Point Adolphus & Fox Creek, Chichagof Island
Yesterday evening the National Geographic Sea Bird departed the dock in Sitka and cruised through scenic narrow passages to Sergius Narrows and Peril Strait. Some guests had already retired for the night when an announcement from the Expedition Leader informed us that we were around killer whales! There was still enough light to see breaching and other surface activities from this small group of animals as they passed close to the ship.
During the night our vessel entered Chatham Strait and cruised northward. We awoke to the calm waters of Icy Strait. Our marine mammal count continued. Soon we added humpback whales, Dall’s porpoises, harbor porpoises, a sea otter, and Steller (northern) sea lions to the list. Seabirds were also abundant in this very rich area where the waters converge, mix, and up-well to stimulate the food web.
As we approached Point Adolphus we noticed a group of humpback whales feeding in a line, moving rapidly back and forth following their prey. They kept us moving around the ship with their many direction changes. The constant activity, sights, sounds and even smells all contributed to an overwhelming experience. Later the activity abated somewhat and the whales lay motionless at the surface, resting like floating log islets.
We continued westward and took care of some shipboard details such as emergency drills and briefings about our shore operations. Before lunch we entered the mouth of Idaho Inlet, where we slowly approached some sea otters. Back from the brink of extinction, these furry, charismatic marine animals looked at us with as much curiosity as we had for them.
Our anchorage for the afternoon was a protected spot between Chichagof and Shaw Islands in Idaho Inlet. Here, we had our first opportunity to kayak and hike on this very typical day in the temperate rainforest of Southeast Alaska. It was a good introduction to the shoreline and forest, with many signs left by the big brown bears that inhabit Chichagof Island. The kayakers encountered a few harbor seals, bringing our marine mammal count to a total of seven species in less than twenty-four hours.
We’re off to a great start to our expedition!
