The National Geographic Sea Bird arrived early in the morning to Bartlett Cove, the entrance to Glacier Bay National Park. Here, our National Park Ranger and our Tlingit Cultural Interpreter embarked, to join us for the rest of our adventure through one of the most majestic places in Alaska.
We started our wildlife sightings at South Marble Island. This rock is a bird breeding colony and also a Steller sea lion haul-out. From a distance we could see and hear the deep and loud voices of the sea lions. Once close to the rock, we found our first birds. Black-legged kittiwakes, tufted puffins, black oystercatchers, common murres, and bald eagles were seen at relatively close distance from the ship.
As we continued sailing up the bay, we spotted our first mountain goats. At first they were just creamy dots on the mountain summits, but with patience we could find some low nannies with their young kids. It was quite a surprise to us to see a nanny with three kids. It is not unheard-of, but unusual to see so many kids with a single mom.
As we entered Tidal Inlet, we continued our wildlife search. At a distance we saw a pair of black wolves running through the alluvial fan. Even if the elusive and mysterious creatures were far away, we were all excited to have a wolf sighting. Three wolves were seen and they were all black. Typically the wolf population of Glacier Bay is mostly black individuals.
Not too far away from Tidal Inlet, we found a very large coastal brown bear on the beach. Considering the time of the year, when most bears are still recovering the weight lost during their winter sleep, this one was a healthy and well fed. As a source of protein, bears move to the intertidal area to scrape on the barnacles that grow on the rocks, after breaking them with their strong claws, they lick away as much as they can out of the uninviting, but nutritious meal.
We had a full day that included lots of wildlife, glaciers, clouds, blue sky, stunning scenery, and the spirit of a land that has remained wild. Land that is wild like the spirits of the first inhabitants, the first explorers and the thunder of the glaciers that still inundates these fjords.
