Journal 24 July Beechey to Cape Thompson, Alaska to Cape Beaufort, and only a landfall (6-10) of shorebirds, mostly along the Beaufort Sea. There were several 100 Caribou between Wainwright + Beaufort, and 45 groups of white-fronted geese Saw only one crane, and no other swans. No marine mammals seen, but lots of aleuts and glaucus gulls. The country to Beaufort all coastal pinyon-like plain, then to Thorne's 1-2 foot hills, heavily trampled by caribou with nice beaded streams. Didn't see any wild life here as we were up to 2500-3000 ft. Cape Thompson was fogged in and we came in low enough to see sparrows. The Thompson area was nicely lovely. Had hot, clear, sunny weather all but the last day, after waiting for the plane. The Mt's are the most obviously different feature here, and I found neat plants including ferns on the rock slides. The lowland have much better Eriophorum tristachyum near Meade River and the surface polygonization is not at all evident if present. The marshy areas are much like Central Marsh, and not like the grass land at Meade River. The willows etc along Ogotoruk Creek are more extensive than at Meade R. but not any higher, so I am not so surprised at Bluethroats not being seen at settle places. The first day (night) walked in along the river and then over to Crowbill Pt., my 1st land not like in the Eriophorum. Lots of White-crowned Sparrow Sp. along