Seward-4

These shots are from the return trip from the Northwestern Glacier. The focus on the way back seemed to be all the types of birds there are to see. (Paul & Pam, take note)

 

This rock is one of the prime nesting areas for several kinds of puffins and a few other species. They nest in May, hatch in June and are gone by the end of July. There were thousands of birds nesting and flying around, but apparently there are none at all in August, just a bare rock. During June, however, they call it the Beehive, because the swarms of birds are so thick.

Let’s see, a partial list (poor memory) of what we saw included: Auklet, a rhinoceros Auklet (apparently very hard to find), murre, glaucaus winged gulls, tufted puffin, horned puffin, guillemots, terns, kittiwakes, and who knows what else. (clicking on a picture should make it larger and easier to see)

The sea lions were also thick on the various rocks and ledges.

The murres were doing their best penguin impersonation.

Dall’s porpoise frolicking along.

A WWII bunker that was manned by a coast watcher to ensure enemy subs didn’t sneak into the harbor. Talk about remote duty!!

A view or our campsite from the waterside.

Then one morning we got a real treat. A peregrine falcon flew in and landed right in front of our campsite. Apparently they live inland but come to the coast during nesting season to feast on the eggs and fledglings.

Salmon for breakfast!

Then a bald eagle decided to take up the role of scavenger. He liked the look of the falcons breakfast and decided to help himself.

After having his breakfast stolen, the falcon flew off.

On the way out of Seward, there is yet another glacier, the Exit glacier, that was just a short hike away from the road.

Note the bear siting the day before we were hiking. We were disappointed, however, that they didn’t list mosquitos as a form of wildlife. We certainly saw tons of them!

 

But if not…