Whale Watching in Auke Bay

---

Our shore excursion in Juneau was a whale-watching expedition. A minibus picked us and other whale-watchers up from the cruise ship dock. Our driver was the very personable Shasha. She drives tour buses in the summer and school buses in the winter. As she drove us to the marina at Auke Bay, she provided a narrative about Juneau. Our Whale watching vessel was under the command of Captain Charles. Along with Emily, the naturalist, he spends summer in Alaska and winter in the Virgin Islands.
The vessel headed out into Auke Bay and then around Shelter Island and into the Saginaw Channel, a part of the Inside Passage. The Humpback Whales were congregating in the channel today. Along the way, Emily discussed the behavior of the Humpback Whales, including their annual migration to Hawaii and back. She also pointed out Eagle Glacier, a small one above Auke Bay, near Juneau.

Captain Charles had his Fish finder on and he listened attentively for whale sounds. A number of other whale watching boats were around. Last year, in Iceland, no whales were seen. But here they soon began to show themselves and blow. We were not treated to any breaching whales. But there were many whales tales spotted as the whales dove under. They also blew and arched their backs, taking on a resemblance to Nessie. Emily said most of the whales are regular visitors and have been given names. There was Juneauite and calf, Herbert. Flame had a distinctive white fluke. Flame is known to have had four calves in four years.

Whales were not the only inhabitants of Saginaw Channel. A buoy has become a rookery for a number of young male sea lions. Emily explained that they stay here until they are mature enough to establish their own territory. There were peacefully basking on the buoy, though it appeared a few isolated disagreements erupted.

On the way back to Juneau, Sahsa made a stop at a scenic overlook where we could view Mendenhall Glacier. It is a large glacier, but is retreating at the rate of 120 feet (37 m) per year.

---

Photos

Whale Tail
Humpback Whale. Whale watching in Auke Bay and Saginaw Channel near Juneau.
DSC_0497

Thar She Blows!
Whale watching in Auke Bay and Saginaw Channel near Juneau.
DSC_0081

Juneauite and Calf Herbert
Juneauite and her calf, Herbert, Humpback Whales. Whale watching in Auke Bay and Saginaw Channel near Juneau.
DSC_0094

Whale Tail
Humpback Whale. Whale watching in Auke Bay and Saginaw Channel near Juneau. Black & White interpretation.
DSC_0127

Whale Demo
Naturalist Emily discusses Humpback Whales during our whale-watching cruise out of Auke Bay, Alaska.
IMG_2432

Shelter Island
Shelter Island in the Saginaw Channel. DSC_0134

Juneauite
Juneauite and her calf Herbert blow.
DSC_0149

Whale Tail
Humpback Whale. Whale watching in Auke Bay and the Saginaw Channel.
DSC_0193

Sea Lion Buoy
Sea Lions relax on a buoy in the Saginaw Channel. The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is predominantly found in the coastal marine habitats of the northeast Pacific Ocean from Washington state to Siberia.
IMG_2435

Sea Lion Buoy
Steller Sea Lions relax on a buoy in the Saginaw Channel. The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is predominantly found in the coastal marine habitats of the northeast Pacific Ocean from Washington state to Siber
DSC_0233

Auke Bay
Auke Bay shoreline.
DSC_0393 2

Eagle Glacier
Eagle Glacier above Auke Bay
DSC_0406 2

Whale Tail
Humpback Whale. Whale watching in Auke Bay and the Saginaw Channel.
DSC_0833

Yacht in Auke Bay
DSC_0385 2

M/V Chilkat
The M/V Chilkat Work/Skiff is a 50-foot-long whale-watching tour boat. Acquired by near Lighthouse Tours in 2015..
DSC_0331

Auke Bay
Auke Bay Harbor pavilion. Don G. Statter Harbor.
DSC_0329

Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier from the Clear Water Creek Trail Head.
IMG_2442

Fireweed
Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) in the Mendenhall Valley.
IMG_2443