Alaska Sea Adventures

Birding Trips

 
Averaging a mere 3.9 ounces (110 g) in weight,
this little bird is amazing. Its travel to the Antarctic
and back each year makes its migration the
longest of any animal on Earth.
Copyright Hal Schmitt lightworkshops.com

The rocky shorelines, saltwater marshes, bogs, and woodlands of Southeast Alaska comprise a birder’s paradise. Counting both residents and those that use the Southeast as a migratory stopover point, some 350 birds (many rare or endemic) can be found in the area. The diversity of habitats ensures a wide variety of birds can be seen in close proximity, including large numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds. Bald eagles are an especially common sight in the Southeast; their numbers here are measured in the thousands, representing one of the largest populations on Earth.

Whether from the decks of the Northern Song, on a quiet paddle in a kayak, or during a stroll on the shore, you will have ample opportunity to observe and photograph the many bird species that inhabit Southeast Alaska.

A few of the birds commonly seen on most of our cruises

  • American Dipper
  • Arctic Tern
  • Bald Eagle
  • Belted Kingfisher
  • Chestnut-Backed Chickadee
  • Cormorant
  • Black Oystercatcher
  • Black Turnstone
  • Bonaparte’s Gull
  • Common Loon
  • Common Merganser
  • Common Murre
  • Fork-Tailed Storm Petrel
  • Fox Sparrow
  • Greater Yellowlegs
  • Harlequin Duck
  • Jaeger
  • Long-Tailed Duck
  • Marbled Murrelet
  • Pigeon Guillemot
  • Raven
  • Red-Necked Phalarope
  • Rufous Hummingbird
  • Surfbird
  • Surf Scoter
  • White-Winged Scoter
  • Winter Wren
A rare flock of oystercatchers!
2024 Spring Photo Trips
Alaska Whales & Seaways Photography Cruise
with Russell Graves

Sitka to Sitka
March 21 – 25, 2024
Trip ID: A014
Sitka Eagles, and Whales with Special Guest Rick Sammon
Sitka to Sitka
March 27 – April 3, 2024
Trip ID: A024
Sitka Sound Herring Spawn, Eagles, and Whales
Sitka to Sitka
April 6 – 13, 2024
Trip ID: A034
Herring Spawn with Photographer Juan Pons
Sitka to Petersburg
April 17 – 25, 2024
Trip ID: A044
Otters, Whales & Native Villages
Petersburg to Sitka
April 27 – May 4, 2024
Trip ID: A054
2025 Spring Photo Trips
Eagles & Whales in Five Days -Custom Charter
Sitka to Sitka
Mar 21 – 25, 2025
Trip ID: A015
Sitka Sound Herring Spawn, Eagles, and Whales -Custom Charter
Sitka to Sitka
Mar 27 – Apr 3, 2025
Trip ID: A025
Sitka Sound Herring Spawn, Eagles, and Whales
Sitka to Sitka
Apr 6 – 13, 2025
Trip ID: A035
Sitka Sound Herring Spawn – Custom Charter
Sitka to Petersburg
Apr 17 – 25, 2025
Trip ID: A045
Otters, Whales & Native Villages
Petersburg to Sitka
Apr 27 – May 4, 2025
Trip ID: A055

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) © Gary Luhm
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
© Gary Luhm

Hm..m Where to start. LeConte Bay with glaciers & harbor seals on ice. Next Frederick Sound replete with Humps, Dalls, and Orcas. Steller sealions at Yasha Is. Followed by flowers, rainforest & more Stellars at Brothers Is with solitary bubble feeding along shoreline. Brown bears on Admiralty Island with a glacier walk in Thomas Bay on Baird glacier, punctuated by arctic terns, lupine fields & dwarf fireweed. A very fine introduction to SE Alaska with a splendid crew. And last but not least, 3 life birds, Ancient Murrelets, Fork Tailed Storm Petrels and Kitlitz’s Murrelets! Promise to return.

Thanks for an incredible experience!
Marc & Michele C
Pasadena, CA

Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) © Gary Luhm Gary Luhm Photography
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
© Gary Luhm
Gary Luhm Photography

This was an opportunity to experience the “real Alaska” – unaltered, undeveloped, completely natural. Instead of an orchestrated “tour”, we took things as they came, as they would come- whales(of course!), salmon, halibut, eagles, murres, rockfish, black bears, curious rock formations, “pop weeds”, caves, mussels- not on cue, but naturally. Good food, good fishing, knowledgeable guides were a source of reassurance and good fellowship. It’s hard to think of a better way for a family to visit SE Alaska. Many thanks from the 61-year-olds on the trip!
Donald & Judy L
Green Bay, WI