Puffins!

These little birds are beyond cute. Two species of Puffin live in the Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, the Tufted and Horned Puffin. What’s the difference? The Tufted Puffin is heavier and has white feathers on its face with a colorful beak and two tufts of yellow feathers atop its head. The Horned Puffin has, not surprisingly, a fleshy…

Wolves of the Sea III

The Orca of the Kenai Fjords, Deadly hunters one and all, Yet as family oriented and caring as any human being, They are just as curious of us, as we are of them… I can tell you from personal experience it is a fantastic experience to see wild Orca and it is an amazing experience when…

Wolves of the Sea II

Cruising the scenic waters of the Kenai Fjords National Park and seeing a small pod of Orca’s (Killer Whales) was a real highlight of my trip to Alaska. The Orca is a deadly hunter, yet such a magnificent, sleek and beautiful looking creature.  First seeing that unmistakable tall dorsal fin protrude from the water’s surface does not fail to bring a…

Kenai Fjords National Park: Stellar Sea Lions

Kenai Fjords National Park offers an amazing abundance of wildlife viewing. Marine mammals are no exception. The Stellar Sea Lion (Eumetopias Jubatus) is the largest of the eared seals. These things are truly massive! A female is about seven feet in length and weighs about 279 kg / 600 pounds. Males are much bigger at around nine feet…

The Humpbacks of Kenai Fjords National Park – Part II (Dall’s Porpoise too)

Not long after seeing the first pod of Humpback Whales in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska I was rewarded with a brief high-speed flurry of a small pod of Dall’s Porpoise bursting out of the water right next to the tour boat. They are black and white in colour and were named after W.H. Dall, an American zoologist who…

The Humpbacks of Kenai Fjords National Park – Part I

Take a day boat trip into the Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward, Alaska and you are bound to see whales out there in that amazing scenery. During my time in that part of Alaska I saw a number of Humpback whales in separate pods. This was the first group I saw in the national park….

Alaskan Glaciers III: Aialik Glacier

Whilst in Seward, Alaska I really wanted to do a day boat cruise into the Kenai Fjords National Park to see the beautiful scenery, glaciers and of course the abundant wildlife including birds, seals, whales and more. Unfortunately, despite being summer, for a number of days the weather was atrocious on the Kenai Peninsula with heavy rain, strong winds and…

North to Alaska! State Number 50 for me!

Like those adventure seekers in years gone by, in August 2014 I departed Seattle, Washington for Alaska in search of its natural charms. Unlike many before more me, I was seeking the natural wonders above ground, not the gold that lays beneath! I have always wanted to go to Alaska and in this case it was…