Icy Strait, Idaho Inlet & the Inian Islands
Wildlife, wildflowers and wild places all come together here at the western edge of the North American continent. This day on the outer coast leaves us with so many stunning images of quintessential Southeast Alaska, it is difficult to choose which to record. We awoke amidst the misty mountains surrounding Idaho Inlet with several rafts of curious sea otters floating alongside the ship. These smallest of the marine mammals were back paddling slowly while assessing our nearness and whether we posed any danger. By the beginning of the 20th century, sea otters had been hunted nearly to extinction for their remarkably soft and luxurious fur coats. Here in Southeast they are slowly making a comeback and we were fortunate to enjoy many close looks at individuals and mothers with their pups balanced on their chests.
Ashore, at the forest edge near Fox Creek, raindrops cling to the bells of chocolate lilies. These glorious aubergine flowers are interspersed with spikes of clove-scented white bog orchids near a beautiful patch of yellow unalaska paintbrush. Across the bay lies beautiful Shaw Island where kayakers are delighted by the blows of nearby humpback whales as they glide across the undulating forest of ribbon and bull kelp.
The tidal currents are ripping through the Inian Islands as we set off in Zodiacs for further adventures this afternoon. In every direction, Steller sea lions are bursting out of the water with ocean bright salmon held high in their mouths, then leaping and spinning to break the fish into bite-size pieces. Glaucous-winged gulls hover nearby calling and gathering bits of salmon while we bob around in the swirling ocean currents, trying to look here, now there, and even under the boat as the sea lions feast on the first of this summer’s migration of pink salmon. Steller sea lions too face difficult times as their population in the western part of their range has dropped more than two-thirds in recent decades. In Southeast, their numbers are increasing and this haulout area in the Inian Islands is one of the best places to view these magnificent and playful animals.
Several groups of humpback whales are also feeding near the islands, and watching them move majestically through the water is an awe-inspiring experience. Some of the whales are active at the surface and there is breaching, rolling and waving of their gigantic pectoral flippers. This has been a truly splendid day in Southeast Alaska.
Wildlife, wildflowers and wild places all come together here at the western edge of the North American continent. This day on the outer coast leaves us with so many stunning images of quintessential Southeast Alaska, it is difficult to choose which to record. We awoke amidst the misty mountains surrounding Idaho Inlet with several rafts of curious sea otters floating alongside the ship. These smallest of the marine mammals were back paddling slowly while assessing our nearness and whether we posed any danger. By the beginning of the 20th century, sea otters had been hunted nearly to extinction for their remarkably soft and luxurious fur coats. Here in Southeast they are slowly making a comeback and we were fortunate to enjoy many close looks at individuals and mothers with their pups balanced on their chests.
Ashore, at the forest edge near Fox Creek, raindrops cling to the bells of chocolate lilies. These glorious aubergine flowers are interspersed with spikes of clove-scented white bog orchids near a beautiful patch of yellow unalaska paintbrush. Across the bay lies beautiful Shaw Island where kayakers are delighted by the blows of nearby humpback whales as they glide across the undulating forest of ribbon and bull kelp.
The tidal currents are ripping through the Inian Islands as we set off in Zodiacs for further adventures this afternoon. In every direction, Steller sea lions are bursting out of the water with ocean bright salmon held high in their mouths, then leaping and spinning to break the fish into bite-size pieces. Glaucous-winged gulls hover nearby calling and gathering bits of salmon while we bob around in the swirling ocean currents, trying to look here, now there, and even under the boat as the sea lions feast on the first of this summer’s migration of pink salmon. Steller sea lions too face difficult times as their population in the western part of their range has dropped more than two-thirds in recent decades. In Southeast, their numbers are increasing and this haulout area in the Inian Islands is one of the best places to view these magnificent and playful animals.
Several groups of humpback whales are also feeding near the islands, and watching them move majestically through the water is an awe-inspiring experience. Some of the whales are active at the surface and there is breaching, rolling and waving of their gigantic pectoral flippers. This has been a truly splendid day in Southeast Alaska.
