers a variety of western Alaska specialties, an incredible seabird spectacle, southbound shorebirds that include small numbers of Old World species, and a good chance of finding Asian landbird strays. This revamped tour is scheduled to take in both Nome, with its fall foliage and mainland specialties such as Arctic Loon, Willow Ptarmigan, Gyrfalcon, and Bar-tailed Godwit, as well as Gambell, with its vegetated boneyards and remote appeal. In contrast to the spring migration period, fall migration is protracted and full of glorious uncertainty, but some of the plumages, to say nothing of the species, are rarely seen on North American birding tours. Although rare passerines can be expected to occur between late August and early October, the number, composition, and timing of their occurrence vary from year to year, depending on such factors as the weather, that year’s nesting success, and of course good luck!  

We’ve timed the Gambell portion of the tour to coincide with the movement of trans-Beringian migrants heading back to their Old World wintering grounds. Usually, we detect numbers of Arctic Warblers, Eastern Yellow Wagtails, Northern Wheatears, Bluethroats, and Red-throated Pipits heading west. Here too a multitude of alcids will be present in sometimes mind-numbing numbers, and the seawatching from the point is perhaps unsurpassed in North America.  

*It is possible to skip the Nome days. Please let the tour manager know if this is of interest. 

** Note if you wish to spend more time at Gambell, we've added an option of extending your stay for a few extra days. 

Tour Team
Itinerary (Click to see more)
Tour Information (Click to see more)
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Narrative (Click to see more)
Testimonials (Click to see more)
Tour Notes

** This tour begins and ends in Nome. The Anchorage to Nome flight is not included in the tour cost and is most economically purchased as part of your flights to Alaska. The Nome to Gambell flight is included.

** Single rooms are not always available in Gambell.

This tour is limited to 10 participants with one leader; 18 participants with two or more leaders.

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