Howdy,

I generally try to travel light, particularly since the new airline baggage fees have gone into effect. When I go to Alaska, I usually take only National Geographic (5th edition), Birds of Europe (1st edition; Mullarney et al.), and A Field Guide to the Birds of Korea (and these are listed in order of usefulness). I usually leave all the family guides at home, though I occasionally take Shorebirds (Hayman et al.), a guide that I still find useful despite its age. Depending on space, I may also take the Sibley western edition, though it's not going to help you with anything from Asia.

I just bought the new Birds of East Asia by Brazil a few days ago and have yet to test its usefulness. It definitely looks better than Birds of Korea, but it's also much bigger than either Birds of Korea or Birds of Europe. I have yet to determine if its bulk will be justified.

I wouldn't recommend bringing any of the gull books, but you may want to consider photocopying or scanning the chapters on Slaty-backed and Vega Gull from one of them (e.g., Howell and Dunn or Olsen and Larsson) or just taking some notes and bringing that with you. You'll see both species at Gambell, and you'll probably have some immatures to deal with so be prepared for that.

The bottom line is that you can probably get away with just bringing the National Geographic, especially since you'll be there for spring migration and there shouldn't be as many ID issues as in the fall. Nat Geo has pretty good coverage of all the likely vagrants, though Birds of Europe is a good supplement for some of them, particularly ducks. (But if you ask me again soon, I might say that Birds of East Asia rather than Birds of Europe is the second best guide for western AK.)

John Puschock
Wedgwood, Seattle
g_g_allin at hotmail.com
http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com



>
> Hey Tweets,
> I am headin up to Alaska for some birding in Nome, Gambell Island, and Homer in early June.
> What ID Books have you found useful for migrants and vagrants up there?
>
> I've gathered recomendations for:
> Chandler - Shorebirds of North America, Europe, & Asia (2009)
> Arlott - Birds of Europe, Russia, China, and Japan. Vol 1 and 2 (2007)
> Svensson - Birds of Europe : 2nd Edition (2010)
>
> I have OBrien's and Paulson's Shorebird guides already.
> And a Nat Geo 4th Ed.
>
> Any other recomendations will be greatly appreciated!
> Thanks!
>
> Guy McWethy
> Renton, WA


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