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KAMCHATKA

1-2 We fly to Moscow, then an overnight flight to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy,

where we spend the night. We hope to have time for some local birding in this exciting area before boarding the ship the next day.

3-4 The Spirit of Enderby is the perfect ship for this kind of expedition, comfortable

with good viewing and space for just 50 passengers.

Leaving port in the afternoon we’ll look out for Ancient Murrelets, Horned Puffins and with luck Spectacled Guillemot as we travel. In the morning we explore the Zhupanova River in search of nesting Steller’s Sea Eagles. Largha Seals haul out on sandbars and we expect a variety of wildfowl and waders, plus perhaps Siberian Rubythroat or Middendorf ’s Grasshopper Warbler in nearby marshes. Later, deep waters of the Kamchatka

The world’s biggest eagle - Steller’s Sea Eagle, nesting along the Zhupanova RiverPossible whale species - Blue, Sperm, Gray, Beluga, Baird’s Beaked Whale and more! Chance to visit a Spoon-billed Sandpiper nesting site with the Recovery Taskforce Whiskered Auklets, Tufted and Horned Puffins and Red-legged Kittiwake Steller’s Eider, Gyrfalcon, White-billed Diver and more! Unique opportunity for wildlife rich areas where only a few ‘westerners’ have been Comfortable purpose built ship, the Spirit of Enderby, can take just 50 passengers

Explore one of the world’s most remote and wild corners for Steller’s Sea Eagle, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Emperor Goose, Laysan Albatross plus lots more and whales and bears too!

trench may hold Laysan Albatross, Mottled Petrel and the Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel and perhaps our first whale encounters!.

5-6 Arriving at the wildlife-rich Commander Islands we’ll use landings and zodiac

cruises to explore exciting seabird colonies with Red-faced Cormorant, Red-legged Kittiwake, Pigeon Guillemot and Horned Puffin, as well as Parakeet, Crested and Whiskered Auklets and Sea Otters. A cruise along the southern coast of Bering Island can be excellent for cetaceans with Humpback, Sperm, Northern Minke, Orcas and Baird’s Beaked Whales all regularly encountered and we’ll also visit the village of Nikolskoye with its interesting museum.

7 Pacific Golden Plover, Red-necked Stint and Red-necked Phalarope and much more can

Dates Wed 22 Jun - Fri 8 Jul 2016

Superior cabin £8,995pp SS £4,795

Superior plus £9,395pp SS £5,195

Deposit £1,700

Leader Julian Sykes

Flights Easyjet scheduled Outbound: Morning, Gatwick-Moscow Inbound: Afternoon, Moscow-Gatwick Internal flights, local airlines: Overnight, Moscow-Petropavlovsk- Kamchatskiy Afternoon, Anadyr-Moscow

Weather Variable, may be warm and dry but also cool with showers (5°-15°C)

Walking Mostly easy, some uneven terrain Wellingtons are essential for landings Lightweight shoes are suitable onboard

Meals All included from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 17

Insects Some insects possible, bring repellent

Accom Hotels: twin and single ensuite rooms Superior cabins: twin bunk berths, ensuite Superior plus cabins: twin lower berths, ensuite Other cabin types available, please ask for details

Visa/Fees Russia Tourist Visa is an extra cost, approx £100. Must be obtained before travel in person at local visa centre Gratuities on board are an extra cost, about £5pp per day

Group 10

Just some of what we hope to see:

Steller’s Sea Eagle Spoon-billed Sandpiper Emperor Goose Whiskered Auklet Laysan Albatross Aleutian Tern

Tufted Puffin Siberian Rubythroat Brown Bear Gray Whale Baird’s Beaked Whale Beluga

“To form part of a team briefly monitoring one of the world’s most

iconic and rarest waders - Spoon-billed Sandpiper, in their

beautiful summer plumage, in some of the last true areas of wilderness, is an unbelievable privilege. Pinch me, it’s another wildlife dream fulfilled!”

Julian Sykes

01479 812498 | enquiries@speysidewildlife.co.ukwww.speysidewildlife.co.uk

be found on our landing on Karaginskiy Island, a patchwork of boggy tundra, ponds and shingle spits with nesting Bluethroat and Pallas’ Reed Bunting.

8 By following a short trail to the cliff top on Verkhoturova Island we hope

to enjoy fantastic views of Black-legged Kittiwake, Brunnich’s Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, Tufted Puffin and other seabirds in the colonies here. Both Steller’s Eider and Harlequin Duck occur and Steller’s Sea Lions are often hauled out on offshore rocks. Later there will be either a zodiac cruise or landing on the Govena Peninsula, where good numbers of Brown Bears can often be found.

9-12 The deep, forested fjords of the Koryak and Chukotka Coast

are rarely explored, but we’ll spend time here searching for Brown Bears, Mountain Sheep and Kamchatka Marmots, while the many lagoons and shallow bays hold Tundra Bean Goose, Steller’s Eider, Great Knot, Long-toed Stint, Gyrfalcon, Siberian Accentor and Asian Rosy-Finch. This is a stronghold for Kittlitz’s Murrelet and previous expeditions have added to the scientific knowledge of birds in this area, finding a wealth of bird life, including a previously unknown population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper. There will be unique opportunities for hiking and birding where only a few ‘westerners’ have ever been, in search of Dusky Thrush, Rustic and Little Buntings, Mongolian Plover, Siberian Rubythroat and much more.

13-14 Meinypil’gyno, which is located on a 40km long shingle

spit, is the most important site in the world for breeding Spoon-billed Sandpiper. About ten pairs are monitored by members of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Recovery Taskforce here. We shall be guests of the Taskforce and if possible we may be guided to one of their monitored nests. The area is extremely rich and we may also find Emperor Goose, Pacific Diver, White-billed Diver, Sabine’s Gull and Sandhill Crane. The lagoon entrance often has Largha Seal and Gray and Beluga Whales.

15 Cape Navarin and Keyngypilgyn Lagoon are rich in marine mammals including

Walrus. Animals regularly move between locations, but we hope to find them hauled out on a beach here. Good numbers of Gray Whales often congregate offshore and this can be an excellent location for waterfowl and waders, including Emperor Goose, White-fronted Goose, King Eider, Black Brant, Whooper Swan, Grey Phalarope and Aleutian Tern.

16-17 As we cruise into Anadyr Bay, there is an excellent chance

of more Beluga Whales and after a final breakfast on board, it will be time to disembark before our flight to Moscow, where we shall spend the night. The following day we catch our flight back to London.

“Onboard the ‘Spirit of Enderby’, slowly moving through the icy grey waters of the Bering Sea, Walrus loaf on distant shorelines, dainty Whiskered Auklets fly up from the sea. Laysan Albatross and shearwaters drift by - our constant companions. A larger bird appears low over the water, a Short-tailed Albatross. This incredibly rare species is very restricted in its range, difficult to see - such a wonderful encounter.” Julian Sykes

G Breton: Steller’s Sea Eagle C Collins: Spoon-billed Sandpiper E Tan: Brown Bear J Sykes: Pavla walk view J E Ross: Horned Puffins A R Russ: Aucklets Photos courtesy of Heritage Expeditions

Days 1-2 Fly to Moscow then overnight flight to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy 1 night at Petropavlovsk Hotel

Days 3-15 Board the Spirit of Enderby, sail to Zhupanova River and over Kamchatka Trench. Birding the Commander Islands. Sail southern coast of Bering Island for cetaceans. Visit Nikolskoye, including museum. Landing on Karaginskiy Island. Verkhoturova Island for seabird colonies and Govena Peninsula for Brown Bears. Birding the Koryak and Chukotka Coast. Meinypil’gyno, the most important site in the world for breeding Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Birding Cape Navarin and Keyngypilgyn Lagoons

Day 16 Desembark in Anadyr for flight to Moscow, 1 night at Ramada Hotel

Day 17 Flight back to UK

Outline Itinerary