Friday, July 8, 2016

If it's Sitka, it Must be Otters!!!...and Eagles, Whales and Seals!

It's 08:00 and we are safely moored to the new tiny cruise dock five miles outside of downtown Sitka.  Today is a day to photograph sea otters.....I hope!  Even though I tell myself, over and over, this is wildlife....it's not a matter of scheduling it....it's a matter of being available for an opportunity to experience it.  I KNOW this...and yet...



The new facility has a tour boat pick up dock right across from the gangway.  We are aboard our "Sea Otter Quest" tour boat in no time. (Yes, that's actually what the shore tour is called....not that it leads to expectations or anything...yet, it IS a "quest" not a "sea otter tour."  And I know the difference!)

Sitka is rich, rich, rich with wildlife and we are allowing ourselves the "opportunity" to experience it in the wild.

First stop, Bald eagles.  The sun is shining and the greens and blues very vibrant.  



And even a peek-a-boo shot!


And a fly by...

The new 150-600mm lens is pretty amazing, but heavy and shooting moving targets from a moving platform is challenging.

But WAIT!!!  What's this?  YES!  Sea otters!  We have found what turns out to be our first group of sea otters floating on a glassy grey sea.  Are they smiling?  (I am!!!)



Curious?


Relaxing?


Family portrait of mum and pup.

We have a great on board naturalist with a few handy teaching tools.  Here's the sea otter lunch box!  It's full of all things delectable for sea otters.


I try a nibble of bull kelp.


Steve tries one of the kelp pickle samples.  Pretty yum!



Which encourages cousin Don to do the same.  Boys will be boys!


The sea otter pelt sample is oh so soft!


Ah, but the boat captain has discovered another raft of otters.  The "boys" he says.


Comfy?  


Sea otter yoga pose?

Hey!??  Who is this?  


Can't ignore the Harbor seal, now can you?!


Now, on this "otter quest cruise" we sight five humpback whales and we head right over.  As in, I mean, RIGHT over.  


Yikes!  The big lens is almost too big!


We are surrounded by diving humpback whales for 30 minutes.....and they don't seem to be bothered at all by the boat.  We float there with them, and with each surfacing the exclamations of "Ohhh, and Ahhh..." is heard everywhere around the boat.  The camera shutters are clicking away!



Now it really IS time to head back and we arrive at the dock in downtown Sitka, which saves us the trip from the ship.  We head for the Sitka Raptor Center....which turns into a long, long walk in the rain. Pouring rain.

We stop to admire some flowers along the way.


At the Raptor Center there are 14 Bald eagles and 3 baby blue heron in the rehab part of the facility.



These birds are in the "flight" enclosure.  They are fed about 20 lbs. of salmon a day, which they share. There is a "running stream" for them to bathe and enough room to practice short flights.  Most of them will be able to be released.  

There are also birds on display that are permanent residents as they have injuries that would make release unsuccessful.  They have great outdoor accommodations.


The wing span of an adult eagle is 6 1/2 - 7 1/2 feet!  


I love this great visual on the wall!  Maybe we need one like this in Friday Harbor?! 


Good reminder of size....when you are watching eagles in flight.

It's a long soggy walk back to our cozy, warm and dry stateroom.  


No problem with 10,000 steps today!

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