Pink salmon show up in estuaries in early July by the millions. Pink salmon are Alaska’ most common salmon species. They also have the shortest life cycle than other salmon species. Pinks return to freshwater to spawn when they are two years old and immediately begin to change from silver to green and dark gray. And, males form hooked jaws and humped backs. Continue reading
Stellar’s sea lions rest on a buoy marking the most remote edge of the Copper River Delta.
Stellar’s sea lions love to hang out on buoys. Safe from rare but ever-present packs of killer whales, the same sea lions that are so timid and quick to disappear when approached by our boat, feel no desire to leave the buoy.
As they are rocked to sleep, the constant clanging of the bell must be something of a lullaby.
Sea otter and pup
Technically, spring has arrived in the Alaskan Interior, but winter is rather reluctant to let go. So for the past three years I have left home in the first week of April to see if spring is having any better luck taking hold along the coast-about a hundred miles away as the raven flies. I am not disappointed. Spring is in full swing. But the weather along the coast is, as usual wet and windy. So once again I settle into a familiar routine, hanging out in a sheltered bay where sea otters congregate during unsettled weather and indulging in the very enjoyable task of observing and photographing the gentle and photogenic sea otters. Continue reading
Adult, male Steller’s sea lion on the prowl in Prince William Sound. Pink salmon, the most numerous of Alaska’s five species of salmon are schooling by the thousands just offshore. The pink salmon returning to their freshwater spawning streams are dogged by a gauntlet of predators including, harbor seals, bald eagles, killer whales and sea otters as well as Steller’s sea lions. Continue reading
Mother sea otter snuggles her snoozing pup.
On a recent trip to photograph humpback whales in Alaska coastal waters my plans were foiled because of bad weather. High winds kept our small boat in the harbor. But these same winds presented an unexpected photo opportunity. Rough seas brought a couple dozen sea otters to a small protected bay for shelter from the storm. At first the sea otters were shy and stayed out of reach of my telephoto lens. But by hanging out in plain sight for hours each day they grew used my presence and would sometimes drift in close enough for photographs. Continue reading