Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/09/07/wildlife-of-alaska/ # 18 images of the amazing landscapes & wildlife of Alaska Published on September 7, 2019 [![A Whale Breaches From The Icy Waters Outside Of Juneau Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-whale-breaches-from-the-icy-waters-outside-of-juneau-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-whale-breaches-from-the-icy-waters-outside-of-juneau-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) This is one-holiday title that **promises a lot** – the native wildlife of Alaska, i.e. Bears, Eagles & Whales, plus Glaciers. But **this trip delivered so much more**! Based in **Juneau**, the aim was to find the Coastal Brown Bears in a specific wilderness area, & to track down the hump-backed whales migrating south before Winter. We also knew that there would be [Bald Eagles](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/bald-eagle/) almost everywhere, & we hoped that we might get sightings of resident or transient pods of orca. But the wildlife of Alaska is much more abundant. [![One Of The Lone Bears At Pack Creek Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-lone-bears-at-pack-creek-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-lone-bears-at-pack-creek-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) [![An American Bald Eagle In The Waters Of Auke Bay Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/an-american-bald-eagle-in-the-waters-of-auke-bay-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/an-american-bald-eagle-in-the-waters-of-auke-bay-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) For the first day, the focus was upon the **Coastal Brown Bears**. NaturesLens chartered a **floatplane** to take us from Juneau to Admiralty Island. **The flight itself was a buzz**, well it was for an aviation enthusiast like me, a DHC-2 Beaver, a piece of Canadian aviation heritage, designed in the late 1940s & built to do the bush-flying job. Not a lot of refinement but rock-solid. A short 30-minute flight saw us wading ashore at Admiralty Island. This a designated wilderness area & it was what it said on the tin. No facilities other than a choice of rocks to sit on & a bear-proof container for our food. After an orientation briefing from the Ranger, we walked a short distance to the bear viewing point, & not long after that, the bear-fest began. [![A Bear Makes Off With A Freshly Caught Salmon From The Waters Of Pack Creek Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-bear-makes-off-with-a-freshly-caught-salmon-from-the-waters-of-pack-creek-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-bear-makes-off-with-a-freshly-caught-salmon-from-the-waters-of-pack-creek-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) The bears are used to humans being in that particular spot &, while undoubtedly wild, they did not bother us. We spent practically the whole day in the company of a sow & 2 cubs, & a sub-adult male bear who was the sow’s grandson – not that it got him any favours. To her, he was a potential threat to the cubs & she treated him accordingly. We also sighted at some distance a further sow & one cub, & a more substantial solo, probably, male. [![A Female Bear With Two Cubs At Pack Creek Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-female-bear-with-two-cubs-at-pack-creek-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-female-bear-with-two-cubs-at-pack-creek-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) [![One Of The Family Groups Of Bears At Pack Creek Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-family-groups-of-bears-at-pack-creek-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-family-groups-of-bears-at-pack-creek-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) The weather was due to be typically Alaskan – wet. However, we were **fortunate**; the rain only lasted a few hours & that, surprisingly, was it for the week. Having brought clothing for three seasons, we spent most of our time in T-shirts. The rest of the week, we alternated venues. Three days with the emphasis on **sea mammals & other wildllife of Alaska**, & two days visiting the fjord & **glaciers** of Tracy Arm. Having started with the thrill of being up close with [brown bears](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/brown-bear/), the next day broke the bank! During our first morning with our expert Captain, we were utterly spoiled; the humpbacks put on a great display of pectoral fin waving, chin-slapping, tail-fluking &, of course, breaching. [![One Of The Whales Chin Slaps In The Icy Juneau Waters Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-whales-chin-slaps-in-the-icy-juneau-waters-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-whales-chin-slaps-in-the-icy-juneau-waters-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) [![A Whale Preparing To Dive In The Icy Waters Outside Of Juneau Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-whale-preparing-to-dive-in-the-icy-waters-outside-of-juneau-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-whale-preparing-to-dive-in-the-icy-waters-outside-of-juneau-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) [![A Whale Tail Fluking In The Icy Waters Outside Of Juneau Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-whale-tail-fluking-in-the-icy-waters-outside-of-juneau-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-whale-tail-fluking-in-the-icy-waters-outside-of-juneau-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) There were times when we didn’t know which way to look; it was happening all around us! The **whales**, we think, were showing the young with them the art of being a humpback. As the family groups were cruising, they often surfaced to breathe close to the boat & we experienced the heady mixture of fish breath & saltwater – simply lovely! Other days, we did see humpbacks but nothing like on the first day. But it wasn’t just about whales; over the week, we also saw **Stellar Sea Lions**, **seals**, **Dall’s porpoises**, **bald eagles** &, a rarity that far North, a Pacific **Sea Otter**. [![A Sea Otter Swims On Its Back In The Icy Waters Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-sea-otter-swims-on-its-back-in-the-icy-waters-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-sea-otter-swims-on-its-back-in-the-icy-waters-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) The afternoons following our whale watching trips, we explored the local area finding streams stuffed with **salmon**, bear fishing sites, **eagle congregations, picturesque vistas**, a cable car to one of the surrounding mountains, & **waterfalls & a glacier**. The Mendenhall Glacier terminates very close to Juneau & is a big tourist draw. With **Nugget Falls** alongside, there’s plenty of opportunity for the landscape photographer. Additionally, in the lake on the glacier approach road, we were lucky enough to spot a beaver, & a pair of black bear cubs playing. Further, as an access port of call for cruise ships, there’s no shortage of shopping experiences, but you need to be somewhat discriminating to find quality, locally made, arts & crafts. For the less cerebral, there’s the **Alaskan Brewery** & the chance to examine critically, & solely in the interests of science, the variety of **local brews**! The voyage to **Tracy Arm** takes about 3 hours, during which one can take in the fine [Alaskan](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/north-america/united-states/) scenery. The passage follows waterways threading between thickly forested mountainsides, sweeping steeply right down to the sea, post-glacial inlets, & isolated islets. Wildlife is equally not far away & it was on one of these journeys that **a pod of orca visited us**. They played around the boat for a good 10 minutes before heading off. [![A Small Pod Of Orca That Joined Us On Our Last Day Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-small-pod-of-orca-that-joined-us-on-our-last-day-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-small-pod-of-orca-that-joined-us-on-our-last-day-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) [![An American Bald Eagle Perched On Top Of A Gigantic Chunk Of Glacial Ice Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/an-american-bald-eagle-perched-on-top-of-a-gigantic-chunk-of-glacial-ice-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/an-american-bald-eagle-perched-on-top-of-a-gigantic-chunk-of-glacial-ice-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) [![One Of The Seals That Use The Safety Of Tracy Arm Fjord To Their Advantage Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-seals-that-use-the-safety-of-tracy-arm-fjord-to-their-advantage-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-seals-that-use-the-safety-of-tracy-arm-fjord-to-their-advantage-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) Arrival in **Tracy Arm** just about takes the breath away. Navigating a rip current, we headed into a classic fjord, steep sides, high peaks & deep waters. This is one occasion where having a [polarizing filter](https://hoyafilter.com/product/cir_pl/) brings out the colours in the sky, sea & forest. [![Sawyers Glacier At The End Of Tracy Arm Fjord Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sawyers-glacier-at-the-end-of-tracy-arm-fjord-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sawyers-glacier-at-the-end-of-tracy-arm-fjord-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) [![One Of The Waterfalls That Are To Be Found Within Tracy Arm Fjord Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-waterfalls-that-are-to-be-found-within-tracy-arm-fjord-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-waterfalls-that-are-to-be-found-within-tracy-arm-fjord-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) But there’s a further dimension – **icebergs** or, to be more accurate, remnants of icebergs – sculpted by the air & water into great shapes with a depth of blue colour born of the pressures in the parent glacier. If you’re lucky (& we were), you get a [bald eagle](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/bald-eagle/) perched on a berg & seals on the sea ice. The journey up the fjord terminates at the **South Sawyer Glacier** – a tumbling mass of deep blue & white ice. You hope that the glacier is going to ‘calve’ – that a block of ice will fall off the visible wall or, better still, break away underwater & surface as an iceberg. [![One Of The Gigantic Chunks Of Ice That Had Broken Off One Of The Glaciers Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-gigantic-chunks-of-ice-that-had-broken-off-one-of-the-glaciers-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-gigantic-chunks-of-ice-that-had-broken-off-one-of-the-glaciers-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) [![One Of The Massive Icebergs That Are To Be Found Within Tracy Arm Fjord Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-massive-icebergs-that-are-to-be-found-within-tracy-arm-fjord-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/one-of-the-massive-icebergs-that-are-to-be-found-within-tracy-arm-fjord-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) The final facet of the holiday were **the sunsets**. The sun goes down behind the coastal mountains, setting up classic silhouettes but also playing on the waters. We experimented with ISO & metering, producing some strong images. [![Sunset Over Alaska From The Glacier Highway Towards Amalga Harbour Photographed During The Orcas Eagles Whales Glaciers Of Alaska Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sunset-over-alaska-from-the-glacier-highway-towards-amalga-harbour-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sunset-over-alaska-from-the-glacier-highway-towards-amalga-harbour-photographed-during-the-orcas-eagles-whales-glaciers-of-alaska-photography-holiday.jpg) If [Alaska](https://natureslens.co.uk/for/wildlife-in-alaska/)’s landscapes & wildlife appeal to you, explore our current [Alaska & North America wildlife photography holidays](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/north-america/united-states/). NaturesLens trips are designed around small groups, experienced photographic guidance, carefully timed access, & the field conditions needed to make the most of remote wildlife encounters. - NaturesLens wildlife photography holidays are structured around photographic opportunity — every schedule decision is made around light, behaviour, & access. - Small groups of 4–8 photographers ensure unhurried positions & individual guidance. - Single occupancy accommodation is included as standard across the majority of our trips. ## Share this post - - - - [![A Close Up Of One Of The Golden Eagles Feeding In The Snow Image Captured During The Natureslens Golden Eagles Of The Swedish Winter Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/a-close-up-of-one-of-the-golden-eagles-feeding-in-the-snow-image-captured-during-the-natureslens-golden-eagles-of-the-swedish-winter-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2018/09/24/eagles-of-the-swedish-winter/) ### [Golden Eagles of the Swedish Winter by David](https://natureslens.co.uk/2018/09/24/eagles-of-the-swedish-winter/) September 24, 2018 During early March 2018, David attended our Golden Eagles of the Swedish Winter photography holiday. We chose this time of… - [![A Pair Of Eastern Green Lizard Both Male Female Together Photographed During The Natureslens Reptiles Amphibians Of Bulgaria Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-pair-of-eastern-green-lizard-both-male-female-together-photographed-during-the-natureslens-reptiles-amphibians-of-bulgaria-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/09/08/the-reptiles-amphibians-of-bulgaria/) ### [16 images showing the diversity of the Reptiles & Amphibians of Bulgaria](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/09/08/the-reptiles-amphibians-of-bulgaria/) September 8, 2019 Carl attended our inaugural trip to photograph the Reptiles & Amphibians of Bulgaria earlier this year & came back with… - [![A Colourful Portrait Of A Three Banded Plover As Captured During The Natureslens Zimanga Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/a-colourful-portrait-of-a-three-banded-plover-as-captured-during-the-natureslens-zimanga-photography-safari.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/04/11/zimanga-photography-safari/) ### [11 Stunning Images from Alan’s Zimanga Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/04/11/zimanga-photography-safari/) April 11, 2019 Alan shares 10 stunning images that he captured during his Zimanga photography safari holiday with NaturesLens Next step ### Find your next wildlife photography holiday Browse small-group trips by destination, subject, season and photographic goal. [Browse Holidays](https://natureslens.co.uk/wildlife-photography-holidays/) ### Related articles [![A Focus On The Charismatic Atlantic Puffins Of Skomer Island](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/one-of-the-puffins-of-skomer-in-flight-with-a-beak-full-of-sandeels-150x150.jpg) **A focus on the Charismatic Atlantic Puffins of Skomer Island**](https://natureslens.co.uk/2023/07/26/atlantic-puffins-of-skomer-island/) [![16 Images Showing The Diversity Of The Reptiles & Amphibians Of Bulgaria](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-pair-of-eastern-green-lizard-both-male-female-together-photographed-during-the-natureslens-reptiles-amphibians-of-bulgaria-photography-holiday.jpg) **16 images showing the diversity of the Reptiles & Amphibians of Bulgaria**](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/09/08/the-reptiles-amphibians-of-bulgaria/) ### Field notes by email New articles, trip reports and wildlife photography holiday announcements from NaturesLens. 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