Red Bluff Bay, Chatham Strait and Kelp Bay
Early this morning we carried our steaming cups of coffee out to the bow and looked up to admire the steep, densely forested green cliffs of Red Bluff Bay enveloping the Sea Bird in quiet splendor. In the grassy meadow at the head of the bay, three brown shapes coalesced into a large mother brown bear and her two playful cubs enjoying the sun. Captain Jeff turned the ship to get a closer look at the nearby waterfall shown in this photo and we watched in delight as an American dipper darted across the slope carrying a small silver fish.
Today’s journey continued northward in Chatham Strait with a post breakfast view of Yasha Island, an important haul out for northern or Stellar sea lions. Yasha Island is a small rocky place just south of Admiralty Island at the juncture of Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait. From the bow we watched an adult bald eagle plummet to the water’s surface, grasp a rather large fish (probably a salmon) in its talons and deliver a late breakfast to two large and anxious juvenile eagles perched on a ledge just in front of the ship.
The end of Stephanie’s excellent lecture on marine mammals was perfectly punctuated by a whale sighting. Two very cooperative humpback whales allowed us some wonderful close views of their backs and flukes as we imagined what their lives under the water might be like. Were they eating or resting or traveling? Or perhaps they were practicing some combination of those activities? The contemplation of the mysterious world of cetaceans was aided by Bill and Ryan’s serving hot chocolate and biscotti on the bow.
Our afternoon adventures on beautiful little Pond Island in the center of Kelp Bay were highlighted by looks at all sorts of interesting plants, tracks and invertebrates. Many of the hikers were awed by the great track of a brown bear, the story of the blue bay mussel and a beaver dam with its ponds covered in yellow pond lilies. As a finale to another unforgettable day in Southeast Alaska, we watched humpback whales spouting through the windows of the dining room during dinner!
Early this morning we carried our steaming cups of coffee out to the bow and looked up to admire the steep, densely forested green cliffs of Red Bluff Bay enveloping the Sea Bird in quiet splendor. In the grassy meadow at the head of the bay, three brown shapes coalesced into a large mother brown bear and her two playful cubs enjoying the sun. Captain Jeff turned the ship to get a closer look at the nearby waterfall shown in this photo and we watched in delight as an American dipper darted across the slope carrying a small silver fish.
Today’s journey continued northward in Chatham Strait with a post breakfast view of Yasha Island, an important haul out for northern or Stellar sea lions. Yasha Island is a small rocky place just south of Admiralty Island at the juncture of Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait. From the bow we watched an adult bald eagle plummet to the water’s surface, grasp a rather large fish (probably a salmon) in its talons and deliver a late breakfast to two large and anxious juvenile eagles perched on a ledge just in front of the ship.
The end of Stephanie’s excellent lecture on marine mammals was perfectly punctuated by a whale sighting. Two very cooperative humpback whales allowed us some wonderful close views of their backs and flukes as we imagined what their lives under the water might be like. Were they eating or resting or traveling? Or perhaps they were practicing some combination of those activities? The contemplation of the mysterious world of cetaceans was aided by Bill and Ryan’s serving hot chocolate and biscotti on the bow.
Our afternoon adventures on beautiful little Pond Island in the center of Kelp Bay were highlighted by looks at all sorts of interesting plants, tracks and invertebrates. Many of the hikers were awed by the great track of a brown bear, the story of the blue bay mussel and a beaver dam with its ponds covered in yellow pond lilies. As a finale to another unforgettable day in Southeast Alaska, we watched humpback whales spouting through the windows of the dining room during dinner!
