Alaskan adventure Aug/Sept,2016. part 2

We spent 3 days in Homer. Enjoyed some sun for a change. On our walk we spotted an eagle right at a traffic light intersection. There were 3 eaglets in the nest just starting to practice their wings. The adult was in and out of the nest trying to get them to start flying. About 20 Sand Hill cranes flying overhead,they seem to be moving to the wetlands from the area hills on their daily travels.

Leaving Homer we stopped  at the Anchor Point area to watch the eagles on the beach before driving to the Cooper Landing area to spend 2 nights at Quartz Creek CG.
Very nice next to the stream with salmon,actually caught 2  10 lb.(sockeye) couldn't keep them it's a spawning stream. More sun the next days and a nice walk to the falls of the Russian River to watch the salmon jump the falls. I can sure appreciate eating salmon knowing what they go through in their life cycle.

We planned a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Center, the animals there are ones that can't be released back into the wild. Walked around viewing all the animals there, got to see the "Wood Bison"  pretty cool what the center is doing there breading them to increase the wild population.
They have bred and released about 180 so far, and released in an area north of Fairbanks where they once roamed.

Another night at Willawaw CG and back to the center for afternoon feeding. Back to the campground and walked more trails to the glacier and salmon streams.
End of our 2nd week and off to Denali tomorrow.

A pair of Sand Hill Cranes coming in for a landing.

The Beluga wetland was a great spot to watch these beautiful birds.

The adult with the 3 eaglets beginning to take wing.

The adult was in and out of the nest trying to get them to fly.

 

On the beach at Anchor Point we watched many eagles feasting on the salmon left by the fisherman.

This one seemed to be taking sand to use for digestion.

A 4/5 year old joined the party.

The eagles didn't mind the gulls.

Mom and calf were blocking the

Cording to the sign this is the farthest west you can drive to in the western hemisphere direct.

Sockeye gathering to try the falls.

What these fish go through to make it up to the spawning areas.They would jump the falls only to hit into the rocks and try again.

 

Lots of beautiful "shrooms"

This guy was right below us on the viewing platform,still in velvet and close enough to touch.

Musk Ox,they were all resting.

Two huge "browns" getting ready to be fed.

A very shy black eating the salmon thrown to him.

Wood Bison,being raised in the center and released into wilderness interior areas.

This 12 year old Canadian Lynx was brought to the center after being found as a kitten during a forest fire.

Caribou in the velvet shedding stage.

Two of the Tundra wolves born at the center.

This apple has been "hitchhiking" all the way from our friends home in Eugene Or.

The glacier at our Willawaw camp.

Just a peek at that glacier.

To be continued in part 3.