Alaska Coastal Bear Viewing

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Lake Clark, Photos, Travel 11 Comments

Alaska Costal Bear Viewing

Brown Bears, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

I didn’t get a chance to finish writing about our Lake Clark trip, so I thought I would follow up today. 

To be honest, we have always traveled on our own in Alaska, with either our camper or tent, so I had mixed feelings on visiting a lodge geared just towards bear viewing, working with guides, etc.  My other reservation was the cost – an all inclusive trip that includes flights, lodging, meals, boats and guides isn’t going to be cheap, especially given our short summer season.  I do get that, but what I struggled with –  for what a four day bear viewing trip cost, we could do a two month trip to the Lower 48 and probably come away with far more marketable material.  But hey, having fun is more important than return on investment!  Plus, if I could photograph puffins without the considerable expensive of flying to St. Paul, that would be a huge bonus.  So now the question, where to go.Read More

Snow Patterns

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Lake Clark, Photos, Travel 6 Comments

Lake Clark Aerial

Snow patterns from the air, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

We are heading to Halibut Cove for a few days so we won’t have web contact.  If it doesn’t rain too hard, maybe I will have some photos to share next week.

Hungry Puffin

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Lake Clark, Photos, Travel, Wildlife 12 Comments

Puffin

Horned Puffin, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

I understand that puffin have the unique ability to catch and hold fish in their beaks, allowing them to continue to fish and capture more.  Every puffin I saw with fish seemed to have at least 5!

Horned Puffin

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Lake Clark, Photos, Travel, Wildlife 10 Comments

Horned Puffin

Horned Puffin, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

We just got home and are still beaming from an awesome trip! 

Although I loved spending time with the bears, puffin were actually at the top of my wish list.  You see I often get requests for this beautiful bird, and live next to a very large population, but have never been able to photograph them up close until this trip.  Now I can put an end to that frustration.

I have joked in the past that puffin really don’t exist – that they are just a cartoon character like Bugs Bunny.  Having seen them up close and personal, I can attest that they are real, and they are spectacular!

Here are more Puffin photos.