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Puffins, Puffins.....Where are the Puffins??

scubamom4

By scubamom4,
in Alaska

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Budget Queen

Budget Queen

Posted
Posted
Anyplace to see these super cute birds (puffins) while cruising to Icy Straight, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan? (from Whittier)

 

Hopefully you are getting to Anchorage days early? Sure place is a boat tour out of Seward to Kenai fjords.

 

You aren't going to Sitka, which is the only place on the inside passage for boat tours to see them. Are you going to Glacier Bay? (it doesn't sound like it, since I'm assuming you are on NCL Sun) I see them there, but is very difficult for the average person, as you are decks up away from the water. A good pair of at least 10 power binoculars I find "necessary". It does require you be out for extended time, and keep looking.

 

So, if I am correct with the NCL Sun, your ONLY place will be out of Seward. If a priority to see them, then make it happen, if you have allowed extra time.

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scubamom4

scubamom4

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azevedan - Wow, nice pictures! I've always wanted to see these guys and was surprised to learn they would possibly be along the way somewhere. We are actually doing a back-to-back cruise so will have the advantage of going through Glacier Bay. I'll be sure to keep an extra eye out! Wasn't sure if they are out & about anyplace particular.

 

And thanks budgetqueen for your help-I'll keep my fingers crossed that we'll have some luck! Unfortunately won't be able to make it near the Kenai-guess I'll have to add that to the never ending bucket list.....

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Budget Queen

Budget Queen

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South Marble Island isn't that far from the Strait as the puffin flies :p.

 

How would the average person even know where that was from a cruise ship?

 

I know areas by sight, which is an advantage, extremely few other people have any clue.

 

This is based on the regular cruise ships, which 99% of the people are on. I see over and over, people out on deck at "5pm" because at the noon report the cpt mentions some area of "interest". Only to find out, they should have been out a good couple hours earlier or later for extended time. This is VERY true about Glacier Bay. From the entrance it is 3 hours until any glaciers are sailed by. They already missed Icy Strait hours earlier with humpbacks etc. etc.

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Budget Queen

Budget Queen

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azevedan - Wow, nice pictures! I've always wanted to see these guys and was surprised to learn they would possibly be along the way somewhere. We are actually doing a back-to-back cruise so will have the advantage of going through Glacier Bay. I'll be sure to keep an extra eye out! Wasn't sure if they are out & about anyplace particular.

 

And thanks budgetqueen for your help-I'll keep my fingers crossed that we'll have some luck! Unfortunately won't be able to make it near the Kenai-guess I'll have to add that to the never ending bucket list.....

 

I suggest you be out WAY early, if puffins are a priority. Meaning 1/2 prior to dawn and stay out. :) Puffins seen from a cruiseship is difficult. I already mentioned you have to be the lowest possible deck, with a good pair of binoculars. I can spot them easily by their flying pattern. It is distinct. You may want to educate yourself on this, should be online videos etc. They can be anywhere in the whole bay. I always see them. But most people do not. It does require a large time investment, which is my prior in Glacier Bay.

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azevedan

azevedan

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This is based on the regular cruise ships, which 99% of the people are on. I see over and over, people out on deck at "5pm" because at the noon report the cpt mentions some area of "interest".

 

Well, this *is* the crux of the matter, isn't it? We did a big boat cruise our first time to Alaska, and we saw tons of wildlife....because we went looking for it! We were outside as much as possible. We walked the track, sat on the balcony, and hung out on the decks. I agree it's going to be tough to see a lot of things, especially small critters, from a big boat. But there are sea lions, whales, orcas, etc., all around...you just have to look.

At our disembark, we overheard a woman complaining she hadn't seen any whales, and shook our heads in disbelief. Yep, sorry, dear....they're not hanging out in the casino.

Not to mention the scenery is outside, too!

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narsibvl

narsibvl

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Well, this *is* the crux of the matter, isn't it? We did a big boat cruise our first time to Alaska, and we saw tons of wildlife....because we went looking for it! We were outside as much as possible. We walked the track, sat on the balcony, and hung out on the decks. I agree it's going to be tough to see a lot of things, especially small critters, from a big boat. But there are sea lions, whales, orcas, etc., all around...you just have to look.

At our disembark, we overheard a woman complaining she hadn't seen any whales, and shook our heads in disbelief. Yep, sorry, dear....they're not hanging out in the casino.

Not to mention the scenery is outside, too!

 

True that...

 

Alaska has abundance of wild life...but people have to understand they are wild...and you need to put in the effort to see them. They are not going to knock on your room door or accompany you for lunch.

 

We were surrounded by whales in Adolphous point, but none of them breached...they were bigger whales and apparently it is only the smaller ones that believe in breaching. The only time I saw a whale breaching was from my room balcony half an hour before entering ketchikan and that too through my binoculors way out there in a distance.

 

All along the klondike highway, while the scenary was gorgeous, we came across no wild life. A part in the car half an hour before us mentioned that they walked along with a grizzlie on the road. That is the beauty of it, isn't it !!!!

 

The only time we saw orcas was from the ship again, on the morning of the Inside passage. Again i was out there on the balcony with my binoculars looking for them.

 

This is what makes the Alaskan experience all the more unique, next time if and when I get to go, I am sure my experience would be very different from my first.

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Alaska0799

Alaska0799

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Well, this *is* the crux of the matter, isn't it? We did a big boat cruise our first time to Alaska, and we saw tons of wildlife....because we went looking for it! We were outside as much as possible. We walked the track, sat on the balcony, and hung out on the decks. I agree it's going to be tough to see a lot of things, especially small critters, from a big boat. But there are sea lions, whales, orcas, etc., all around...you just have to look.

At our disembark, we overheard a woman complaining she hadn't seen any whales, and shook our heads in disbelief. Yep, sorry, dear....they're not hanging out in the casino.

Not to mention the scenery is outside, too!

 

Amazing, isn't it? Wonder if the woman bemoaning not seeing any whales was the same young lady who asked a naturalist on a Juneau whale watching excursion if they could throw some fish in the water to make the whales surface! After the naturalist patiently explained humpback whale feeding behavior, the young lady and her young husband (we secretly nicknamed them "Buffy and Tad") resumed reading their NY Times.

 

We've only done cruise ship cruising of Alaska (so far!) and enjoy plentiful wildlife sightings every time. Because spotting wildlife is a priority for us (and our version of treasure hunting!), we are out on the decks constantly. Even have binoculars with us when dining. One cruise, after dinner (southbound out of Juneau, which is great area for viewing humpbacks) my hubby and another couple headed to the casino for a short while but I headed straight out onto the Promenade deck. Almost immediately I spotted a breaching humpback whale--as I watched, it breached 12 times! That's what I would have missed if I'd stayed inside the ship that night! I must confess, though, I'm somewhat happy not everyone is obsessed with seeing wildlife while on the ship because the decks would be way too crowded!

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trophy_23

trophy_23

Posted
Posted
Well, this *is* the crux of the matter, isn't it? We did a big boat cruise our first time to Alaska, and we saw tons of wildlife....because we went looking for it! We were outside as much as possible. We walked the track, sat on the balcony, and hung out on the decks. I agree it's going to be tough to see a lot of things, especially small critters, from a big boat. But there are sea lions, whales, orcas, etc., all around...you just have to look.

At our disembark, we overheard a woman complaining she hadn't seen any whales, and shook our heads in disbelief. Yep, sorry, dear....they're not hanging out in the casino.

Not to mention the scenery is outside, too!

 

This is us also, We spend so much time outside and see tons of wildlife. We have also heard people say they haven't seen whales, where we seem to spot them even while in the lido eating!

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Budget Queen

Budget Queen

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True that...

 

Alaska has abundance of wild life...but people have to understand they are wild...and you need to put in the effort to see them. They are not going to knock on your room door or accompany you for lunch.

 

We were surrounded by whales in Adolphous point, but none of them breached...they were bigger whales and apparently it is only the smaller ones that believe in breaching. The only time I saw a whale breaching was from my room balcony half an hour before entering ketchikan and that too through my binoculors way out there in a distance.

 

All along the klondike highway, while the scenary was gorgeous, we came across no wild life. A part in the car half an hour before us mentioned that they walked along with a grizzlie on the road. That is the beauty of it, isn't it !!!!

 

The only time we saw orcas was from the ship again, on the morning of the Inside passage. Again i was out there on the balcony with my binoculars looking for them.

 

This is what makes the Alaskan experience all the more unique, next time if and when I get to go, I am sure my experience would be very different from my first.

 

Point Adolphus is a concentrated humpback feeding area. Not sure where you got your breaching information from, but it is completely false.

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katrina915

katrina915

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Amazing, isn't it? Wonder if the woman bemoaning not seeing any whales was the same young lady who asked a naturalist on a Juneau whale watching excursion if they could throw some fish in the water to make the whales surface! After the naturalist patiently explained humpback whale feeding behavior, the young lady and her young husband (we secretly nicknamed them "Buffy and Tad") resumed reading their NY Times.

 

We've only done cruise ship cruising of Alaska (so far!) and enjoy plentiful wildlife sightings every time. Because spotting wildlife is a priority for us (and our version of treasure hunting!), we are out on the decks constantly. Even have binoculars with us when dining. One cruise, after dinner (southbound out of Juneau, which is great area for viewing humpbacks) my hubby and another couple headed to the casino for a short while but I headed straight out onto the Promenade deck. Almost immediately I spotted a breaching humpback whale--as I watched, it breached 12 times! That's what I would have missed if I'd stayed inside the ship that night! I must confess, though, I'm somewhat happy not everyone is obsessed with seeing wildlife while on the ship because the decks would be way too crowded!

 

What type of binoculars do you recommend?

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Alaska0799

Alaska0799

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What type of binoculars do you recommend?

 

I'm not the best one to ask because I've not shopped for binoculars in 15-20 years! I love my Leupold 10x42 binoculars (almost 20 years old and heavier than the newer ones). The optics are great (very good in low-light conditions) and they've become an extension of my eyes I've used them for so long. Also, Leupold will clean/adjust/repair even those that are 20 years old at no charge (we just have to pay shipping)! BQ makes a good point about the wide angle. Next pair I'll probably consider a bit wider field of view. But if you're shopping for binoculars for wildlife viewing, IMO a pair of 10x42 is a good place to start.

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laughing husky

laughing husky

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sad, many people come to Alaska to see wildlife, but they are too busy on their electronic devices to look for it.....it is all around, but if you are not looking, you will not see.....and yes, lots of puffins from most of the Kenai fjord trips out of Seward....Also Valdez, but no major cruises go there....

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whale-watcher

whale-watcher

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I'm not the best one to ask because I've not shopped for binoculars in 15-20 years! I love my Leupold 10x42 binoculars (almost 20 years old and heavier than the newer ones). The optics are great (very good in low-light conditions) and they've become an extension of my eyes I've used them for so long. Also, Leupold will clean/adjust/repair even those that are 20 years old at no charge (we just have to pay shipping)! BQ makes a good point about the wide angle. Next pair I'll probably consider a bit wider field of view. But if you're shopping for binoculars for wildlife viewing, IMO a pair of 10x42 is a good place to start.

 

I actually prefer lower power (8x) for birding from a moving platform (such as a cruise ship). The 10x amplifies all motion and can cause motion sickness with extended use. Buy the highest quality optics you can afford...superior brightness and resolution make all the difference in the world when viewing at the extremes.

 

As for puffins, we saw them throughout the day when we traversed the Gulf of Alaksa (mostly single birds at some distance), and greater numbers in glacier bay, and near the mouth of Yakutat bay, as well as just north of Vancouver island. We are birders and spend many hours scanning for birds and wildlife; expect to spend lots of time searching even when you are in the appropriate areas.

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scubamom4

scubamom4

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Thanks for all the advice from puffins & whales, to binocular strength.....and beyond! We too love to spend every second we have outdoors, which is part of why we planned this last-minute cruise: to see whatever wildlife and spectacular natural beauty we can. Our last cruise we also noticed almost no one on the decks (except poolside!) during the days, but we spent endless hours just watching the open ocean looking for something. We did enjoy an hour show from hundreds of flying fish, which was incredible! We are more than willing to end up with raccoon eyes, from keeping our binoculars pasted to our face!

 

Thanks again for all your help - at least I know puffins are out there waiting somewhere, even if they don't come knocking on my room door...Drat. But, maybe we'll see one on our bed one night, in the form of a towel, that is! :D

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