Glacier Bay National Park
No sooner did we finish breakfast than we were treated to sightings of tufted puffins nestled into the hills outside of Bartlett Cove. Pairs were swimming right by our ship and we were able to get wonderful views of their orange and yellow beaks and “tufts” on top of their heads.
Many species of birds were found as we passed by South Marble Island, including the black-legged kittiwake, pelagic cormorant, plenty of bald eagles and black oystercatchers (which our very fun Glacier Park National Ranger, Emma, lovingly described as a “raven smoking a carrot”). We could hear the bark of Steller sea lions and watched adorable sea otters pass by the ship, hanging out on their backs, seemingly waving to us as they drifted by.
We also brought on Alice, a local Tlingit cultural interpreter who taught us about today’s culture of the Alaskan Tlingit’s and their clans.
And of course, we spotted the mountain goats as we were welcomed into Glacier Bay. Five brown bears (two sets of females with their cubs) were found close to shore, eating the recently budding flowers of plants and playing with each other for all of us to enjoy.
The afternoon was spent getting within ¾ miles of Margerie Glacier. The stillness of the fresh air made for a wonderful afternoon as we all waited patiently for the 200 year-old glacier to calve. The glacier calved with resounding thunder for us three times and enthusiastic cheers from the women of Olivia pierced the quiet for just a few moments.
After a delicious dinner we spent an hour hiking in Bartlett Cove. Every day has been better than the last as we continue to have wonderful luck seeing amazing Alaska wildlife.
