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Birding the Russian Far East
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Horned Puffins
Photo by JERoss |
The combination of deep water upwellings and the mixing of the cold waters from
the Sea of Okhotsk with the warmer Pacific Ocean creates ideal conditions for seabirds
and the area is one of the richest in the world, both in terms of the number of
species which can be seen and their sheer abundance. For many birders, the undoubted
highlight are the Auks and during our voyage it is possible to see up to fourteen
species including Tufted and Horned Puffins, Parakeet, Whiskered and Rhinoceros
Auklets, as well as Spectacled and Pigeon Guillemots.
Other seabirds we regularly encounter include Laysan Albatross,
Mottled Petrel, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Red-faced Cormorant,
Red-legged Kittiwake and Aleutian Tern, making this a truly “must do”
trip for keen seabirders.
The seas are also extremely rich in cetaceans and on recent
expeditions we have seen Blue, Fin, Sperm, Humpback and Grey
Whales as well as Orca (Killer Whale), Baird’s Beaked-Whale and Dall’s Porpoise.
As we head north up the Kuril chain and then explore Kamchatka and the
Commander Islands, the scenery and vegetation change markedly, giving us
the opportunity to look for an exciting range of land birds. For many,
the highlight is the truly stunning Steller’s Sea-Eagle which breeds at
a number of locations we plan to visit, although there are plenty of
other special species including Rock Sandpiper, Mongolian Plover, Pechora Pipit,
Japanese Robin, Siberian Rubythroat, Red-flanked Bluetail, Long-tailed Rosefinch
and Black-faced Bunting.
The birds, cetaceans, wild flowers and dramatic scenery make this territory
truly unique and by joining this expedition you will have the opportunity to
visit a region few have had the privilege to experience.
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| Day 1 |
Sakhalin Island
Arrive into Sakhalin and spend the night at a hotel in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
For those wanting to explore, the nearby Gagarin Park offers excellent birding
with Sakhalin Leaf-Warbler, Rufous-tailed Robin and Japanese
Pygmy Woodpecker all possible.
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| Day 2 |
Depart and at sea
Transfer to the Port of Korsakov and board M/S "Spirit of Enderby".
As we cross the Sea of Okhotsk, our first seabirds could include Tufted Puffin,
Ancient Murrelet and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel. Flocks of Short-tailed Shearwaters
should also be present as this species moults in huge numbers in these waters.
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| Day 3 |
Kunashir Island
As we approach Kunashir, new seabirds could include Rhinoceros Auklet,
Brunnich’s Guillemot and Slaty-backed Gull. The very rare Short-tailed
Albatross has also been seen here on two previous expeditions.
We plan to visit the Kurilsky Reserve and explore an extensive area of woodland.
Species we could encounter include White-tailed Eagle, Oriental Turtle-Dove,
Oriental Cuckoo, Crested Kingfisher, Japanese Bush-Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler,
Narcissus Flycatcher and Long-tailed Rosefinch. Blakiston’s Fish-Owl breeds on the
island and has been seen on one of our expeditions.
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| Day 4 |
Iturup Island
The waters off Iturup can be excellent for the localised Spectacled Guillemot and we plan an
early morning Zodiac cruise to search for this species. After breakfast, buses will take us into
the volcanic highlands of Iturup where Brown Dipper, Arctic Warbler, Japanese Robin, Pine Grosbeak
and Japanese Grey Bunting can be found.
We will also visit the community of Kurilsk where Russet Sparrow and Chestnut-cheeked Starling breed.
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| Day 5 |
Urup and Chirpoy Islands
An early morning landing on Urup, where new species could include Latham’s
Snipe, Brown-headed Thrush, Siberian Rubythroat and Grey-bellied Bullfinch.
As we cruise north, Long-billed Murrelet, Pelagic Cormorant and Laysan Albatross are
possible, as are Dall’s Porpoise, Sperm Whale and Orca.
Later in the day, we will either Zodiac cruise or land on Chirpoy Island where there
are some dramatic headlands covered in breeding seabirds.
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| Day 6 |
Shimushir and Yankicho Islands
We will enter a flooded caldera at the northern end of
Shimushir Island where there was once a top secret Soviet
submarine base; now abandoned. In the surrounding area,
likely species include Siberian Rubythroat, Eurasian Nutcracker,
Pine Grosbeak and Japanese Grey Bunting.
Our visit to Yankicho Island is likely to be one of the highlights
of the voyage as the numbers of alcids which breed here are incredible,
with spectacular concentrations of Crested and Whiskered Auklets.
We should also see Parakeet Auklet, Horned Puffin and Pigeon Guillemot.
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| Day 7 |
Toporkovy and Ekarma Islands
During the morning we will cruise off Toporkovy where we can expect to find
Harlequin Ducks, Red-faced Cormorants, Tufted Puffins and Brunnich’s Guillemots
and ashore could encounter Grey-tailed Tattler, Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler
and Black-faced Bunting.
Later in the day, we plan a Zodiac cruise off Ekarma where hundreds of thousands
of Northern Fulmars breed. We should also see various alcids, with close looks at
Tufted Puffin and Whiskered Auklet highly likely.
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| Day 8 |
Onekotan and Atlasova Islands
Landing at the northern end of Onekotan we will walk to a nearby lake through
meadows of wildflowers where we could find Buff-bellied Pipit, Pine Grosbeak
and Japanese Grey Bunting.
In the afternoon, we will visit Atlasova where there is a colony of Red-faced Cormorants.
Other species that can be found here include Long-toed Stint, Falcated Duck, Arctic Warbler,
Brown-headed Thrush and Siberian Rubythroat.
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| Day 9 |
Bukta Russkaya, Kamchatka
On our 2009 expedition we discovered several pairs of the critically endangered Kittlitz’s
Murrelet in this fiord and we plan to look for these as well as Long-billed Murrelet which
also occurs here.
There is at least one active nest of the spectacular Steller’s Sea-Eagle in the
bay and while ashore we will look for Lanceolated Warbler, Oriental Greenfinch and Rustic Bunting.
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| Day 10 |
Zhupanova River, Kamchatka
We will spend several hours in the Zodiacs cruising on the Zhupanova River
where we should get great looks at Steller’s Sea-Eagles; the birds often perch
in the trees adjacent to the river. Other highlights should include Pacific Diver,
Far Eastern Curlew, Glaucous-winged Gull, Aleutian Tern and Yellow-breasted Bunting.
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Days
11-12 |
Commander Islands
There are two main islands in the Commander group, Bering and Medney, and during our two days
we will explore several sites. While ashore, we stand an excellent chance of finding Rock Sandpiper,
Mongolian Plover, Pechora Pipit and Grey-crowned Rosy-Finch, as well as the endemic subspecies of Arctic Fox.
Zodiac cruising can be extremely rewarding here with Whiskered, Least and Parakeet Auklets all possible
as well as the range-restricted Red-legged Kittiwake.
The area is also extremely rich in marine mammals and previous voyages have encountered Sperm,
Humpback, Northern Minke and Baird’s Beaked-Whales, as well as Orcas, Steller’s Sea-Lions,
Northern Fur Seals and Sea Otters.
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| Day 13 |
At Sea
A day at sea as we cruise towards Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy with Fork-tailed
Storm-Petrel and Red-legged Kittiwake amongst the likely sightings.
We may also encounter some cetaceans and have twice seen Blue Whale in these waters.
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| Day 14 |
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatkskiy
Arrive Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy and transfer to either a nearby hotel or the airport.
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| Price: |
Heritage Suite - $10400 per person.
Mini Suite - $9600 per person.
Superior Plus - $8900 per person.
Superior - $8400 per person.
Main Deck - $7800 per person.
Main Deck Triple - $6500 per person.
The rates for twin cabins are based on twin-share.
Sole occupancy in suites is +100% of the tour cost and sole occupancy in other cabins is +80% of the tour cost.
We accept payments in Rubles, Euro and USD.
Convert to your currency
Special offers and promotions may be available.
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| Languages: |
English
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Departure
Dates: |
12.06-25.06.2011
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| Included: |
- Hotel accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (1 night, twin-share);
- Group transfers between the airport and the ship;
- Luggage transfer between the airport and the ship;
- Voyage aboard the vessel "Spirit of Enderby" as indicated in the itinerary;
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by zodiacs (as included in planned group excursions);
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and the service of an experienced guide;
- Meals on board the ship;
- Post expedition trip log;
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| Not Included: |
- All airfares;
- Passport and visa expenses (if required);
- Government arrival and departure taxes (if required);
- Meals and hotel accommodation ashore;
- Luggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended);
- Excess luggage charges;
- Telecommunication services; laundry, bar charges aboard the vessel;
- Standard tips at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personal aboard (at your discretion);
- Any optional excursions.
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| M/S "Spirit of Enderby" |
Classification: Russian register KM ice class
Year built: 1984
Accommodation: 50 berths expedition
Shipyard: Finland
Main engines: power 2x1560 bhp (2x 1147 Kw)
Register: Russia
Maximum speed: 12 knots (2 engines)
Cruising speed: 10 knots(one engine)
Bunker capacity: 320 tons
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| Reservations and payment: |
To make a booking you must send us a completed
booking form and a deposit of 25% for your selected
voyage. We will then invoice you for the balance,
which must be paid no later than 90 days before
departure. If you book less than 90 days before
departure, full payment is due immediately.
Once you have decided which holiday is for you,
you can check availability by sending e-mail to us.
You may pay the deposit by credit card (Visa or Mastercard)
and this will secure your place. We also accept bank
transfers - please contact us for our bank account
details.
If you are booking within 90 days of departure, full
payment is due when booking and we may have to impose a
late booking fee of USD 50 per person
to cover extra expenses if departure is less than
31 days away. If under 31 days we also require
a guaranteed final payment such as a bank
transfer or an accepted credit card.
Please note that a 2% fee will be added if you pay
your final balance by credit card.
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| Cancellation and Refunds: |
The customer may cancel the trip (exclusively in writing) at any time before the beginning of the tour.
In the case of cancellation by the customer the Cruise Operator is entitled to charge the following costs
to the traveler:
- For cancellations received more than 210 days prior to the departure date, a full refund will be made
less a USD 750 per person administration fee.
- For cancellations received within 209 and 121 days of the embarkation date the full deposit will
be forfeited.
- If cancellation occurs within 120 days prior to the departure date the total price is forfeited.
- If cancellation occurs within 120 days and full payment has not yet been received,
the total price will still apply and any unpaid monies are due immediately
If the minimum number of participants has not been achieved, the Cruise Operator is entitled to cancel
the planned trip up to 30 days before departure. Any payment already received from the customer will be
paid back by the Cruise Operator if the customer
does not agree to accept an alternative trip offered by the Cruise Operator.
The Cruise Operator has the right to cancel the trip in the case of force majeure
(e.g. war, uprising, natural disasters, abnormal / exceptional weather and ice conditions,
legal stipulations of the local/regional authorities and other “acts of God”).
The Cruise Operator will not be held liable for force majeure.
If situations of force majeure occur before the departure date, the Cruise Operator will pay back to the
customer the amount already paid. If situations of force majeure occur during the trip, the Cruise Operator
will try to offer an alternative programme.
If this should prove impossible, either the Cruise Operator or the customer is entitled to cancel the trip.
In such a case, the Cruise Operator will not be held financially liable.
However, in the case of any cost savings, the Cruise Operator shall return these monies to the
customer. the Cruise Operator is obliged to assist the customer - in obtaining a return trip/flight.
The customer him/herself is responsible for the costs of this.
If the Cruise Operator, by virtue of the provisions mentioned above, cancels the trip,
only the equivalent of the billed price will be paid back to the customer.
The Cruise Operator will not be held liable for costs the customer has incurred in preparation of the trip
nor for reservations of travel components
(such as but not limited to flights, hotels, connecting programmes, (travel) insurances)
which, in combination with the trip booked with the Cruise Operator, may have been booked elsewhere.
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| Itinerary: |
These are not ordinary package
holidays, the outline itineraries given in this description
are statements of intent rather than promises. Local
weather, politics, airlines, transport or a host of
other uncontrollable factors can mean a change
in itinerary. It is unlikely that the itinerary would be
substantially altered, but if changes are necessary
the Expedition Leader will decide the best
alternative. Where a delay or change does occur,
we will do everything we can to minimise its effects,
but we cannot be held responsible for the results of
delays or changes outside our control.
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Booking form
