Seward, Alaska                                        Sept. 1, 2016

Kenai Fjords National Park 

The boat isn’t big – but you can get most of your 10,000 steps by rushing from one side of the boat to the other, or from the front of the boat to the back, or up the steps for a better view.  I was on a new “cat” which made the boat a much more stable platform than the old style.  I used my monopod to help me steady my longer lenses.  Even though the monopod rested on the deck my camera was still a lot steadier than I could hand hold it.  And I fired away – perhaps 800 shots on the six-hour ride!  So pick a Kenai Fjords National Park tour boat and let’s go …

The Pacific Plate slides under the North American plate; the resulting forces make mountains.  The glaciers make the fjords.  The result is stunning.

I could wish for a blue sky – maybe someday I’ll photoshop it in.

This little guy doesn’t seem to mind the cold water!

I expected the aquatic stars – but the birds were incredible.  Our boat captain knew where they were and maneuvered the boat so we could see each as we past.

A very nice bald eagle.  But now I’ve exhausted my knowledge of birds.

The captain announced the name of each seabird as we passed.  I should take voice recorder notes on my iPhone – but I think these are Glaucous-winged gulls.  But maybe there Black-legged kittiwakes.  I’m just fascinated by the way each species arranges itself on the various rock formations.

Look at them cover this rock.

And nest on this wall.

Look at the feeding frenzy – there’s a school of fish underneath and the gulls are having a feast!

Another “black on black” problem  – I believe the captain called these “black cormorants” which would be pelagic cormorants to someone adding the bird to their lifelist.  If you can see them!

Home to these incredible creatures!

 

A harbor seal basking in the late afternoon sun.

Four harbor seals basking in the afternoon sun.

Look at these bad boys!  Steller sea lions.

I think the captain pays them performance fees each time he passes …

They do remind me a a group of junior high boys!

Now this is where you get your exercise.  You never know where they will appear.  You run from side to side.  Again, my many pairs of eyes theory held true.  When you looking through a camera lens you’re never the first to see them.  So you listen and response as the captain, crew, or other passengers yell and point.  Luckily the captain could predict approximately where and when they would jump next .

A humpback whale,

A gray whale,

An Orca begins to take flight …

Continues …

And makes a splash.  We were luckily enough to see two pods of ocras.  One of the crew members had been to training and could identify several of these incredible members of the dolphin family.

The glaciers were another star attraction.  This is the Holgate Glacier.

The water just pours out of this mouth.

While the guards stand at attention.

We waited about 30 minutes – waiting to see if the glacier would calve.  It did.  This is the sign you were on the other side of the boat and the splash of ice hitting water means you missed the main event.  Maybe next year.

Next – on to Wrangell – St. Elias.