I didn’t see any bears yesterday, but I enjoyed watching this Common Merganser family. The chicks are almost as big as the adults! This is another photo captured using a my Pocket Wizards and a 24mm wide angle lens – the ducks were about two feet from my lens!
Tomorrow we are heading to Lake Clark National Park for 4 days. It is kind of funny, when I booked this earlier in the summer, I was thinking it would be fun to concentrate on bears because I really haven’t focused on them before. Of course, that was long before finding such great bears near Seward! I’m also really hoping to photograph puffins. There is an outside chance I will have internet access, otherwise there won’t be in activity here for a few days.
On a much sadder note, I think the bear in the last blog post was killed yesterday morning, and possibly the sow and cub as well. I hate to say too much because there seems to be more rumors then facts, but at least one bear was killed for sure – and it was about the same size, age and in the same area where I photographed it the night before. Supposedly it chased a dog. It may explain why I never did saw any bears yesterday. 🙁
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Let’s hope it is a rumor… Great shot of the Merganser family! They are such interesting look birds..
Cheers, Klaus
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Thanks Klaus!
Ron
great shot Ron. So do bears normally hang around Seward, or was it a rare occurance?
have a great trip.
Author
They do hang around Seward, but it was pretty rare to be seeing them so often. In the past I believe they are mostly feeding at night, thus rarely seen. This year they were feeding during the day – even in the river in front of a hotel and restaurant. They normally aren’t so visible.
By the way, I still have your questions and promise to answer them one day. 🙂
How awful!! Some idiot shot it because it was chasing their dog?? The dog probably would have been o.k. anyway, it probably bit the bear in the bum and P.O.’d the bear. The bear probably would have gotten bored in a minute anyway. Bears & dogs usually hate each other & try to stay away from each other. If it was one of the smaller bears it may have just wanted something to play with for a minute. At least the owner of the dog could have bear sprayed it. I find it hard to believe anyone living in Alaska doesn’t have some bear spray around!! Anyway, the dog probably would have been fine. There are dogs outside all over Alaska, & to my knowledge most that stay outside are fine. Good reason not to take your dog into the backcountry with you though, not unless he’s really well-trained. He might bring the bruin back to you! You & Janine stay safe on your lake trip!!
Thanks Ron. I know you will have the answers someday. 🙂
I guess that means you gotta carry bear spray for a midnight run huh?
Well you sure had something cute to look at while waiting for those ever elusive bears 🙂
I”m getting supper excited we leave for Yellowstone Monday! I have never been there, and my husband has not been since he was younger then our boys. Should be a great trip!
I have not had a tripod for oh 6 months or so as my 16 year old one broke. I bought one for the trip. nothing fancy, it will probably break in a few months LOL but at least it will be something to set the camera on!
Hope you have some awesome luck with the bears! Be back in 2 weeks 🙂
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Thanks Doris – have great trip!
I totally agree Beth. It is really sad. If the person is already walking around with a gun, it sounds to me like a bear hater looking for an excuse.
As always,great work! Please teach me oh master what is “using a my Pocket Wizards ” i really like the result with a 24 mm .
And very sad about the bear rumor. I am presently down the road from you in Banff Natioal Park in Alberta. On my way here by road I passed the results of two bears arguing with transports. Sad as well and not very pretty.
Have a good trip.M
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Thanks Michael