Four days in the rain shadow of the Alaska Range

A few days in the drier rain shadow of the Alaska Range brought several new bird species, among them Alaska's state bird, the Willow Ptarmigan, as well as bears and moose. White-winged Crossbills were especially numerous in the lower country around Riley Creek. Soon afterwards, several Boreal Chickadees came right up to our tent. A walk through nearby forest also produced a Black-backed Woodpecker. Later we travelled farther into Denali National Park, where we were very lucky: Denali itself appeared, with bears and moose in the surrounding landscape. A flock of Willow Ptarmigans burst from the low scrub as we passed, while a Black-billed Magpie kept its distance. A Rusty Blackbird at a small pond completed the new species. Even if the four days were not exceptional for sheer bird numbers, the park and its surroundings offered many other animals and landscapes that were impossible to overlook.