Endicott Arm
How do you describe the indescribable? That was the dilemma that faced us all after this first full and seemingly flawless day of our expedition in southeast Alaska. We not only observed but were also immersed in multiple ecological habitats throughout the day: glacial, marine, intertidal and forest margin. Wildlife was abundant with no less than 29 species recorded.
Most of us couldn’t wait the anticipation of seeing the beauty of Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier; so we were up with the beautiful sunrise. Out on the bow and foredecks numerous ‘oh wows!’ were repeatedly heard. By breakfast the word was out: this was going to be a very special day.
Blue skies and sunshine graced our Zodiac voyages among the icebergs where harbor seals were caring for their new born pups. The granite walls of the glacier carved fjord stood as silent sentinels to spring, with life starting its inevitable cycle anew. The brilliant blue sky matched the hue of the glacial ice as loud white thunder cracking could be heard and calving chunks splashed to the ocean below.
Bald eagles, artic terns, surf scoters, loons, marbled murrelets, pigeon guillemots and many other birds were all identified during the passage. A brown bear with four yearling cubs was an unusual sighting near the beach just below the Sumdum Glacier as we exited Endicott Arm. Humpback whales greeted us as we crossed the bar into Stephens Passage. Later we spotted another brown bear on the shore and Dall’s porpoise zipping past the National Geographic Sea Bird.
What a special day indeed!
How do you describe the indescribable? That was the dilemma that faced us all after this first full and seemingly flawless day of our expedition in southeast Alaska. We not only observed but were also immersed in multiple ecological habitats throughout the day: glacial, marine, intertidal and forest margin. Wildlife was abundant with no less than 29 species recorded.
Most of us couldn’t wait the anticipation of seeing the beauty of Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier; so we were up with the beautiful sunrise. Out on the bow and foredecks numerous ‘oh wows!’ were repeatedly heard. By breakfast the word was out: this was going to be a very special day.
Blue skies and sunshine graced our Zodiac voyages among the icebergs where harbor seals were caring for their new born pups. The granite walls of the glacier carved fjord stood as silent sentinels to spring, with life starting its inevitable cycle anew. The brilliant blue sky matched the hue of the glacial ice as loud white thunder cracking could be heard and calving chunks splashed to the ocean below.
Bald eagles, artic terns, surf scoters, loons, marbled murrelets, pigeon guillemots and many other birds were all identified during the passage. A brown bear with four yearling cubs was an unusual sighting near the beach just below the Sumdum Glacier as we exited Endicott Arm. Humpback whales greeted us as we crossed the bar into Stephens Passage. Later we spotted another brown bear on the shore and Dall’s porpoise zipping past the National Geographic Sea Bird.
What a special day indeed!
