1530 on 27 June. The helicopter has gone and we are left with our gear for three weeks

ADU travels, expeditions and events

Preliminary Report on the Mammals and Birds at the Piasina Delta, Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia, Russia, June-July 2002

Les Underhill and Gerard Muskens

Introduction

The expedition arrived at Cape Wostochny (74° 06' N 86° 44' E) at 1500 on 27 June 2002 and left at 1530 18 July, 21 days later. Cape Wostochny is at the north side of the delta of the Piasina River.

Part of the study area at Cape Wostochny from the air on 27 June. Snowcover is about 60%

It is convenient to divide the period of the expedition into three weeks: first week, from arrival until 3 July, second week from 4-10 July, and third week from 11 July till departure.

The temperature exceeded 6°C for only a few hours in the period from arrival until 11 July. After 14 July, midday temperatures ranged between 15°C and 22°C, remarkably warm for the tundra at 74°N, and were accompanied by swarms of hostile and mean mosquitos. Snow covered was estimated visually from the air on arrival at 60%, and decreased rapidly. Much of the snow disappeared as a result of wind and rain, rather than melting with increasing temperatures.

Les Underhill's participation in this expedition was made possible by research funding from the University of Cape Town and the National Research Foundation. Cape Storm provided hardweather gear and sleeping bag at a big discount, and Campus Camera provided film, and the processing afterwards, at cost price. MC Systems donated two temperature dataloggers that flawlessly recorded how cold it was, at 15 minute intervals! He borrowed a tent and other gear that had been on the Prince Edward Islands Millennium Expedition in December 2001 from Marine and Coastal Management. Overall, the expedition was sponsored by the Agricultural Counsellor, Royal Netherlands Embassy in Moscow; World Wide Fund for Nature Netherlands; the sustainable energy branch of Nuon, a Dutch electricity supplier; and the Department of Nature Management, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, the Netherlands. The expedition was coordinated by Dr Bart Ebbinge, Alterra Green World Research, in Wageningen, the Netherlands. Logistics in Russia were handled by the Dr Yuri Mazourov and his team at the Heritage Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, and by the staff of the Great Arctic Reserve in Dudinka. There is a day-by-day diary of the expedition (in Dutch, but with lots of pictures) on the Nuon website.

Mammals

Siberian Lemming Lemmus sibiricus

On arrival, there were many lemmings under the baloks at camp, but there were very few in the tundra (estimated rate per hour; probably less than 0.2 lemmings per hour).

During the first visit to the Wysoka fox den on 29 June, 28 Siberian Lemmings were accessible from the outside and were examined briefly before being replaced. Two were too badly mauled to be aged. Of the 28 lemmings, 11 were males (9 adults, 1 subadult, 1 unknown) and 17 females (8 adults, 8 subadults, 1 unknown).

First set of traps (set 28 June, checked 29 June-1 July) near camp caught no lemmings over three days. Second set (set 1 July, checked 2-4 July), caught three the first day, three the second day, and one on the third day. So 2002 was not the "lemming peak year" it was anticipated to be. Maybe this will come in 2003.

Collared Lemming Dicrostonyx torquatus

Two at fox den, one adult and a subadult female. Two individuals caught in lemming trap lines.

Reindeer Rangifer tarandus

Two near Wysoka on 4 July and four east of the Wysoka on 7 July. Tracks on beach at Lidia. Three, two males and a female, on the east side of Lidia Lake on 10 July; this group was subsequently seen on the Wysoka. Single reindeer were seen on the Wystochny Peninsula from 16 July, and one was seen from camp on 18 July.

Arctic Fox Alopex lagopus

Arctic Fox

All known dens in the area were checked. One had recently been used, and one at Wysoka was occupied by a pair of foxes with a litter. On 29 June, there were at least forty dead lemmings at the den, of which all were Siberian Lemmings, except two Collared Lemmings. By 2 July, no foxes had been observed in the area within 4 km of camp in which regular movements by observers took place. Fresh tracks seen on the shore of Lidia Lake on 2 July.

During a visit to Wysoka on 4 July, there was one fox standing on the burrow, and the second one was walking towards the burrow. This fox came to the burrow, and attempted to lead the observer away from the burrow, keeping a distance of less than 20 m. After 200 m, the fox remained behind while the observer moved on.

Also on 4 July, a fox was observed hunting between the Wysoka and the Rough- legged Buzzard Ridge. Every time a bird alarmed, it searched the area.

On 10 July, there were no foxes at the Wysoka den, but the play area of the young foxes was just outside the burrow entrance, and scats from the young foxes were observed.

On 11 July, a fox was seen 1.5 km from camp.

On 14 July, the adults were not present at the den, but the next day both were present, and both tried to lead the observer away from the den. There were fresh White-fronted Goose feathers near the den, with some lying on top of the nearby snow drift.

Ringed Seal Pusa hispada

2 July, swimming just offshore about halfway between camp and Lidia.

Birds

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata

Until the first few days of July, there were ones and twos on the narrow belt of open water in front of camp. At 2300 on 30 June, there were eight in this area. These birds were very vocal. Regularly seen flying past in singles, twos and small groups. After the break-up of the ice, numbers seem decrease between 5 and 10 July, and there were seen.

Bewick's Swan Cygnus bewickii

Two adults seen flying northward over study area on 30 June. One seen flying north on 11 July.

White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons

... you take once step closer and I take off ... White-fronted Goose on its nest

Six seen grazing not far from camp soon after our arrival on 27 June. A total of six nests were found within the study area. Nest 1 found with four eggs about 700 m from camp on 28 June, and had five eggs next day. Nest 2, with five eggs, found on 28 June. Nest 3 (four eggs) found on the south side of the Wysoka on 6 July. Nests 4 and 5 (six eggs and five eggs) found between camp and Lidia on 7 July. Nest 6 (five eggs) found on 14 July, close to Lidia. At nest 5, an adult, presumably the female, and the eggs were predated between 10 and 13 July. The evidence of predation of the bird was a large number of feathers, including tail feathers, about 5 m from the nest. The predator was almost certainly a fox; there were fresh goose feathers at the fox den on 15 July. Groups of up to six flew over the study area daily. Small groups of up to 14 found in the large marshy area west from Lidia Lake on 2 July. There were fewer in this area on 4 July, and none on 10 July.

Brent Goose Branta bernicla

Flocks of up to 11 birds seen flying north on 27 June.

During a short visit to Bird Island on 28 June, about 70 nests were found.

Smaller groups seen flying over study area on 28 and 29 June. Singles seen in two places on the water on south side of peninsula on 29 June. Flock of 17 flying north on 30 June. 46 grazing about 400 m upstream of the mouth of the river close to camp on the north side of the peninsula on 1 July. About 12 grazing in this area on 2 July, and also along the shoreline just south of camp. Small flocks, totally less than 50 birds, were observed grazing in the marshy area around and west from Lidia Lake on 2 July and again on 4 July. Flock of 50 birds subsequently seen in various areas of marshy grass in the study area, frequently not far from the edge of melting snow.

Careful searches were made in areas where nests had been found in 1990-1995 (and everywhere else), but none were found.

King Eider Somateria spectabilis

Three males seen near Lake Lidia on 2 July. Three males and a female on the river half way to Lidia on 7 July. Two males and female there on 10 July.

Stellar's Eider Polysticta stelleri

From 28 June, a few seen flying past camp, with a maximum flock size of eight. Two males and two females observed displaying just upstream of the mouth of the Lidia River. A male and a female on the river half way to Lidia on 7 July. No nests were found and the species almost certainly did not breed in the study area.

Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis

Flock of about five seen flying along south side of Cape Wostochny on 2 July. Several small groups (twos and threes) passed camp on 3 July. Small groups seen flying past occasionally on subsequent days. No nests found, and breeding was not suspected.

Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus

One seen on top of a ridge on 29 June; flew off and hunted over nearby tundra. On 30 June and again on 4 July, the ridge was checked and five nests found, of which two were ready for use, two were incomplete, and the fifth was just started. There were no eggs in any of the nests. One lemming was found near one of the completed nests on 30 June. On 4 July, the adult was still alarming above the ridge. No buzzards were subsequently seen in the study area, and it did not breed this year.

Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus

Two males visited the camp on the first few days. At low density across tundra, at least three places within a few kilometres of camp where males are regularly seen. One female seen with male at first wood pile on south coast, 1 km from camp. Two males at the Wysoka on 4 July. By 10 July, the scattered males were encountered in half-summer plumage. No nests were found, although there must have been 5-10 males in the study area.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Male Ringed Plover

First nest found, with two eggs, within a couple of hours of arrival on 27 June close to camp on stony river bank. The clutch of four was completed on 29 June. Nest with two eggs found on ridge on 28 June and had three eggs on 29 June; nest in small stony section.

Another section of pebble bank just northeast of camp had 28 scrapes on 28 June, and there were even more by 1 July. This is possibly a male which failed to attract a partner. It drew the observer away noisily, as if from a nest, but never got into injury feigning displays. A single bird behaved similarly at the pebble bank at the point half way to Lidia on the south shore.

Three nests found on 1 July, with three, four and four eggs, Two were close together on the flat section of a rocky ridge, and one was close to camp. Another, with three eggs on 2 July, was on the next rocky ridge.

A nest with four eggs on 4 July on the long section of pebble bank on the eastern half of the south shore towards Lidia. These birds alarmed over this entire section of shore.

Judging by alarm calls and distraction displays, there were probably two nests on stony areas along the Wysoka ridge, one near the summit and one farther south. Ringed Plover nests are not difficult to locate, but these nests were not found, because they were located on the flat level patches on the tops of small hills, and it was not possible to find viewing places from which to see the birds return to their nests.

Large numbers of logs, originally cut for timber, but washed up on the shoreline, might well inhibit breeding of Ringed Plovers on shingle beaches, because the logs reduce visibility from all potential nest sites.

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica

Pacific Golden Plover

About 700 m from camp, a nest which contained three eggs when found on 3 July contained four when checked again on 6 July. Two nests were found near the Wysoka on 4 July. Total number of nests found crept up to eight, with two nests being found on 14 July, just a few days before departure. Pacific Golden Plover nests are among the more difficult wader nests to find, and there were several more nests within the study area. Seven of the eight nests had four eggs, and one had three.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Grey Plover

Nest of Grey Plover

Small numbers. One on Bird Island on 29 June. Nest with one egg found near camp on 4 July; this nest was empty and the adults had disappeared when checked again on 6 July. Two nests with four eggs found between camp and Lidia on 7 July and one near the Wysoka on 10 July; two of these three nests were predated: one between 10 and 14 July, and the other between 11 and 15 July.

Dotterel Eudromius morinellus

A pair was seen displaying about half way to the Wysoka on 10 July.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

One seen feeding along river half way between camp and Lidia on 29 June, and again on 7 July. One on Bird Island during shore visit there on 29 June. One feeding on recently exposed grass on bed of river close to camp on north side on 30 June, and seen on same area on 2 July. Single birds were seen occasionally during the first two weeks at places scattered across the study area. A Turnstone alarmed in an area on several occasions during visits to the Wysoka, but none were present on 15 July, when time and conditions allowed an intensive search.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Dunlin

Dunlins were not conspicuous in the first week after our arrival. Nest with four eggs found on 4 July near Wysoka. There is probably a nest along the river valley half way to Wysoka. Two along the north coast about 4 km from camp on 9 July. Two were calling along the river halfway to Lidia on 10 July, where two nests were found on 13 July. Both these nests had hatchlings in the nest cup on 16 July, having been checked to have had eggs on 14 July. This means that Dunlins would have had complete clutches and that incubation would had started about the time of our arrival, explaining the observed lack of displays of this species.

Dunlin with fluffballs

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

Large numbers of active displays, with males calling and chasing females, from 27 to 30 June, mostly in marshy areas where snow was melting. Two or more males seen competing for a female on many occasions during the first week. Male display calls heard only occasionally on 2 July, a few times on 3 July, and once on 4 July. No fieldwork was done in inclement weather on 5 July, and no one visited Curlew Sandpiper displaying areas on 6 July. A few male display calls were heard on 7 July. From this date, there were small numbers of Curlew Sandpipers in the study area, and they often seem to be feeding in groups of two to four. A larger group of 12 was observed feeding along the Central River on 14 July. In spite of long searches for nests of geese and waders of all species, no Curlew Sandpiper nests were found, and it is unlikely that this species bred in the study area.

Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotus

Pectoral Sandpiper

About 10 in snow melt marsh inland on halfway river on 28 June. Pair observed displaying there. One seen on 30 June. Several seen on 2 July; one male observed doing display flight. Two, with male alarming, at top of river west of Wysoka. One on Lake Lidia on 2 July. Seen again there on 3, 4 and 7 July. Nest with four eggs found 1 km from camp on 10 July, and there were probably a few more nests in the study area.

Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii

One seen soon after landing on 27 June, but not recorded subsequently.

Little Stint Calidris minuta

Commonest wader, and 15 nests were found. From 27 to 29 June, lots of displays wre seen in snow melt marshes and also on snow free tundra. Mostly occurred in pairs up to this date, with some larger groups flying in acrobatic flocks. First nest, with two eggs, found on 30 June; this nest had three eggs, with adult incubating, when checked again on 3 July. Both adults were at the nest when it was found, and one was eager to get back onto the nest while the observer was close by. Still in pairs and small groups on 2 July, but displays were less intense. Displays continued on 3 July, but less frequently by 4 July. A second nest with four eggs found on 3 July. Four nests were found on 7 July. Eight nests were found by 10 July, and a further seven between 11 and 14 July. No eggs had hatched by the time of the final checks, made on 15, 16 and 17 July. No Little Stint nests were predated.

Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius

Male Grey Phalarope

Many birds in marshy snow melt areas inland of halfway river. Lots of active displays, with males competing for females. Displays continued on 4 July. Nest with four eggs found along the river half way to Lidia on 7 July. This nest had been predated by 10 July. Another nest found in the Lidia marshes on 10 July and was still intact on 14 July. Both nests had four eggs.

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

Two males and one female foraging in narrow marshy area halfway between camp and Lake Lidia on 2 July. The males squabbled. Two birds were seen in this area on 7 July.

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Two leks below the Rough-legged Buzzard ridge on 29 June. First had one black and two white males, second had one black and one white male. Another lek of six males close to old Lidia camp on 2 July. There was a lek, with three ruffs (one black, one brown and one white) displaying, on the Rough-legged Buzzard ridge on 4 July; later on the number grew to six, with additional black Ruffs joining. On 7 July, there were about 25 Ruffs in this area; they were roosting rather than displaying; 12 were males, with a variety of patterns, black, brown and white and mixtures of these. Ruffs were not seen subsequently.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

A flock of seven Bar-tailed Godwits flew over the study area on 2 July and circled in the mist before flying off. One seen on 9 July along the north shore, about 3 km from camp.

Great Skua Catharacta skua

One seen from the Bird Islands on 14 July.

Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus

Frequently seen, mostly single birds, but occasionally in pairs. One seen consuming a lemming on 28 June. Mostly flying singly on 2-3 July, hunting over marshy areas, but none was seen catching any prey. After the day of bad weather on 5 July, there seemed to be far fewer Pomarine Skuas present on 6 and 7 July. By 10 July, there continued to be a handful of birds hunting over the tundra, but there was no evidence of breeding this year. One was observed taking an egg from a White-fronted Goose nest on 7 July; the bird had been kept off the nest by successive passage of observers through the general area of the nest.

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus

Two over tundra close to shore half way between camp and Lidia on 4 July. Two over the tundra along north shore about 2 km from camp.

Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus

Scarce. Seen on three occasions on 28 June, and once on 29 June. Pair seen on upper stream near Wysoka on 1 July. Pair near Lake Lidia on 2 July. Nest, which contained one egg when found on 4 July had two on 7 July; this nest lies between the Wysoka and Rough-legged Buzzard Ridge.

Heuglin's Gull Larus heuglini

Heuglin's Gull hanging out at the camp, waiting for scraps

On Bird Island on 28 June, there were close to 50 nests (of nests checked, there were seven with no eggs, nine with one egg, 18 with two eggs, and 21 with three eggs). Many observed flying between mainland and offshore islands, and searching for prey items on tundra. None seen to catch anything.

At the spot where Jura the fisherman had set his net, with one end anchored to the shore, one gull was observed diving to get at the fish which had been caught. This was on 10 July, the second day on which the net had been set in this place. On 9 July, the first day, this behaviour must have occurred as well, because some of the fish had been damaged by the gulls. This would probably have been the first time that a fishing net had been set in this area for several years.

About 10 gulls started to hang around camp once fish catching started on 9 July, and wait for fish guts to be disposed of. On 13 July, several gulls visited the camp litter bin for the first time, including one with a ring.

First hatchlings, not yet dry, observed at two nests on the islands on 11-12 July and several more during visit in the afternoon of 12 July.

On 15 July, there were gulls hanging our around the fox den, some 4 km from the nearest shoreline.

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus

One seen on 28 June flying past camp, and observed passing by almost daily. One on 7 July, near mouth of river half way between camp and Lidia. From 9 July, one or two Glaucous Gulls joined the parties of Heuglin's Gulls collecting fish guts after cleaning operations.

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisea

One bird flying over tundra near camp on 6 July. A few pairs were seen on the Bird Islands, where they probably bred.

Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca

Solitary male seen not far from camp on 28 June. Seen near top of a ridge about 3 km from camp on 30 June. Flew off and landed on newly thawed area about 1 km away, and later flew off into the distance. Male seen at Wysoka on 1 July, and on the way to Lidia on 2 July. There was a male on the sea ice near Lidia on 4 July. Female also seen on 4 July, on the Wysoka; took off and flew eastward for several kilometres, until it was out of sight. Not seen subsequently, up to to 10 July.

Moulted feathers from males found throughout study area and there were two moulted female tail feathers at the Wysoka. There are possibly only these two birds visiting the study area at present.

Closest observations to camp were made on 11 and 12 July, when a male was seen sitting on a rocky ridge and nearby grassy tundra, 1.5 km from camp.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

One with long tail streamers, and probably a male, seen flying past on 12 July 2.9 km north of camp.

Shore Lark Eromophila alpestris

Abundant on tundra, with at least five nests found without specifically searching for them. Nest with four eggs found in camp hatched early in July; the chicks had fledged by the time we left. Nest on the top of the Wysoka.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla alba

Small numbers, mostly along coastline. One pair bred in a nest box on the banja. The nest contained four eggs. The first two eggs had hatched by noon on 17 July, and a third had hatched when the nestbox was next checked on the morning of 18 July, the day of departure. This nestbox had been occupied by a Snow Bunting with one egg on our arrival.

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis

Female Snow Bunting

Abundant throughout tundra. Breeds at every area of stone scree and also at fox traps and wherever there is piled up driftwood on the shoreline. The female of the pair that was occupying the nestbox on the banja was probably killed in a lemming trap, and the nest taken over by the Grey Wagtail. The nest had one egg when this happened.

Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus

Very common, more common than during Gerard's previous experience. Two nests, both with five eggs. Has become more scarce since the beginning of July

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

Five flew around in camp until about 4 July. 5 July was a day of wind, rain and generally miserable weather, and none were seen until 11 July, when one reappeared, and seen again on 12 July.

Red-throated Pipt Anthus cervinus

A few pairs scattered around.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

One on the shore and on the tundra near camp briefly on 12 July.