The water was smooth as we approached Chichagof Island near Port Althorp. Early rising photographers captured images of the island and its mirrored reflection in the sea. Numerous bald eagles and gulls dotted the shoreline, indicating the presence of a nearby salmon stream. It was not long before we had our first brown bear sighting of the week. There was excitement on the bow as we watched one bear along a rocky shore. A few moments later a sow and cub came down the salmon stream before retreating into the forest, out of sight.
Our morning outing was an exploratory walk through a meadow and along the stream. Some photographers stayed near the landing photographing the beach and surrounding area, while others ventured out in the inflatable boats, exploring the shore. Calls of ravens and gulls filled the air as we walked through the waist-high grass of the meadow. We watched bald eagles fly overhead and perched in Sitka spruce trees. Vibrant red elderberries punctuated the green landscape along the meadow, as did colorful mushrooms in the forest. Salmon in the shallow stream were a delight to watch as they swam upriver to their spawning grounds, at times coming out of the water in the process.
Back onboard, naturalist Emily gave a presentation about salmon, their life cycles and why we should be conscientious about the types that we consume, as Captain Nettles transported us to our afternoon location, the Inian Islands.
Inflatable boat cruises through the very productive waters around the Inians dominated the afternoon and very quickly became a highlight of the day. Numerous Steller sea lions swam alongside our boats, swam underneath us, and fed on fish at the surface with gulls flying overhead. New bird sightings included the horned puffin, black oystercatcher, and rhinoceros auklet. Close encounters with diving humpback whales were particularly special.
The daily recap educated the group about kelp forests, plankton, brown bear evolution and photographic compositions. A presentation about creative photography by National Geographic photographer Rich Reid concluded another spectacular day in Southeast Alaska.
