Alaskan Whale Tales (Tails)

October 14, 2009

Alaskan Seasons roll on by

Fall by John Denver (from Season Suite on the Rocky Mountain High Album)

Reflections on the water like shadows in my mind
Speak to me of passing days and nights and passing time
The falling leaves are whispering winter's on it's way
I close my eyes remembering the warmth of yesterday

It seems a shame to see September swallowed by the wind
And more than that it's oh so sad to see the summer end
And though the changing colors are a lovely thing to see
If it were mine to make the change I think I'd let it be

But I don't remember hearing . . . anybody asking me

Here are a couple more pictures as the fall season comes to an end and winter’s grip has not quite taken hold. This week the weather has been slightly above average with temperatures in the 50’s, some fog, and hopefully sunshine later this week if the fog burns off. More photos from ADN and me.

Photo by Tom Miller

In this Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 photo, boaters and fishermen near Ketchikan, Alaska, watch as a group of up to six humpback whales gorged on herring, repeatedly breaking the surface together, then swimming around, showing flukes and backs, blowing and sometimes making loud shrieking and groaning noises before diving, only to surface again minutes later. Seagulls feeding on herring driven to the surface by the whales let boaters know where the whales would surface next.

Photo by Tom Miller

Seagulls swoop in to catch herring that break the surface in an attempt to elude four to six humpback whales that were bubble-net fishing near Ketchikan, Alaska, Some herring are visible in the splashing foam around the second whale mouth from the left. Light-colored baleen is visible in the upper jaws of those mouths, as well as in the mouth of one whale, lower in the water, at right. Also seen are whale bellies and splashing fins.

Photo by Jim Lavrakas

A humpback whale sounds in Sumner Straight on the north side of Zarembo Island in 2006. Zarembo Island is about 10 miles due west of Wrangell, Alaska.

Photo by Bob Hallinen

A pair of humpback whales flip their tales into the air as the sound in Unalaska Bay in the Aleutian Islands in 2005.

Photo by Icewind

This photo was taken last summer outside Seward in Resurrection Bay while I was fishing for Halibut. We slowed the boat as this pod was about a quarter mile away and slowly two moved up close to the boat. They had been on the stern as I took several pictures when one rolled slightly, tail slowly rolling up out of the water and back into the sea.

We waited for several minutes waiting for the next surface as I headed towards the front of the boat when one came almost completely out of the water rolling as he crashed back down splashing loudly. I snapped several pictures and this one was the best one. A once in a lifetime shot for me but boaters I have fished with say it is common for them to fully breech but most people miss the photo opportunity.

The mornings are dark now as we continue to lose about 30 minutes of daylight each week so winter is taking its grip. The leaves were bright and beautiful this year but as always happens . . . the winds blew most away within a few days so only the heartiest of leaves are still on the trees.

Fall by John Denver