In early May, the tidal flats of the Copper River Delta sparkle with hundreds of thousands of shorebirds as they rest and refuel during their phenomenal spring migration. The 700,000 acre Delta is a collage of many shallow ponds, inter-tidal sloughs, and braided glacial streams. Cordova, our home base for the first three days, is nestled peacefully at the head of Orca Inlet in Prince William Sound, surrounded with glacier-carved mountains, wildlife-rich wetlands, lush forests, and countless waterways. We will make daily excursions throughout the delta to watch the massive flocks, providing fantastic opportunities for both bird watchers and photographers. We will then board our boat, the Discovery, at the Cordova dock and begin an amazing week-long voyage into the prized seacoast region of Prince William Sound. We will enjoy a great deal of flexibility as the factors of weather, interests, photographic opportunities and regional wildlife activity influence each day. On-board kayaks provide a great way of getting close to our surroundings and observing marine mammals and birds from water level.
Cost: $5500. Review cost details.
Leaders: Exceptional resident naturalist and wonderful personality, Hugh Rose will guide throughout. He has led Alaska trips since 1991 with unending praise from all his travelers for his amazing attention to every detail and for his expert leadership. He not only has an extensive knowledge of all aspects of Alaskan natural history from bird behavior to geology, he is also a top-notch professional photographer. Dean Rand is captain of the "Discovery". After spending more than 20 years in these waters, Dean Rand has extensive experience in Prince William Sound and knows all its special places. Arron Lang, who leads trips in the Copper River Delta and is a superb naturalist birder and guide, will join Hugh for the three days in the Delta and Robin Irving, who assists Hugh with all the logistics, will do the driving.
Size: 12, not including leaders.
Deposit: $500 ($150 non-refundable).
Conditions: A non-smoking tour for people who are very interested in wildlife (mammals and birds) and spending the maximum time in the field.
Update: This itinerary was updated in November 2007.
Synopsis:
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May 2, Saturday Arrive in Cordova
Please choose the best route for you to get to Cordova, Alaska, in order to arrive by mid-afternoon or in time for dinner on May 2. Hugh Rose will meet your flight if you arrive this morning or afternoon and all will have a fabulous welcome dinner together. We stay at the Orca Adventure Lodge for four nights. We will arrange your transfer from the airport to the lodge. We,ll have four nights on the edge of Cordova at the wonderful Orca Adventure Lodge
Lodging: Orca Adventure Lodge
May 3 - 5, Sunday - Tuesday The Copper River Delta
With three full days there will be many opportunities in the Copper River Delta to concentrate on the massive shorebird flocks. In order to optimize on the best shorebird access, trips are timed to coincide with the daily high tide. The rising tide concentrates the birds along the upper intertidal zones. Travel up the Copper River Delta, culminating at the Alaganik Slough Boardwalk trail to enjoy superb scenery, photography, and birding, plus a wonderful picnic. The expansive Delta region is accessible by van on a gravel, 50-mile road that ends abruptly just past Child's Glacier at the Million Dollar Bridge. (The bridge is a dilapidated railroad bridge built in 1910, then damaged in the 1964 earthquake and recently repaired by federal highway money to the tune of 20 million dollars, hence the name!) The road weaves throughout the tidal flats providing ample opportunities to view the variety of birds. Another fantastic trip will be Hartney Bay to see concentrations of up to 100,000 shorebirds flying overhead and feeding on the mudflats! This is a truly unforgettable sight for the birder and a remarkable opportunity for the photographer! An optional scenic flight over the Delta is available (Approximately $150 for 1-1/2 hours).
Here in Cordova spring life also pulses anew for the 3,000 residents, as commercial fishermen bustle about the harbor tending to the many details of a short, but intense, working season. The region's resource rich "gifts of the sea" are vital to the survival of this seafaring community. Experience a genuine encounter with the colorful local-lifestyle in this unique and remote corner of Alaska. In and around Cordova we will be watching for ducks, swans and geese, forerunners to the millions of migratory birds that stopover within the resource-rich Delta region. There are many good photo ops right in town. Visit Cordova's downtown district.
Lodging: Orca Adventure Lodge
May 6, Wednesday Prince William Sound onboard the Discovery
At the Cordova dock meet the captain of the boat, "Discovery", Dean Rand, and the crew for a warm welcome onboard. After getting settled in your cabin, depart the Cordova Harbor and begin an amazing week's voyage into the prized seacoast region of Prince William Sound. This region displays an intricate and phenomenal "web of life," as numerous birds and animals play their role in the Sound's theater of natural wonder. We will respectfully interact with the environment during this exciting season. We will enjoy a great deal of flexibility in the following eight days as the factors of weather, guest's interests, photographic opportunities and regional wildlife activity influence each day. On-board kayaks provide a great way of getting close to our surroundings and observing marine mammals and birds from a water level perspective. If you have never kayaked before, don't worry, instruction will be provided and experienced kayakers will accompany beginners! Landings are planned to capture optimum lighting for both observing and photographing. The Discovery carries a good selection of knee high rubber boots for possibly muddy trails, so you do not have to bring this item unless you already have your own favorite pair. Early days and flexibly timed breakfasts allow us to take advantage of the beautiful morning light and late in the afternoon offers stunning evening light.
We begin in eastern Prince William Sound (Orca Inlet) and continue westward as the week progresses. Sail west through Orca Inlet and into Orca Bay, watching for Bald Eagles, sea otters, sea lions and migratory species. View large groups of Common Murres, Oldsquaws, gulls, murrelets, mergansers, scoters and cormorants to name a few of the species that over-winter here. The boat acts as a blind from which to photograph all these species of birds and we will maneuver around flocks to allow for ideal angles and photography up-close. Abundant concentrations of small fish and crustaceans serve as a critical fuel source for the epic migrants, the Arctic Terns, as well as phalaropes, jaegers and loons commonly viewed along this route. Flocks of acrobatic shorebirds fly rhythmically and in unison, sweeping and turning along the convoluted shores. It's a wonder how some shorebirds travel 1,900 miles in 48 hours!
One of our first stops will be Sheep Bay and Sahlin Falls where we will enjoy a gourmet dinner of fresh Alaskan seafood, fresh bread, rice pilaf, vegetables, dessert, and beverages of your choice. We'll launch the inflatable boats in the lingering daylight that lasts until 11:00 PM and explore an adjacent saltwater lagoon at the head of Sheep Bay. The shallow waters and intertidal shores of the lagoon offer a bounty of food for birds and land animals. Harlequin Ducks, Black Oystercatchers, and others forage for food here and enjoy the blue mussels, limpets and clams of the intertidal zone. During this time of year, juvenile salmon (fry) migrate out from the nearby freshwater streams into the lagoon and serve as an important food source for diving birds, such as murres, mergansers, guillemots, murrelets, loons, scoters, etc. This seasonal phenomenon occurs in many of the Sound's fjords, bays and inlets that contain salmon spawning streams, thereby attracting numerous birds and providing excellent bird watching opportunities. Both Black and Brown bears may be occasionally observed foraging along the shores. As opportunistic feeders, the bears scavenge for animal carcasses, graze on the new growth grasses, overturn rocks in the intertidal zone in search for small crabs and fish, and feed on Pacific Herring egg masses, recently spawned and drifted on shore. We'll anchor for the evening in the serene waters of Sheep Bay.
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May 7, Thursday Prince William Sound onboard the Discovery
Today we continue west and south through the Sound's southern most barrier islands, observing the birds and wildlife along the way. The nutrient rich waters of the Gulf of Alaska pour into the Sound through Hinchinbrook Entrance, a narrow passageway between Hinchinbrook and Montague islands. The ocean currents from the Gulf of Alaska and Pacific Ocean bring much of the region's food (in the form of plankton and small fishes) through this waterway creating a popular feeding ground for birds, fish, and marine mammals, including both Humpback and Orcas. To observe the sights and sounds of these powerful giants is truly a remarkable experience.
We will then head south through Montague Strait along the beautiful shores of Knight Island. Smaller islands along this route are inhabited by colonies of Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common Murres, Glaucous-winged Gulls and both Tufted and Horned puffins. Weather permitting, we will deploy the inflatable boats and take a zodiac cruise around colonies in order to get a close-up perspective. The playful Dall's Porpoises occasionally join The Discovery and dart back and forth literally a few feet from the bow. On the bow's deck we will have a direct view downward, as these artful swimmers enjoy the pressurized wake created as the ship slices the water. With black and white markings somewhat like Killer Whales, these powerful swimmers are among the ocean's fastest marine mammals. Depending on the timing of the activity at sea, enjoy a landing along the beach and intertidal shores. Here you may wish to do macro photography of invertebrates and flowers or walk through the world's northernmost temperate rain forest, rich with ferns, mosses, towering spruce, hemlock and cedar trees. Relax in the evening to a delicious meal and enjoy a very pleasant anchorage in a secluded lagoon.
May 8 - 11, Friday - Monday Prince William Sound onboard the Discovery
It's the peak of the herring spawn! Needless to say this is a feast of grand proportions for the wildlife. Get ready for this list of action observed in previous seasons during the herring roe gorging session: 40,000 Glaucous-winged Gulls, mixed groups of more than 30,000 Surfbirds and Black Turnstones, thousands of Common Murres, Oldsquaws, Pelagic and Red-faced cormorants, Horned and Red-necked grebes, Pigeon Guillemots, Marbled and Kittlitz's murrelets, Common and Red-breasted mergansers, Arctic, Red throated and Yellow-billed loons, Horned and Tufted puffins, groups of Mew, Bonaparte's, and Herring gulls, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Harlequin Ducks, Surf and White-winged scoters, Arctic and Aleutian terns, hundreds of Bald Eagles--the list goes on..., plus occasional Brown Bears, several hundred Settler's Sea Lions, pods of Orcas and breaching Humpback Whales, all witnessed within one bay! Due to the incredible activity in this area, we will devote a few days to observe, photograph and explore adequately the surrounding natural wonders. At this time of year California Grey Whales are often in the Sound. The spawning of Pacific Herring plays a crucial role in the region's ecosystem, providing a major food source for many of the regional and migratory birds that pass through the Sound. At times the spawned herring roe (eggs), can be as thick as two or three feet as it drifts ashore and collects in the intertidal pools. We'll remain flexible and opportunistic in order to capitalize on local marine activity or special wildlife sightings. If time permits, we'll sail to Montague Island and visit the field camps of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Copper River Delta Institute, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Enjoy evenings at anchor in any of the protected bays or coves.
May 12, Tuesday College Fjord, Cascade Falls, and Knight Island onboard the Discovery
Cruising north, the Discovery crosses the open waters of northern Prince William Sound to Cascade Falls, a 300 ft. high waterfall that thunders fresh water into Eaglek Bay. After a visit to the falls and possible overnight anchorage, travel south along the bay's remote shores to stop at the Oyster Farm of David and Susan Sczawinski. The oyster lover will enjoy one of the Sound's most delicious sea products, fresh "Pristine" oysters. Sail northward through the serene Esther Passage to the fringes of College Fjord.
Enter some of the world's most spectacular scenery - corridors of breathtaking beauty, sprawling glaciers and a panoramic skyline of mountain grandeur. Harbor Seals hauled out on the flotillas of icebergs watch us closely as Discovery navigates the icy, blue waters of Barry Arm. The enveloping mountains of this inlet stretch skyward to nearly 10,000 feet, with glacier after glacier descending the terraced mountain valleys. Alaska's lush rainforest vegetation drapes the hillsides in green, as streaming waterfalls fall from the rocky cliffs. Listen to the cracks, pops and thunderous roars of the Cascade, Barry and Coxe glaciers while the Discovery, dwarfed by blue and white walls, drifts silently by these actively calving rivers of ice. Our last night will be spent anchored in the shadow of 10,000 foot tall Mt. Gilbert at the head of Harriman Fiord named for the historic Harriman expedition of 1899.
May 13, Wednesday Return to Whittier and drive to Anchorage
After a breakfast onboard Discovery you will have one final opportunity to take a walk on shore to enjoy and photograph the pristine surroundings of the Sound and the icebergs found along Black Sand Beach. We will then depart for the cruise back to Whittier. Our last stop will be to visit the bustling Black-legged Kittiwake colony located across Passage Canal from Whittier. This picturesque colony of over 5,000 birds is located on a 200-foot cliff and includes three waterfalls pouring down its face. The colony is a buzz of breeding activity as birds are establishing pair bonds and kittiwakes are building nests. A Peregrine Falcon often nests a half mile down the shore on a separate cliff and makes frequent hunting trips to the colony, stirring thousands of birds in the air at once for an unforgettable experience of sight and sound!
After arriving in Whittier, we'll bid a fond farewell to the Discovery and her crew. We will drive by van from Whittier to Portage through the longest car tunnel in North America. A different world awaits us on the other side, as we drive along the shores of scenic Turnagain Arm. We will take time to stop and look for Belugas, becoming a species of concern due to its dwindling numbers in Turnagain Arm, where it used to thrive. Look also for Dall Sheep on the hillsides. Our destination is the Susitna Place B&B, where we'll spend our final night. A festive farewell dinner is planned at a local restaurant.
Lodging: Susitna Place B&B
May 14, Thursday Homeward
Departures will be at your convenience. The airport is a short ride from the Susitna Place B&B and Hugh Rose will provide transport for all flights departing before 11:00 AM. For suggestions on extendcing your stay, please contact us.
The Susitna Place B&B is charming, resonably priced and located at 725 N Street, Anchorage. If you decide to stay longer in Anchorage, it will allow time to explore downtown Anchorage and its fine museums, especially the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, which contains excellent exhibits of Alaskan history, culture, geology, flora and fauna. References on these subjects can be examined or purchased at the Center. For a city its size, Anchorage has an amazing diversity of wildlife. Loons, ducks and Red-necked Grebes are frequently observed on lagoons in parks within the city limits, such as at Westchester Lagoon. Anchorage is the largest community in North America with a population of breeding loons. The loud resonant call of a loon late in the evening across a still lake is an unforgettable experience, especially in an urban setting. Wolves, Moose and Brown Bears occasionally venture inside the city from their more permanent habitats in the adjacent Chugach Mountains. Avifauna found here includes Hudsonian Godwits, Alder Flycatchers, Common Redpolls, Rusty Blackbirds, Boreal and Black-capped chickadees.
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Payments and Cancellations: Upon receiving your deposit, we will send trip materials, including a travel guide with trip essentials, reading list, species lists, and maps. Deposits are refundable before the final payment date, except for $150. The $150 may go toward another tour if a reservation is made within six months of the departure date of this trip. There are no refunds given after the final payment date. Trip cancellation insurance applications are available. Trip options, if any, and singles are extra.
| Cost per Person | |
| Trip cost | $5,500 |
| Payment Schedule | |
| Deposit - to reserve your space | $500 |
| January 31, 2009 - final payment | remaining balance |
Included:
Not Included:
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Reservations: Please contact us to assure space availability and to let us answer your questions. Then, fill out our reservation form, and mail it to us with your deposit:
Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
20800 Kittredge Road
Saratoga, CA 95070
Toll Free: (800) 527-5330
Local: (408) 741-5330
Fax: (408) 741-0358
Email: info@cheesemans.com
Travel Insurance: Unless you specifically decline travel insurance, Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris requires, at a minimum, insurance to cover emergency medical care and evacuation for the duration of the tour. We have had good experience with Access America. Visit their website for complete details and we will also send you their brochure with your trip materials. You can purchase a policy via their website, phone or by mail. Whatever insurance you purchase, be sure to review the terms of all available policies carefully in order to buy the policy that you need.
Reading: We recommend any of the outstanding field guides of North American birds to carry for bird identification, plus a marine mammal guide. However, there is a library on the Discovery with many field guides for your use. With receipt of your reservation and deposit we send a reading list, travel guide, and species list.
Mailing List: If you would like to be on our mailing list or request information, please use our online request form or send us your name, address, email address and phone number. Please note we will never share your personal information with anybody!
Responsibility: Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Saratoga, California, act only as agents and shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation, nor for the loss, damage, or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of the agency or default of such agency suppliers. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. All rates are based on current tariffs, exchange rates and fuel prices and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited. Baggage is at the owner's risk.
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