Sitkoh Bay & Chatham Strait
As the ship cruised slowly into Sitkoh Bay, we woke to a gentle announcement that a brown bear was in the grass near the bay’s entrance. We watched, then cruised quietly towards the huge meadow at bay’s end. Gazing through binoculars and spotting scope, we saw a total of 6 brown bears among the grasses, and two Sitka black-tailed deer. (Seven brown bears before breakfast!)
For the remainder of our morning we explored Florence Cove, near the mouth of Sitkoh Bay. Kayakers paddling by rocks at the low tide found sea stars, sea cucumbers, and hermit crabs that were clinging to their rocky home. On shore we walked through forest and along a logging road: someone noticed a game trail, so we decided to explore . . . what a thrill to find very fresh bear scat, and huge bear tracks! Further on, we found a traditional bear trail, where a bear had walked in the same steps for so long that depressions were left in the ground. The path went past a tree where the bear had scratched, and some bear hair was still stuck in old tree sap. Yes, brown bears are abundant in this area!
In the afternoon we cruised across glassy, calm waters of Chatham Strait. Dall’s porpoises burst through the surface, all around the ship! Their distinct black and white markings and energetic splashes made them easy to identify. Even as the ship was stationary in the water, the porpoises burst through the surface by ones and twos. The tall blow of a solitary humpback whale lingered in the still air. It appeared to rest quietly at the surface between 5 minute dives. Each time it went down, we watched its elegant white tail flukes slip beneath the surface.
We were hoping to see humpback whales bubble-net feeding. We had an idea: Why not use the power of suggestion? We giggled as we blew soapy bubbles into the still air from the ship’s bow. Within minutes (by happy coincidence), tiny ‘champagne bubbles’ rose from the depths to the water’s surface! Who was making them? The ship’s depth sounder indicated a school of fish was there, more than 200 feet down. Were thousands of fish releasing these tiny bubbles of gas? Scientific research has found that herring will do this.
We cruised northward, searching for more whale activity. More Dall’s porpoises sped past the ship. We paused to observe a brown bear grazing along the shore. During dinner, the ship continued on, and after dessert we got the word: sharp eyes had found 6 humpback whales cooperatively feeding! We excitedly gathered on the bow. Over and over again, we watched the whales dive in tight formation, we listened to the rising notes of the feeding vocalization, and saw their enormous, open mouths burst through the surface.
What a truly full and spectacular day!
As the ship cruised slowly into Sitkoh Bay, we woke to a gentle announcement that a brown bear was in the grass near the bay’s entrance. We watched, then cruised quietly towards the huge meadow at bay’s end. Gazing through binoculars and spotting scope, we saw a total of 6 brown bears among the grasses, and two Sitka black-tailed deer. (Seven brown bears before breakfast!)
For the remainder of our morning we explored Florence Cove, near the mouth of Sitkoh Bay. Kayakers paddling by rocks at the low tide found sea stars, sea cucumbers, and hermit crabs that were clinging to their rocky home. On shore we walked through forest and along a logging road: someone noticed a game trail, so we decided to explore . . . what a thrill to find very fresh bear scat, and huge bear tracks! Further on, we found a traditional bear trail, where a bear had walked in the same steps for so long that depressions were left in the ground. The path went past a tree where the bear had scratched, and some bear hair was still stuck in old tree sap. Yes, brown bears are abundant in this area!
In the afternoon we cruised across glassy, calm waters of Chatham Strait. Dall’s porpoises burst through the surface, all around the ship! Their distinct black and white markings and energetic splashes made them easy to identify. Even as the ship was stationary in the water, the porpoises burst through the surface by ones and twos. The tall blow of a solitary humpback whale lingered in the still air. It appeared to rest quietly at the surface between 5 minute dives. Each time it went down, we watched its elegant white tail flukes slip beneath the surface.
We were hoping to see humpback whales bubble-net feeding. We had an idea: Why not use the power of suggestion? We giggled as we blew soapy bubbles into the still air from the ship’s bow. Within minutes (by happy coincidence), tiny ‘champagne bubbles’ rose from the depths to the water’s surface! Who was making them? The ship’s depth sounder indicated a school of fish was there, more than 200 feet down. Were thousands of fish releasing these tiny bubbles of gas? Scientific research has found that herring will do this.
We cruised northward, searching for more whale activity. More Dall’s porpoises sped past the ship. We paused to observe a brown bear grazing along the shore. During dinner, the ship continued on, and after dessert we got the word: sharp eyes had found 6 humpback whales cooperatively feeding! We excitedly gathered on the bow. Over and over again, we watched the whales dive in tight formation, we listened to the rising notes of the feeding vocalization, and saw their enormous, open mouths burst through the surface.
What a truly full and spectacular day!
