When we first arrived in Valdez we scheduled a boat trip to view glaciers and wildlife. Monday was cruise day!We dressed warm and headed for Valdez Spirit. It left the dock at 10 am for a 9 1/2 hour tour of Prince William Sound and the inlets off the sound.
As we passed the Alyeska compound (where the pipeline ends) we saw these Stellar sea lions resting on the warning buoy. The buoy marks the end of the restricted area for non-Alyeska ships.
Next we passed some boats seine purse fishing. They were helping the local hatchery determine if the fingerlings imprinted and released near the stream were returning.
One of the most interesting sights was two eagles sharing a fish on the rocks. One would fly away as the boat neared but the other stayed with the fish. Finally, both eagles stayed with the fish.
Columbia Glacier was next on our schedule. It wasn't long before we spotted chunks of ice floating in the water.
As we neared the glacier (we were still many miles away) we began to see even more ice floating in the water.
The ice was so thick in Columbia Bay that the captain worked his way through to Heather Inlet. We viewed the glacier from there as there was less ice.
Floating on one piece of ice was a harbor seal. He didn't even give Valdez Spirit a second glance.
Several local companies take people out to kayak around the glacier. Here are some of those kayakers. I think that would be just a little too cold for me. The temperature near the glacier was less than 40 degrees!
Because it was cold, we stayed in the cabin and watched out the window until something interesting was spotted.
As we cruised along the shoreline toward Meares Glacier we saw several pairs of humpback whales.
I was able to get a picture of one spouting.
I also snapped a picture of one's fluke as it dove under water. The underside of the humpback's fluke is like our fingerprints--no two patterns are exactly alike. Scientists use this pattern to identify the whales.
The captain pointed out this eagle's nest to us. The two eagles inhabiting this nest have done so for nine years. Last year was the first year they didn't produce eaglets. He is hoping to see some in the next few weeks. Also, the rim of the nest will be covered in pink flowers a by mid-July.
Whether inside or out, Bob and I enjoyed our cruise.
When we neared Meares Glacier we spotted sea otters floating in the water. A sea otter has over 30,000 hairs per square inch on his body. Unfortunately it doesn't have much around its paws. That is why a sea otter keeps his paws out of the water as he floats! He is trying to keep them warm!
Meares Glacier is once again an advancing glacier. It retreated for many years, but is now moving forward.
We were able to get within 1/4 mile of this glacier. It is actively calving (ice is falling into the water). We could hear the explosive pops, but once you hear the pop, the ice is already in the water.
By constantly scanning the glacier we finally saw a large chunk fall into the water, then heard the explosive pop!
The trees down on the shore are a visible indicator the glacier is moving forward--it knocked them down!
On our return to port, the captain steered us close to Bull Point so we could see Stellar sea lions resting. Unlike sea otters, they can't sleep in the water. They find rocky shorelines to pull out on to rest. Those not resting were very boisterous and noisy. This is just one of the many groups we saw.
Once again we were in Valdez waters. Polar Discovery was docked and loading oil at the Alyeska compound.
We were cold and ready to get warm when we docked a little past 7:30 pm.
We enjoyed our stay in Valdez, but it was time to move on to new adventures!
As we passed the Alyeska compound (where the pipeline ends) we saw these Stellar sea lions resting on the warning buoy. The buoy marks the end of the restricted area for non-Alyeska ships.
Next we passed some boats seine purse fishing. They were helping the local hatchery determine if the fingerlings imprinted and released near the stream were returning.
One of the most interesting sights was two eagles sharing a fish on the rocks. One would fly away as the boat neared but the other stayed with the fish. Finally, both eagles stayed with the fish.
Columbia Glacier was next on our schedule. It wasn't long before we spotted chunks of ice floating in the water.
As we neared the glacier (we were still many miles away) we began to see even more ice floating in the water.
The ice was so thick in Columbia Bay that the captain worked his way through to Heather Inlet. We viewed the glacier from there as there was less ice.
Floating on one piece of ice was a harbor seal. He didn't even give Valdez Spirit a second glance.
Several local companies take people out to kayak around the glacier. Here are some of those kayakers. I think that would be just a little too cold for me. The temperature near the glacier was less than 40 degrees!
Because it was cold, we stayed in the cabin and watched out the window until something interesting was spotted.
As we cruised along the shoreline toward Meares Glacier we saw several pairs of humpback whales.
I was able to get a picture of one spouting.
I also snapped a picture of one's fluke as it dove under water. The underside of the humpback's fluke is like our fingerprints--no two patterns are exactly alike. Scientists use this pattern to identify the whales.
The captain pointed out this eagle's nest to us. The two eagles inhabiting this nest have done so for nine years. Last year was the first year they didn't produce eaglets. He is hoping to see some in the next few weeks. Also, the rim of the nest will be covered in pink flowers a by mid-July.
Whether inside or out, Bob and I enjoyed our cruise.
When we neared Meares Glacier we spotted sea otters floating in the water. A sea otter has over 30,000 hairs per square inch on his body. Unfortunately it doesn't have much around its paws. That is why a sea otter keeps his paws out of the water as he floats! He is trying to keep them warm!
Meares Glacier is once again an advancing glacier. It retreated for many years, but is now moving forward.
We were able to get within 1/4 mile of this glacier. It is actively calving (ice is falling into the water). We could hear the explosive pops, but once you hear the pop, the ice is already in the water.
By constantly scanning the glacier we finally saw a large chunk fall into the water, then heard the explosive pop!
The trees down on the shore are a visible indicator the glacier is moving forward--it knocked them down!
On our return to port, the captain steered us close to Bull Point so we could see Stellar sea lions resting. Unlike sea otters, they can't sleep in the water. They find rocky shorelines to pull out on to rest. Those not resting were very boisterous and noisy. This is just one of the many groups we saw.
Once again we were in Valdez waters. Polar Discovery was docked and loading oil at the Alyeska compound.
We were cold and ready to get warm when we docked a little past 7:30 pm.
We enjoyed our stay in Valdez, but it was time to move on to new adventures!
1 comment:
Hi you have added nice information on attractions of wildlife.
In India also, The wildlife is not confined to any one particular part of the country. In fact every part of this subcontinent has something to offer. Depending on the part of the country you would like to visit and the kind of wildlife that you are interested. Want to know more? visit :- India Tiger Safari
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