2022 Alaska Flotilla – Leg 6A, Day 10 – Shearwater to Pruth Bay
After leaving Shearwater we made our way along the coast and happened upon two whales feeding together. This pair of humpbacks were working together, following a school of fish very close to land. They were making their way taking turns blowing bubbles and then lunge feeding. Humpbacks often work together to feed. They will blow a net of bubbles from below the fish that the fish don’t want to swim through and then come up from below opening their huge mouths, swallowing as many fish as they can. Since the whales were traveling in the same direction as us, we got to watch their teamwork for some time.
Pruth Bay held a special surprise for us. The Hakai Institute is located here, and they focus on long term research projects in remote locations. We pulled our dinghies up to their dock and hiked along a really nice trail which opened up to an amazing white sand beach. These beaches are on the outer coast and exposed to open ocean weather which creates the sand which we enjoyed walking barefoot on. There were so many treasures to find on the beach including kelp, shells, and some mysterious animal bones.
Little sandpipers ran at the edge of the surf picking out little creatures that live in the sand. Their beaks are designed to sift through the loose sand at the water’s edge and pick out small invertebrates. Right before we packed up to leave, an osprey swooped down and snagged a fish from the water and flew away with it. We followed the birds to our own dinners and a beautiful sun set!
P.S. Is Alaska on your bucket list? We can take you there! Email us to reserve your spot on our 2023 Mother Goose AK Flotilla. charters@nwexplorations.com
