Alaska 7/12-24/2019
All photos are © Marshall Faintich
Fox Island Boat Trip, July 20
From a birding and general wildlife perspective, today was the most interesting day of the entire tour. There is so much to report that I have broken the day into two reports: wildlife viewing from a small boat, and Fox Island birding in the early morning and late afternoon before and after the boat trip.
If I remember correctly, we boated south on Resurrecton Bay from Fox Island to south of the Chiswell Islands, and then north to Holgate Glacier. On our return to Fox Island, we sailed between Harbor and Chat Islands. I did not record where we saw the following species, but I have tried to keep most of the report in somewhat chronological order, and it seemed like the most interesting birds were seen in and near the Chiswell Islands.
Boat trip map
| | |
Soon after we left Fox Island, we encountered Pigeon Guillemots, Marbled Murrelets, and a nesting colony of Black-legged Kittiwakes, and then some Harbor Seals.
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Marbled Murrelets
Black-legged Kittiwakes
Black-legged Kittiwakes
Harbor Seals
Harbor Seals
We got lucky and saw two different pods of Orcas (Killer Whales).
Orcas
And then, Tufted Puffins (life bird) seemed to be everywhere we looked. On the cliffs, they seemed to be telling their mates about their recent experiences.
Tufted Puffins
Tufted Puffins
Tufted Puffin
Tufted Puffins
Tufted Puffins
Tufted Puffins
Tufted Puffins
Tufted Puffins
Tufted Puffin
Common Murres were nesting on the island cliffs as well.
Common Murres
Common Murre
Common Murre
We then saw a male Steller's Sea Lion and his harem.
Steller's Sea Lions
Steller's Sea Lions
A cormorant flew by, and I thought it was a Double-crested, but after looking at my photos and seeing a white flank patch, I knew it was another species - a Red-faced Cormorant (life bird) in non-breeding plumage. A little while later, I saw an immature bird of this species.
Red-faced Cormorant
Immature Red-faced Cormorant
And then we got really lucky. There was a flock of Parakeet Auklets. On the last day of this tour, I was talking with a birding guide who asked me what species I had seen. When I told him about the Parakeet Aukets, he couldn't believe me until he saw the photos. He only knew of them around the Pibiloff Islands of Alaska. When a Sea Lion (or perhaps a Harbor Seal) swam near, the entire flock took flight to the cliffs.
Parakeet Auklets
Parakeet Auklets
Parakeet Auklets
Parakeet Auklets
We saw a few Glaucous-winged Gulls with their chicks, and then a nesting colony of Horned Puffins!
Glaucous-winged Gulls
Horned Puffin
Horned Puffin
Horned Puffin
Horned Puffins
Horned Puffin
Horned Puffins
Horned Puffins
We sailed by a Pelagic Cormorant, and then saw a raft of Sea Otters. Two Black Oyercatchers flew by and landed on a cliff.
Pelagic Cormorant
Sea Otters
Sea Otters
Black Oyercatchers
Black Oyercatcher
Next, we saw a flock of Rhinoceros Auklets.
Rhinoceros Auklets
Rhinoceros Auklets
Rhinoceros Auklet and Horned Puffin
We weren't done yet. A Humpback Whale showed its tail as it dove.
Humpback Whale
Humpback Whale
We finally reached the Holgate Glacier. In the photo below, another tour boat (bottom right), at least two to three times the size of ours, is dwarfed by the glacier.
Holgate Glacier
Holgate Glacier
The only species we added on the return to Fox Island was a Bald Eagle. I did see a Double-crested Cormorant with its small, white, double crests in a raised position. I don't recall ever seeing this before.
Bald Eagle
Double-crested Cormorant
Well, it was quite a day, but not over yet, as I did some more birding on Fox Island after we returned.
Click here to continue to Fox Island birding on July 20
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