Alaska

Brown Bear

Ursus arctos A young brown bear pauses from foraging in the intertidal to observe the photographer. Glacier Bay, Alaska

Wild Lupine

Lupinus perennis A field of wild lupine in peak bloom in the Western Aleutian Islands. Amchitka Island, Western Aleutians, Alaska

Horned Puffin

Fratercula corniculata A horned puffin takes flight in a protected harbor of the Western Aleutian Islands. Horned Puffins are the larger of the 2 species of Alaskan puffins. Amchitka Island, Western Aleutains, Alaska

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae A single humpback just outside Fingers Bay. Glacier Bay, Alaska

Black Bear

Ursus americanus An adult black bear forages on grasses just above the high tide line. It's a relatively common sight to spot bears browsing for food along the beaches of Southeast Alaska early and late in the day. Glacier Bay, Alaska

Laysan Albatross

Phoebastria immutabilis Albatrosses, known for one of the most impressive wingspans among the birds, are a common sight gliding just above the surface of the ocean in the Bering Sea. These expert fliers nest on tropical islands in the Pacific but travel up temperate seas like Alaska or Japan to feed. Bering Sea, Alaska

Humpback Whales

Megaptera novaeangliae A trio of Humpbacks perform a synchronous dive. The cold, nutrient rich waters of Alaska are the preferred summer feeding grounds for thousands of humpback whales. These same whales undergo an annual migration to Hawaiian waters during the winter so that they can birth and nurse their calves in warm protected tropical waters, free from the threat of predation by killer whales. Tropical waters are oligotrophic (or nutrient poor) however, which means there is virtually nothing for the adult whales to feed on while their calves get fat off their milk. Eventually, the adults will have depleted their fat reserves and must begin the journey north to more productive feeding grounds. Glacier Bay, Alaska

Brown Bear

Ursus arctos Curiosity has gotten the best of this young brown bear as he plays peek-a-boo with the photographer. Glacier Bay, Alaska

Laysan Abatross & Northern Fulmars

Phoebastria immutabilis & Fulmarus glacialis Alabatrosses and Fulmars are two of the most common fliers seen cruising over open ocean in the Aleutian Islands. Bering Sea, Alaska

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus Glacier Bay, Alaska

Stellar Sea Lions

Eumetopias jubatus This Steller Sea Lion haul-out is so popular, the island appears to be made entirely of sea lions. Glacier Bay, Alaska

Killer Whale

Orcinus orca An alpha male killer whale, easily recognizable by his towering dorsal fin, breaks the surface of the water in Southeast Alaska. This guy belongs to a resident pod of Orcas, which means they are fish eaters. This pod was probably gorging themselves on the abundant salmon that were beginning to show up in the area. Icy Strait, Alaska

Brown Bear

Ursus arctos An alert young brown bears forages among a mussel bed at low tide. Second only to the Polar Bear in size, the brown bear is one of the largest predatory land mammals in the world. Coastal brown bears can weigh in excess of 1500 lbs. Such a large and formidable predator commands your attention at all times and demands great respect. Though brown bears are outnumbered 7:1 by black bears in Southeast Alaska, they are responsible for more human fatalities than any other bear. Glacier Bay, Alaska

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae Glacier Bay, Alaska

Laysan Albatross

Phoebastria immutabilis Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Wild Lupine

Lupinus perennis A single lupine flower stands out against a lush green background in the Western Aleutian Islands. Amchitka Island, Western Aleutians, Alaska

"Backlit Brownie"

Ursus arctos A brown bear surveys the intertidal for a late afternoon snack. Brown bears define the term omnivore. Their diet ranges from berries, grasses, roots and sprouts, to fish, insects and small mammals. Though it may seem odd that such a large predator dines on such small animals, they will also prey upon moose, caribou, bison, and muskoxen. Bears will rarely pass on a free meal though, and have been know to scavenge the carcass of wolf kills and especially in coastal Southeast Alaska, dead whales that wash up on the beach. Glacier Bay, Alaska

Northern Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialis Fulmars, in flight, resemble very large gulls. They are perhaps the most commonly seen bird cruising the open ocean in the Aleutian Islands. Bering Sea, Alaska

Tufted Puffin with squid

Fratercula cirrhata Amchitka Island, Alaska

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinnus Kiska Island, Alaska