How fitting on our last morning that a sow grizzly would walk across the meadow in front of our lodge with her two new cubs (born this spring) following closely! I made this shot from our cabin.
As we were returning along the beach in the late evening, we encountered this lone bear walking along the water's edge with nice lighting and reflection.
A close-up of the grizzly sow with her "no nonsense" look. You would not want to get her upset!!
A sow grizzly and her cubs sense danger from a big boar in the distance and stand to get a better look.
The bear is searching for clams at low tide. Most of the clams appeared to be under about a foot of mud.
The bear is getting rid of a piece of clamshell as it works on the remaining parts.
The bear has dug up a clam and is breaking open the shell.
The bear is sucking in the clam which is almost free of the shell.
The bear is rolling the clamshell over its paw to help open the shell.
After a lot of sparring that looked serious but drew no blood, all is now peaceful among the three cubs. Precious looks; makes you want to go pet them (which would be a HUGE mistake)!
The shorter cub seems to make up in attitude what it lacks in height.
A grizzly sow and one of her three cubs checking out a possible bear intruder.
A Horned Puffin has just taken off.
A flock of Horned Puffins takes off, accompanied by a single Tufted Puffin in their midst.
A Horned Puffin in Flight.
Bald Eagle sitting on rocky ledge amid wildflowers.
A Bald Eagle heading for a rocky ledge on Duck Island.
A grizzly sow and her cubs chasing a third year male bear down the beach past some other photographers toward our position.
A grizzly sow and her cub returning from clamming at low tide.
Another sow grizzly feeding near a stream with her two cubs. In some of these eoncounters, we stood absolutely still while the bears walked past us as close as 20 feet away. An amazing experience!!
This sow grizzly is nursing her three cubs. We were watching her with her cubs for quite awhile before she responded to her cubs low growls that were pleas for milk. These are probably second year cubs.
The sow grizzly feeding with both her cubs.
The sow grizzly feeding with one of her cubs. They eat all sorts of vegetation, including grass, but some have also learned to dig clams as low tide. More on that later!
One of the bear cubs standing up to look at an approaching male grizzly bear.
A pair of grizzly bear cubs watching their mother. These are probably second year cubs.
A raft of five sea otters. A rare treat to see, and they were very accomdating to all look toward the camera as I took their picture!
A beautiful study of patterns in ice and dirt on the front of the glacier.
A pair of harbor seals on the ice with a nice reflection.
This sea otter is checking us out as I take his picture.
A sea otter relaxing in the middle of floating ice. Unlike other marine mammals, the sea otter does not have a layer of blubber to stay warm, but relies on extremely dense fur to keep the cold water away from its skin.
A sea otter nurses her pup on an ice floe.
A harbor seal checking us out as we slowly cruise on by.
Sea Otter mother with pup
Sea Otter mother with pup, cleaning its face.
Kayaking up to Bryn Mawr Glacier on College Fjord.
Somewhat hard to distinguish, but a very large pillar of ice is falling into the water. This generated a pretty big wave.
Part of the face of the Harvard Glacier.
This collapse of a big section of the glacier was one of the most dramatic. (See also the time lapse of a calving!)
We were surrounded with much floating ice, sometimes called "bergey bits" from the calving glacier.
Part of the Harvard Glacier, the second largest glacier on Prince William Sound. The face has a total width of 1.5 miles.
A Tufted Puffin takes off from rocks near the Stellar Sea Lions. We didn't see many of these Puffins. The Horned Puffins were more common.
A mated pair of Black-legged Kittiwakes on nearby cliffs. Their nest was probably nearby.
One of our fellow kayakers enjoying the peacefulness of the moment.
Some beautiful color in the shallows and on exposed rock at low tide.
We are kayaking in front of Cascade Falls (close enough to get some spray).
M/V Discovery riding at anchor while we hike ashore.
