|
|
RESPONDENT
|
|
Vasily Sokolov
|
|
|
SITE NAME
|
|
Yarayakha River lower reaches, Yamal Peninsula, Russia
|
|
| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (343) 210-3858, add. 104/89028432787 // vsokolov@inbox.ru // Lab. of biocenological processes, Inst. of plant and animal ecology, 8 Marta Str, 202, Ekaterinburg, 620144 Russia
|
|
PROJECT DETAILS |
|
|
|
Start of survey:
|
End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
|
2.08
|
13.08
|
4
|
|
WEATHER
CONDITIONS
|
|
|
|
Weather conditions: |
| The weather was cold and rainy from mid June to late July according to reports by local people, but extremal events were not reported. The weather was predominantly warm and dry with moderate winds in the period of our observations from 2 to 13 August, with the exception of storm on 8-9 August associated with rain and strong westerly wind. Adverse weather had no apparent impact on birds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
|
|
| Date of final loss of
snow: |
|
|
BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
|
| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
high
|
|
|
Breeding conditions:
|
Rough-legged Buzzards bred in average numbers. A nest Peregrine Falcons with a fledgling was found on 12 August, and Merlin was regularly recorded in the area. Juvenile Arctic Skua was recorded on 10 August. Willow Grouse were relatively rare near the coast and their broods contained 1-2 chicks, while farther inland grouse were abundant in the shrubs and their broods increased to 5-7 chicks.
Broods of Black-throated and Red-throated divers approximately 1 week old were recorded in early August. Moulting aggregations of geese with broods approximately 200 birds in total were observed on the coast of the Baidaratskaya Bay and on one lake 10 km from the shore. Several geese nests with egg-shells indicating hatching were found. Among ducks broods of Long-tailed Duck predomintaed, but we also recorded broods of White-winged and Common Scoters.
Eurasian Golden Plovers were common, and were observed 3 pairs, including one pair alarming and one bird displaying, in a patch of polygonal bog 2 km2 large 10 km from the coast. Little Stint was the most abundant wader, in which we recorded solitary birds and flocks up to hundreds of birds on the coast and along rivers. Temminck's Stints were notably less abundant, and we captured juveniles on 7 and 10 August in a shift team camp. Flocks of Ruffs and Dunlins were observed on the coast, and we also recorded one flock of Curlew Sandpipers and Sanderlings. Two Bar-tailed Godwits were observed. A migrating flock of 25 Dotterels was recorded on 10 August.
Broods and fledgelings of passerines were common everywhere in tundra. Conditions were favourable for reproduction of birds and breeding success was probably average in all species judging by the abundance of broods.
|
|
|
Rodent dynamics:
|
| Siberian Lemmings were common and Collared Lemmings were rare. Middendorff's Voles were numerous and many voles including juvenile were captured by dog.
|
|
Rodent species recorded:
|
| Latin | Abundance |
|---|
| Lemmus sibiricus | common |
| Dicrostonyx torquatus | rare |
| Microtus middendorffi | abundant |
|
|
|
Summary
of fauna studies: |
| Total area of 30 km2 was surveyed in the lower reaches of the Yarayakha River. Bird counts and geobotanical descriptions were made.
|
|