"Southern Avenue, last stop in southern Prince George's County" announced the operator of the Metro train, as we pulled in to the stop just outside of the Washington, DC line. I took a last look around at the lush vegetation present even in this rather urbanized region of my home county. A bright sun illuminated the sweetgum, tulip poplar, white oaks and black locust trees making for a brilliant green landscape, quite a contrast to the land that I will be soon be visiting to do my seabird research.
After goodbyes this morning to my wife Tracy and eight-year old son Jake, I took the Metro, the DC area's mass transit system to National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. I connected through Detroit on my way to Anchorage, Alaska. This will be my overnight stopping point before my flight tomorrow at noon to St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea!
The DC Metro train approaches National Airport
It is with a mixture of excitement and a little sadness as I begin this trip. Of course, I'm thrilled to be participating in the adventure of a lifetime and anticipating the amazing experiences that lie ahead. I'm also a little sad, at the prospect of leaving family and friends for such an extended period of time. I plan to stay connected through photos, video and journal entries and phone calls when (and if) that can happen. After a lengthy delay in Detroit, we begin the 6 ½ hour flight to Anchorage. Heavy cloud cover and an aisle seat make for difficult viewing of the scenery below. Finally, as we enter into Alaska, we're treated to some breathtaking views of the Alaska Range below.
The Alaska Range from the air
I promised the students in the Maryland Summer Center for Aquatic Research, a gifted and talented science program that I coordinate back home, that my first photo from Alaska would show me in my Summer Center t-shirt! I thought that this backdrop from the Anchorage airport would be a good place to pose!
At the baggage claim at the Anchorage Airport
After checking into my hotel for the evening, I took a stroll and went looking for a bite to eat. One of my favorite wildflowers from my trip to Alaska last year was the Fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium. A beautiful plant that seems to grow everywhere around Anchorage, even right outside my airport hotel!
A summertime beauty in Alaska
Since this PolarTREC expedition is about birdlife, I thought it important to start a daily list of the birds that I observe. Even though I'm not yet on St. Paul, I know that some folks are interested in what I've seen so far. These were a few of the birds observed within a short walk from my hotel. Common Loon, Mallard, Glaucous-winged Gull, Mew Gull, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Pine Siskin.