Category: Alaska Wildlife
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Wildlife Babies I, Denali National Park
I saw a baby Dall Sheep! My first wildlife baby of the year. I could see it well with the binoculars but didn’t even try for a photo. C saw a moose baby earlier this week. I hope to see a baby caribou this year! On Friday I took the free Park shuttle bus to…
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Wildlife in and near Denali National Park
In 24 hours I saw 3 Moose, 3 Porcupines, 2 Caribou, 2 Dall sheep, and my first Harlequin ducks. We also saw lots of Ptarmigan & at least one Spruce grouse. I like living here. The ducks were strikingly gorgeous hanging out on the thawing river.
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Steese Highway III
We saw a variety of ducks along the Steese, including some gorgeous ones I had never seen before. I think we saw Scaups, Goldeneyes, and maybe Buffleheads. We finally saw some mammals! We worked our way up in size. Red squirrels, a beaver, then a porcupine. I most wanted to see caribou while C most…
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Steese Highway
We spent the weekend traveling the Steese Highway, which brings travelers within 50 miles of the Arctic Circle. Be sure to stop at Chatanika Lodge for a meal (likely a great place to spend the night too). It is a quirky & fascinating Alaskan backwoods “museum” that you can explore while waiting for your delicious…
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Pinecone Middens, Insects: Week 8 in Healy
The melting snow has revealed several pinecone middens assembled by the resident red squirrel. Also insects are coming out. I find it strange but joyous to see butterflies when there is still so much snow around. Not nearly as happy to see other insects!
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Denali Night, Moon and Moose
It was a full moon last night, so we went into the Park when we would usually be getting ready for bed. We heard more Ptarmigan than we saw. C’s Facebook page has a video posted where you can hear them! Once the moon came up, it stayed close to the horizon, appearing to rise…
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Moose Sign, Week 7
When we returned from Fairbanks it was clear moose had been visiting. All of the snow melted from our plowed driveway leaving it very soft. Great for seeing lots of moose prints! We followed moose sign back our outhouse path. When he hit the outhouse he went onto the landing & then right beside it.…
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Ptarmigan, Week 7 in Healy
We started our 7th week with a nice visit to Denali. The moose wasn’t in a good place for a photo, but the Ptarmigan were cooperative. I love their feathered “slippers” and the clucking and purring noises they make. Above is a picture I posted earlier, back when the Ptarmigan were all white. Below is…
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Dancing Cranes, Migration
Spring migration at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge has been amazing. I am not really a birder, but love watching them when it is this convenient & dramatic. The above video shows 2 sandhill cranes dancing (courtship? territorial?). Below there are a couple cranes along with other species. Every visit I have watched Trumpeter Swans,…
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Moose Car Wash II, Week 4 in Healy
Our car washing moose brought his twin today. We watched them for over an hour as they alternated washing vehicles & eating vegetation. I love watching them! And we like the cleaner vehicles.
Me & C 