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RESPONDENT
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Irina Yakshina
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SITE NAME
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Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island, Malakatyn Bay, Russia
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| // i_yakshina@rambler.ru // State Nature Reserve "Ust'-Lensky", Ak.-Fedorova, 28, Tiksi, Sakha Republic, 678400, Russia
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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25.06
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25.07
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| Flat tundra was free from snow by the start of surveys on 25 June, with some snow-banks remaining in depressions and near bluffs. Permafrost retreated to the depth of 5 cm at this time. Low nebulosity, drizzle, fog and northeastern winds prevailed. Extremal events included pelting rain for 24 hours on 4 July, snow mixed with rain on 23 July and periodic frost at night.
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
average
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Breeding conditions:
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Arctic Foxes were rare, as we saw one as well as occasionally tracks near rivers. Wolf was also seen once, but their tracks were more common compared with Arctic Foxes. Least Weasel successfully hunting lemming was seen once. Approximately 1 Snowy Owls was seen per 7-10 km of trip. Nests and juveniles of Snowy Owls were not found. Breeding numbers of Pomarine Skuas were not high, while Long-tailed Skuas were numerous breeders in valleys. Two pairs of Rough-legged Buzzards inhabited the area, and nest of one pair was found on a hillock 2 km from from the sea. Herring Gulls were often seen along the sea coast and bred, while Glaucous Gulls were not observed.
A pair of Snow Geese with a brood of 3 chicks was seen on 14 July moving in the sea direction. Red-throated Divers and Steller's Eiders nested in small numbers. Flocks of Long-tailed Ducks up to 30-40 birds were observed on shallow sea waters near the coast. Males of Willow Grouse were common. Snow Buntings were seen everywhere, including numerous juveniles, while Lapland Buntings were mostly observed on watersheds.
Turnstone was the most numerous among waders, followed by almost same abundant Curlew Sandpipers and Grey Plovers, and then by Little Stints and Ringed Plovers. Pacific Golden Plovers and Knots were rare. All the species listed, with the exception of Knot, bred judging by behaviour of birds. Breeding was confirmed by finding chick in the case of Ringed Plover.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Lemming numbers were average, and higher compared with 2003. We saw animals periodically, although records of undersnow nests were rare.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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