Uploads from bud_marschner, with geodata

Ready for take off_MG_4933

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:23:35 -0800

A horned puffin readies for take off from a promintory on Round Island.

Puffins with solid bones are great divers but not so much when it comes to flying, they have to work very hard at flight.

Round Island Fox_MG_5870

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:37:08 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

The foxes of Round Island have no fear of us people and they frequently walk right by. They are not stranded on the island as they move across Bristol Bay in the winter when it is all ice. Summer has the attraction of vast quantities of sea birds nesting on the island and no big predatores after their kits.

It's that time of year, so another plug for my annual calendar, if you're needing an easy Christmas present look into my calander of Alaskan scenes at www.budsalaskaphotos.com

Polychrome Bear_MG_1883

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:06:55 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

Bear working the top of the cliffs at Polychrome Pass for the last berries of the season.

Bull Caribou_MG_0404

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:23:59 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

I wish these critters would learn good lighting. While he offered a really nice close look and really show'd off them super sized antlers, he was pretty badly back lit.

Desire_MG_7100

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:53:26 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

Taken at the riffles platform at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. This big guy was courting a female bear in heat, anywhere she went, he went. Amazing what the girls can do to us guys!

surfacing walrus_MG_5262

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 22:26:15 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

Just back from a visit to Round Island of the Alaska Walrus Sanctuary in Bristol Bay.

For a place with awful weather we were treated to clear skies and low seas. Which turns out to be important for Walrus viewing as they don't like to be pounded by the waves and head out to sea when the water is rough. The campers that stayed before us had to deal with wind and rain and were not rewarded with walrus until we showed up with the good weather.

I liked this show for the bursting bubble from the walrus blow. I've got a lot of photos to go thru so I suspect there will be more showing up on my site.

During our stay around 3000 walrus were on the side of the island that's counted.

Sea Otter Mom and Pup_MG_2378

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:08:57 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

Sea Otter pups stay with their mom for almost a year.

We came across this mom and pup in the Brash Ice of Columbia Glacier where they use the ice for privacy from other critters. The pup is almost as big as mom, so it won't be long before he's off on his own.

While a pretty tight crop, I liked the acton of mom holding on to her pup.

Porcupine_MG_2116

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Sun, 20 May 2012 21:38:21 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

He decides I'm no fun and move along.

Denali and Alaska Range_Q2E9011

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:11:38 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

Denali and the tundra surrounding the Eielson Vistor Center.

On a clear day, it's one of the prettiest places on earth.

Wedding Sunset_Q2E8206

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:29:14 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

I've been out of state for a wedding and some family reuniouns for awhile.

This shot is taken during the wedding reception near Conifer Colorado with the sun setting thru a thunderstorm. Looks like the sun sets I remember in Colorado.

Loved the light that evening.

Valdez Fish Tender_Q2E6401

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:14:44 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

Taken on an early morning walk around Valdez. Here a fish tender (these boats take the fish from the fishing boat to the cannery in town) is tied to the city dock, while another rides at anchor in the fog just outside the small boat harbor.

This was just before an opener on Pink Salmon aka Humpies. As a result, even though it was before dawn, there was lots of activity on all the boats getting ready to chase salmon.

Valdez Narrows_Q2E6988

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:02:36 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

The falls at Valdez Narrows which separates Valdez Arm from Port Valdez. At this point the channel gets fairly narrow and there is a rock that just breaks the water right in the middle.

I was hoping for a slower exposure for the falls, but when you're on the fast ferry roaring by at 40 MPH, you take what you can get.

Valdez Fishing Boat_Q2E6381

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:15:48 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

A fishing boat heads out into a foggy Port Valdez in the early morning hours.

This was taken a couple of days before an opener and all the fishing boats were working on their gear or like this guy going out to do practice sets to be ready when they are fishing for real.

Immature Bald at Cordova_MG_8506

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:18:15 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

To get back home from Child's Glacier we took the ferry from Cordova to Valdez. It leaves early in the morning, so we camped at a city owned campground near the ferry terminal. While walking the dogs before going to be we saw this immature bald eagle catching the last rays of the sun near our campground.

Dusky Canada Geese_MG_8427

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:54:59 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

The Copper River Delta is home to a distinct subspieces of Canada Goose, the Dusky Canada Goose. They are a bit smaller and much darker on the bottom than the usual Canadas.

Trumpeter Swan and Cygnets_MG_8471

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:55:18 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

At the outfall for the Sheridan Glacier we found a family of two Trumpeter Swans and their 6 brand new cygnets.

After watching awhile you see why they need both adults, looked a lot like herding cats in the weedy slough.

Miles Glacier_Q2E6844

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:31:34 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

Miles Glacier from the Million Dollar Bridge. Miles Glacier was named by Lt. Allen during an Army expedition on the Copper River Delta, he named all of the glaciers after Union Civil War Generals. It is about 30 miles long flowing out of the Wrangell St. Elias mountains in South East Alaska.

At present Miles is about 5 miles upstream from the bridge while in 1910 when the bridge was build the glacier was close at hand to the point wedges were built upstream of the bridge to break up the ice that would flow against the bridge piers. It is believed that in 1895 the two glaciers met at the location of the bridge and the Copper River flowed below.

Child's Glacier_Q2E6625

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:27:38 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

Child's Glacier empties into the Copper River about 50 miles from Cordova Alaska. Mt O'Neil is in the background.

We lucked out with the weather as this area is not known for clear skies.

For scale, the river is about 1/4 mile wide and the glaicer is 300 to 400 feet high at the terminus.

UnAlaska Eagle Stretch_MG_6789

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:45:35 -0700

bud_marschner posted a photo:

A bald eagle stretches while sitting atop a refrigerated container In UnAlaska Alaska.

Swimming Walrus_MG_4323

nobody@flickr.com (bud_marschner) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:55:19 -0800

bud_marschner posted a photo:

People always ask what I do with all the photos I take during our summer wildlife expeditions. I always respond, "that's what cold dark winter nights in Fairbanks are for!" BTW, it's a balmy -25f out tonite.

Here's a good sized walrus swiming fast while keeping track of me.