More pictures from Alaska

 I've been able to go out on a few hikes in the wilderness up here, and bring my camera along for a photo shoot.   My subjects, though elusive, proved not elusive enough for the swift snap of the shutter.  In Glacier Bay, the land is starting to soil itself as the glacier recedes and the progression of forests march in, and in the beginning of it all, there are lichens and lupins.  I like the hairy birth of the lupin leaves, wolfishly grinning at the shy sunlight. 

 Also on the Glacier bay turf I found a Willow Ptarmigan, hiding in plain sight with bright red eyebrows.  I felt a kinship to the eyebrows, since mine also stick up far above my eyes, though not as vivid in color.  I wonder if these birds bat them at each other coquettishly. 

 Here is an otter an baby.  The baby has a nice little island of warm fur to stand upon and look out over the waves.  This was taken near the Inian islands, fast becoming my favorite place in southeast alaska. 

And of course the Tufted Puffin.  I think this might be my favorite bird up here.  He's basting by as fast as he can puff.

Back in Alaska!

Here I am again, back in the land of the last frontier!  I haven't been posting much lately because of how difficult it is to get internet, but I'll try to do better in the future.  Its a full time thing, being on the boat, but it is quite satisfying and this year the boat and the crew are both lovely.  I'm in Sitka right now and this is a picture from yesterday, flown off the back of the boat while we were anchored.  I really like how the kayaks all look together like that.
In terms of animals, I am super excited about the trips we've been going on, because we spend three days in Glacier Bay, and probably most because we go to the Inian Islands, right out at the mouth of Icy Straight, where the inland waters meet the ocean.  There are so many animals there!  This past week I had a harbor porpoise bow ride the skiff for a good 10 minutes, and play with us while we were stopped.  A Harbor Porpoise!   They never do that!  Sea Lions splash the guests and puffins bounce like potatoes nearby, and baby otters cling to their mothers as we drive past.  Amazing.
I will write more in the next post, with more pictures, hopefully in Juneau.