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This is Page 2 of 3 - the best of April 2018!
posted: May 1st, 2018
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As stated at the bottom of Page 1, this page continues our "Day Trip to Summit, Alaska" adventure of April 18th, at 10:12 AM.  That adventure ends with Row 9 and then we go to Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge for the remainder of the page.  We noticed that some bird species are arriving later than they did last year.  Click on any thumbnail to begin.

April 18th Continues from Page 1 (at 10:12 AM)
  We're continue from Page 1 here and still driving down the Richardson Highway between Delta Junction and Summit, Alaska.
April18th_231_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_231_Delta
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April18th_232_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_232_Delta
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April18th_268_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_268_Delta
Junction_SummitLakeRC

  As we approach the summit of the Alaska Range we begin to see more and more high level clouds. In the third shot you can see the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline.
April18th_269_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_269_Delta
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April18th_272_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_272_Delta
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April18th_273_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_273_Delta
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  The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is again evident. In the second and third shots, if we remember correctly, this is called Rainbow Ridge.
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April18th_280_Delta
Junction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_300_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_300_Delta
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April18th_311_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_311_Delta
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  In first position in this row is an iPhone panoramic photo which covers about 180°. The second shot shows that we are pretty high in elevation now, above tree level. In the third shot, those buildings mark Summit, Alaska. We continued a few miles past here.
DrivingToDelta_PanoramaRC
DrivingToDelta
_PanoramaRC
April18th_330_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_330_Delta
Junction_SummitLakeRC
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April18th_331_Delta
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  The first two photos in this row show Summit Lake and in the third shot, we have crossed the summit of the Alaska Range and come to the headwaters of the Gulkana River.
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April18th_335_Delta
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April18th_336_Delta
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Apr18_49_SummitLakeTrip_GulkanaRiverRC
Apr18_49_SummitLake
Trip_GulkanaRiverRC

  Now we have stopped for lunch at the headwaters of the Gulkana River and then turned around and headed back to Fairbanks. The second shot is Summit Lake again, with a small airplane flying over. In the third shot you can see at least six Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta).
Apr18_51_SummitLakeTripRC
Apr18_51_Summit
LakeTripRC
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April18th_340_Delta
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April18th_347_DeltaJunction_SummitLake_PtarmiganRC
April18th_347_DeltaJunction
_SummitLake_PtarmiganRC

  Here are three more shots of Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta). We also saw Snow Buntings on this trip, but those birds seldom stop to take a break and although we did get some photos, none of them are good enough to bother showing you.
April18th_351_DeltaJunction_SummitLake_PtarmiganRC
April18th_351_DeltaJunction
_SummitLake_PtarmiganRC
April18th_353_DeltaJunction_SummitLake_PtarmiganRC
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_SummitLake_PtarmiganRC
Apr18_52_SummitLakeTrip_PtarmiganRC
Apr18_52_SummitLake
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  Here is a final Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) shot and then two final shots of Summit Lake.
April18th_358_DeltaJunction_SummitLake_PtarmiganRC
April18th_358_DeltaJunction
_SummitLake_PtarmiganRC
Apr18_55_SummitLakeTripRC
Apr18_55_Summit
LakeTripRC
Apr18_56_SummitLakeTripRC
Apr18_56_Summit
LakeTripRC

  Here is a shot of Kazuya and our rig and then two final shots which were taken before we got back to Delta Junction.
Apr18_60_SummitLakeTrip_KazuyaRC
Apr18_60_SummitLake
Trip_KazuyaRC
April18th_400_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_400_Delta
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April18th_401_DeltaJunction_SummitLakeRC
April18th_401_Delta
Junction_SummitLakeRC

End April 18th, Begin April 27th
  Now we have returned to Creamer's Field to see what has arrived since our last trip here on April 16th. As you can see, the Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) have arrived. Swans are not only the heaviest living bird native to North America, they are also the largest extant species of waterfowl, with a wingspan that may exceed 10 feet (3.0 m). The third shot shows a pair of Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos).
Apr27_03_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_03_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_10_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_10_Creamers
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Apr27_07_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_07_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC

  Here are three more shots of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator). You can also see some Canada Geese (Branta canadensis). Note how small the huge geese appear when compared to the swans.
Apr27_11_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_11_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_14_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_14_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_15_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_15_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC

  Here come some Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)! In the third shot is another pair of Trumpeter Swans.
Apr27_16_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_16_Creamers
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Apr27_17_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
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FieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_22_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_22_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC

  In first position is a pair of Canada Geese and then a pair of Trumpeter Swans with some White-Fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) and then a single Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis).
Apr27_25_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_25_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_34_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_34_Creamers
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Apr27_37_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_37_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC

  Here is a final shot of the single Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis). This was the only one we saw on this date. The second shot shows an overview of Creamer's Field with Birch Hill in the background. The third shot shows a number of Trumpeter Swans.
Apr27_38_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_38_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_39_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_39_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_40_CreamersFieldWaterfowlRC
Apr27_40_Creamers
FieldWaterfowlRC

End Page 2, but April 27th Continues on Page 3
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 3 for the continuation of this month's adventures. Go To Page:

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