Kelp Bay, Chichagof Island
Our day started as we sailed through one of the longest and widest fjords in America: Chatham Strait. Before we were all awake we were making our way into a bay at the north eastern corner of Baranof Island - Kelp Bay, to look for wild life. A beautiful calm, clear and sunny morning.
This morning the conditions were perfect to go ashore at Pond Island for our activities. As soon as we set foot on the island we were already finding different species of sea stars and lots of other inter-tidal organisms. Most of us had the chance to go kayaking and also for a hike along a river bed and up to an abandoned beaver’s dam. Discovering and learning more about the vegetation of southeast Alaska.
But I have to admit that the afternoon was full of more excitement and wonderful things. We spent all together close to five hours whale watching, in the rich and productive waters of Chatham Strait, place where the humpback whales are seen in groups feeding. These waters are known for their abundance of schools of herring. We must have seen so many different behaviors; lounge feeding, lob tailing, fin slapping, breaching, fluking, bubble netting individually, which is a rare sitting, rolling over their backs showing the pectoral flippers, defecating, trumpeting. Even lucky enough to see a few pairs of mothers and calves, side by side. What a show, one of the babies was even breaching very close to the ship. The views were incredibly close, having their powerful, massive distinctive flukes right off the bow.
And if that hadn’t been enough, after dinner we were able to find a small group of orcas or also known as killer whales. Where a full grown male could be identified with his 5-6 foot tall triangular dorsal fin. For sure one day to remember.
Our day started as we sailed through one of the longest and widest fjords in America: Chatham Strait. Before we were all awake we were making our way into a bay at the north eastern corner of Baranof Island - Kelp Bay, to look for wild life. A beautiful calm, clear and sunny morning.
This morning the conditions were perfect to go ashore at Pond Island for our activities. As soon as we set foot on the island we were already finding different species of sea stars and lots of other inter-tidal organisms. Most of us had the chance to go kayaking and also for a hike along a river bed and up to an abandoned beaver’s dam. Discovering and learning more about the vegetation of southeast Alaska.
But I have to admit that the afternoon was full of more excitement and wonderful things. We spent all together close to five hours whale watching, in the rich and productive waters of Chatham Strait, place where the humpback whales are seen in groups feeding. These waters are known for their abundance of schools of herring. We must have seen so many different behaviors; lounge feeding, lob tailing, fin slapping, breaching, fluking, bubble netting individually, which is a rare sitting, rolling over their backs showing the pectoral flippers, defecating, trumpeting. Even lucky enough to see a few pairs of mothers and calves, side by side. What a show, one of the babies was even breaching very close to the ship. The views were incredibly close, having their powerful, massive distinctive flukes right off the bow.
And if that hadn’t been enough, after dinner we were able to find a small group of orcas or also known as killer whales. Where a full grown male could be identified with his 5-6 foot tall triangular dorsal fin. For sure one day to remember.
