The Ring of Fire: Kuril Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula and the Commander Islands

WildWings pioneered expedition cruises to this region in the mid-nineties but our original ship is no longer operating. We are therefore delighted to offer this new itinerary, to be operated by our good friend Rodney Russ and his team, on the expedition vessel ‘Spirit of Enderby’ (48 passengers). This Russian operated ship will be able to visit sites previously not allowed by Western vessels. Our tour leader Dick Filby has been visiting the region since 1995 and knows the birds and places better than anyone.

The potential species list is mouth-watering, set in a region of spectacular scenery which has only been accessible since 1994. Headed by one of the ultimate raptors, Steller’s Sea Eagle, the list of expected special seabirds includes Spectacled, Brunnich’s and Pigeon Guillemots, Whiskered, Rhinoceros, Crested, Parakeet and Least Auklets, Tufted and Horned Puffins, Ancient and Long-billed Murrelets, Red-legged Kittiwake, Aleutian Tern, Harlequin Ducks plus White-billed and Pacific Divers. A number of tubenoses should include Laysan and Black-footed Albatross (with a chance of Short-tailed), Mottled Petrel, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel and thousands of Northern Fulmars (brown and blue morphs). Our landings will add many more birds including Siberian Rubythroats singing from the top of almost every tree at some sites, and many more highly desired eastern passerines as spring migration will still be in progress. Our first planned island visit will also give us the opportunity for some of  Japan’s special birds too (see itinerary below). We expect a few surprises too. Mammals will also be in good supply, Asian Brown Bears, Reindeer, Sea Otter and Steller’s Sea Lions. Cetaceans in the past have included Orcas, Sperm, Humpback and Fin Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, various beaked whales and one of our favourites, the seemingly turbo-charged Dall’s Porpoises. The opportunities for photography will be generally superb throughout. 

This breathtaking expedition offers an opportunity to explore one of the most geologically active and biologically rich parts of the planet. The large number of live volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands has earned this region the reputation of the Pacific’s ‘Ring of Fire’. The Kamchatka Peninsula is a land of stunning bays and snow-capped volcanoes whose alpine meadows and lowland forests support a great diversity of wildlife. The Kuril Island chain is made up of 32 islands that stretch between Russia and Japan across the Bering Sea. The Kurils are all formed by volcanoes that rise from the sea floor. The larger of the Kuril Islands are inhabited, and most people make their living from the sea, as they have for generations. The voyage also takes in the Commander Islands. These remote islands are also rich in bird and sea mammal life and they are the final resting place of the famed Danish explorer Vitus Bering.

Cabin places are limited, this is another WildWings boat you can’ afford to miss!

Itinerary

Day 1: Embark the ‘Spirit of Enderby’ at the port of Korsakov, Sakhalin and sail.

Day 2: At sea, sea watching.

Day 3: Kunashir Island. Over one third of this island is held in nature reserves. The southern part of Kunashir has a particularly high biodiversity. Many species of plants common on the island are rare and endangered elsewhere. Birds could include  Japanese Cranes, Blakiston’s Fishing Owl, both the sea eagles and a mountain hawk eagle. We plan a full day here, with many options including nature walks, hot thermal pools and an opportunity to visit the main centre of Yuzhno-Kurilisk.

Day 4: At Iturup Island we plan to anchor off Kurilisk, the main village on the island with a population of about 10,000 people. Iturup Island, along with Kunashir, Shikotan and Haboniai Islands, have been administered by Russia since 1945 but Japan still claims them. We give you an opportunity to meet with the local Russian people and enjoy their hospitality and the activities they have organised or a birding walk.

Day 5: We plan an early morning naiad (metal-hulled Zodiacs) cruise around Broutona Island, a small island with an enormous colony of fulmars. There are also Kittiwakes and Pigeon Guillemots. It is likely we will find the same or similar at nearby Chirpoy and Brat Chirpoyev.  The afternoon is spent at Natalyia Bay on Urup Island, a great place to enjoy some walks ashore. There is a great diversity of wildlife both onshore and offshore. Seabirds include Spectacled Guillemots, Ancient and Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklets, Tufted Puffins, Harlequins, Pelagics and Japanese Cormorants, Slaty-backed Gulls, Northern Fulmars and Stellar’s Sea Eagles. Offshore we should be able to spot Dall’s Porpoises, Sea Otters and Harbour Seals (the Kuril Island sub-species).

Day 6: Conditions permitting we will land at Ketoy Island, where there are Red-faced and Pelagic Cormorants, Slaty-backed Gulls, Harlequin and Black-backed Wagtails. On shore we can expect among others our first Siberian Rubythroats, Eastern-crowned Warblers and Nutcrackers. Rough legged buzzards, White-tailed Eagles and Peregrines can also be seen. At the northern end of Shimushir Island there is a huge caldera that gives easy access to slopes of Karlomyy Volcano. We hope conditions permit so that we can get ashore, and spend the afternoon ashore exploring amongst this spectacular scenery.

Day 7: Raikoke Island has a reputation as one of the ‘must sees’ of this trip. Unbelievable numbers of Northern Fulmars nest on Raikoke. It is not a large island (just 4.6sq km) and we will either view it from the ‘Spirit of Enderby’ or land with the naiads if conditions are right. This island is also a breeding site for Stellar’s Sea Lions. In the afternoon we visit Matua and nearby Toporkovi Island. There are military remains on Matua island dating from the World War II when the Japanese occupied it. On shore rubythroats are common, and we have a chance of Narcissus Flycatcher too. Around the island is a great deal of seabird and marine mammal activity. Tufted Puffins are the most abundant along with the all-black Pigeon Guillemots. Other seabirds include Crested and Whiskered Auklets. Further south are Yankicho and Piponkicha Islands, which are part the Ushishir group. They are the submerged remains of a large volcano, and they support bird life that is nothing short of spectacular. A visitor has said “The sound is like a symphony, as if each bird contributes a different note – fulmar, puffin, auklet and murre.” We will land here and enjoy this amazing island. There is a pleasant walk and hot pools to soak in if you have had enough of the wildlife.

Day 8: After an early breakfast we land on the northern end of Onekotan Island, where we enjoy an easy two kilometres walk to Black Lake. This lake lies in the in the lee of Volcano Nemo. Beautiful wildflowers carpet the meadows surrounding the lake. Among the birds here it is possible to see the Red-throated Pipit, Greenshank, Buff-bellied Pipit and Rough-legged Buzzard. South of Onekotan is a cluster of four islands, Kharimkotan, Chirinkotan, Ekarma and Shiashkotan. We will go ashore on some or all of these depending on weather and sea conditions. Good numbers of Tufted and Horned Puffins, Brunnich’s Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Slaty-backed Gulls, Crested Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots and Red-faced Cormorants can be seen on and around these islands.

Day 9: Depending on weather and sea conditions we will either land on or cruise around Atlasova Island. At 2339m, the Alaid Volcano on this island is the highest volcano in the Kuril chain. It erupted as recently as 1971. Steller’s Sea Lions are often seen along the western shoreline. This afternoon we plan an expedition landing in Bukhta Krasheninnikova on Paramushir Island. This is large, mountainous volcanic island. Five of its 20 volcanos are active. The island is known to have a good population of Asian Brown Bear.

Day 10: Early morning we enter Russkaya Fjord a spectacular feature within Avachinsky Bay. From this fjord we should get great views of the volcano Mutnovskaya Sopka. (2322 metres). There is also a superb chance to view wildlife. We continue south along the Kamchatka Peninsula to Vestnik Bay and Utashud Island. The island is small and steep but Tufted and Horned Puffins, Pigeon and Brunnich’s Guillemots nest there.

Day 11: We spend the morning in the Zhuponavo River region on the Kamchatka Peninsula. We negotiate this shallow meandering river with our naiads. There are superb opportunities for birding and nature walks. We are likely to see up to 40 species of birds, including ‘Siberian’ species such Yellow-breasted Bunting, Black Scotor, Far-Eastern Curlew, Rufous-tailed Robin, Lanceolated Warblers, Pechora Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit to name a few. In the mature birch forest along the river there is a good chance of finding a Stellar’s Sea Eagle’s eyrie. A watchful eye will be kept for Brown Bears as they maybe hungry after their winter hibernation. This should be a special day indeed.

Day 12: The Commander Islands group is steeped in history and the only place where the extinct Steller’s Sea Cow was ever recorded. These islands are named after legendary explorer Commander Vitus Bering, who first observed that Asia and the Americas are separate continents. A simple tombstone marks his grave on Beringa Island. We will visit the small museum in the village of Nikolskoye, where we will be introduced to the culture of the local people. The Commander Islands are home to a huge number of birds, including Horned and Tufted Puffins, Crested and Parakeet Auklets, Brunnich’s Guillemot and Red-legged Kittiwakes. We may also see more Harbour Seals, Steller’s Sea Lions and Northern Fur Seals.

Day 13: At sea we cruise towards the journey’s end, our last chance for more seabirds and cetaceans.

Day 14: Arrival and disembarkation at Petropavlovsk, set in a bay ringed by smoking volcanoes. Optional excursion to the Valley of the Geysers.

Please Note: All itineraries are subject to final approval by the relevant Russian authorities. 

Holiday Information

Dates:                9^th – 22^nd June 2007  

Leader/s:             Dick Filby plus Rodney Russ and expedition team.

Cost:

Deposit:                                               25%

Price includes: Voyage with accommodation as booked, including all meals, shore excursions, lectures and services of WildWings leader and the expedition team, day by day bird and mammal checklist, landing fees and port taxes.

Price excludes: Flights, from £700, pre and post cruise hotels, travel insurance, onboard gratuities (suggest US$10 per day), Russian visa, drinks, and items of a personal nature.

Contact us for the ship’s colour brochure and our previous trip reports.