August 23, 2008: Seward, Alaska (Kenai Fjords Glacier Tour)

We spent most of today on the Kenai Fjord's "Captain's Choice" 9 hour tour of Resurrection Bay, nearby Glaciers, and the Chiswell Islands. (Link) This was great! We saw some incredible scenery, and nice birds, too. A storm was brewing so it got a little rough near the end but the crew was good at minimizing the effect of the waves - the crew and guides on board were great, and we really would reccomend this tour to someone visiting the Seward area!

We had a GREAT meal at Ray's Waterfront right near the harbor! The Thai Scallops were amazing! (Location)

Views of the Seward Harbor before we left in the AM (above three)

The mountains around Resurrection Bay

Above two: More mountain scenery around the bay

Photos below are of Holgate Glacier:

We did see a small part of the glacier calve when we were there

The area surrounding the glacier was also scenic

A Horned Puffin on the rocks of one of the islands in the bay

Above and Below: Red-Necked Phalaropes

Common Murres on the Chiswell Islands

Thick-Billed Murre (Chiswell Islands)

Black-Legged Kittiwake nest (Chiswells)

Humpback Whale

Harbor Seal

A view back towards shore from more open waters

Black-Legged Kittiwake

Another tour boat in Resurrection Bay

Pelagic Cormorant

Flying Horned Puffin (I wish I got a better shot)

Harbor Seals

The shore of Resurrection Bay

A smaller glacier in Resurrection Bay (above and below)

A distant view of Seward from the boat Our boat was the "Alaska Sunrise"

Seward Small Boat Harbor

A view of the mountains about 5 miles out of Seward

Another Glaucous Winged Gull hunting along Bear Creek

A spawning salmon on Bear Creek

This is the general area of the Kenai Fjords Boat Tour (Seward, to the Chiswell Islands)

August 20, 2008: Homer, Alaska

We started out this morning in Soldotna, and drove, along the coast of Cook Inlet, to Homer, where we spent the rest of the day.

We stayed two nights at Land's End in Homer. This was right at the end of Homer Spit, which was a really cool place to stay!

We had a great lunch at Boardwalk Fish and Chips, on the Spit... and dinner at Fat Olive's in Homer on the Mainland.

Two other very cool places to visit in Homer:

Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center
Pratt Museum

Fly-by Bonaparte's Gulls on Kasilof Beach

Greater Yellowlegs - Kasilof Beach

Comparison of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs - Kasilof beach

Long-Billed Dowitchers

Mt. Iliana across from Anchor Point (across Cook Inlet)

Northwestern Crow (Anchor Point)

Glaucous-Winged Gull (Anchor Point)

Mt. Iliana across from Anchor Point (across Cook Inlet)

Black-Legged Kittiwake (Anchor Point)

Now we are in the Homer area - Behind the Island and Ocean visitor center, there was lots of Fireweed!
The Homer area did a great job of posting birding locations
A Common Loon flew over on the Homer Spit
This Glaucous Winged Gull on the Homer Spit was stealing bait from a fisherman's truck!
A view of Homer Spit
Fishing gear being hauled into Homer Spit Harbor
There were lots of 'jellies' on the harbor here
The Small Boat Harbor at Homer
A storm gathers over the harbor
Someone's catch of Halibut! (Very tasty fish!)

Pratt Museum:

The Crab fishing boat 'Time Bandit' that is featured on the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch"

Local fish of Kachemak Bay

This map shows the extent of the 1988 Exxon Valdez Oil spill disaster

Above four: Some of the museum's avian mount collection

Kachemak Bay Crabs

Back on Homer Spit:

Pacific Golden Plover

Flying Common Murres

A swimming sea otter

Surfbird

Black Turnstone

Flying Black-Legged Kittiwakes

A Common Loon came very close to shore

A juvenile Herring of Glacuous Winged Gull

Crab pots for fishing boats!

Above five: A VERY cooperative Bald Eagle

A view across Kachemak Bay

TODAY'S MENTIONED LOCATIONS (interactive)