First Glacier

First Glacier

A Rugged Island

Sea Lion at Rest

Orca

Orca 2

Orca 3

Birds Everywhere

Cormorants

Coastline

Moody Islands

Bait Ball

Look What Food Attracts

Pederson Glacier

Pederson Glacier 2

Aialik Glacier

Aialik Glacier 2

The Glacier's River

Another Meltwater Stream

Glacier Close-Up

On The Way Home

This glacier was spotted soon after our departure from the Seward dock.

A closer view of the glacier. It is unfortunate that I do not have the name of the glacier recorded.

An example of the many rugged islands we saw during our tour.

We spotted this large sea lion soaking up the sun.

Our captain spotted 2 pods of Orca feeding and positioned the boat so they would go past us.

The dorsal fins are the distinguishing features for Orca. Just like a fingerprint, no two are identical.

This was the third different animal which gave me the opportunity to take its picture.

We passed a couple of islands which are used as rookeries by different species of sea birds. The captain noted that, just a week earlier, the population had been even higher on this island.

A group of cormorants warming in the sun.

Everywhere you looked you were treated to views like this.

Artsy attempt.

A congregation of sea birds like this is called a bait ball. It indicates a concentration of food close to the surface of the water.

Humpback whales also recognize bait balls. You can see the whale's back in this picture as it had just come up to the surface to get in on that concentration of food in the water.

I am not entirely certain that I have the correct name for this glacier. If someone recognizes it as being known by another name, contact me.

A closer view of the glacier.

This tidewater glacier was the final focus of the tour. We were close enough that I did not have enough coverage to get the entire glacier in a single frame.

The other end of the glacier.

This hole in the center of the glacier was created by melting ice and rushes out into the bay with the force of a fast moving river.

At one end of the glacier you could also see a stream of meltwater coming from the glacier.

Although we did not see or hear any large "calving" of the glacier, you can see the overhangs which will, at some time, break off the glacier.

I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to take one more shot of the breathtaking scenery on the way back to port. In the distance is a sailboat. We did pass several on our way back to port.