Alaska 7/12-24/2019

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Fox Island, July 21

We had a little time in the morning before taking the boat back to Seward. A Rufous Hummingbird was visiting the flowers at the dining hall, and a Varied Thrush was near the lake. I saw a Glaucous-winged Gull eating a jellyfish, and wondered if it was the same one I had seen the day before. Barrow's Goldeneyes were in the lake.

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Rufous Hummingbird

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Rufous Hummingbird

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Rufous Hummingbird

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Varied Thrush

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Varied Thrush

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Glaucous-winged Gull

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Barrow's Goldeneyes

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Barrow's Goldeneyes

I saw an Orange-crowned Warbler near our cabin, and its orange crown was more noticeable on this bird than on any I had ever seen on this species.

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Orange-crowned Warbler

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Orange-crowned Warbler

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Orange-crowned Warbler

Our group went to board the boat, and a sunflower sea star was in the water near the dock.

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Sunflower sea star

We returned to Seward on the same boat from yesterday's tour. Everyone in our group, and the two boat crew members, knew that I still had not seen a Harlequin Duck, and everyone, at least those who really cared, were on the lookout for me, as this duck species is often seen near the Seward coastline. Along the way, we saw more avian species and Sea Otters.

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Marbled Murrelets

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Marbled Murrelet

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Pigeon Guillemots

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Sea Otters

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Sea Otters

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Sea Otters

As we approached the Seward dock, we got a close-up view of a Bald Eagle.

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Bald Eagle

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Bald Eagle

No Harlequin Duck, but I was told there was one in the Seward museum aviary. We had a guided tour of the museum and wildlife rehabilitation center, but when I went into the aviary, the Harlequin Duck had its head buried under its wing so I couldn't see it. Well, there's still a chance to see one here in Virginia!

Click here to continue to Brooks Falls on July 22

Jump to Fairbanks; July 13
Jump to Nenana and Denali National Park; July 14
Jump to Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali National Park, July 15
Jump to Talkeetna; July 16
Jump to Talkeetna and Alyeska; July 17
Jump to Alyeska and river rafting; July 18
Jump to Seward and Fox Island; July 19
Jump to boat trip from Fox Island; July 20
Jump to Fox Island; July 20
Jump to Fox Island and return to Seward; July 21
Jump to Brooks Falls; July 22
Jump to Gold Creek Lodge; July 23
Jump to Brooks Falls; July 24
Jump to species lists and additional photos

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