Tag Archives: Tutka Bay Lodge

Brown Bear viewing at Cape Douglas (Alaska)

Quick video compilation of some bear viewing scenes. This is at Cape Douglas in Katmai National Park (Alaska). My time is taken up with guiding and other responsibilities, so the edited version will have to wait until I return to NC, but I wanted to share at least this for now! Don’t forget to keep checking the Stay Curious Facebook page for photos and quick updates (you don’t have to join Facebook to view the public page).

Low tide treasures

Today we had a nice low tide and went out to a different area of our coast to explore the intertidal zone. Look what we found!

This is a hairy triton (Fusitriton oregonensis). We saw a few today, but THIS one is brooding its eggs! So cool.
TBL_June_2015_01

TBL_June_2015_02

Then we found a frilled dogwinkle (Nucella lamellosa), which we had never seen before!
TBL_June_2015_03

TBL_June_2015_04

We also found this little six-armed sea star clutching a piece of mussel shell with a bunch of small eggs on it.
TBL_June_2015_05

Trailside views

At Tutka Bay Lodge we have several trail loops that are adjacent to the property. We hike these loops daily (sometimes more than once in a day). I love seeing the difference a day can make. Or a rainfall.

We have a temperate rain forest here on the coast. Yes, you heard that right–rain forest and Alaska. The key being a “temperate” rain forest (receiving between 60 and 200 inches of rain a year from the Pacific ocean). This is the most northern extent of this type of forest. Further to our north is the boreal forest.

We’re still seeing Spring unfurl. I can’t wait to start seeing the wildflowers burst open! Here’s a few glimpses of what I saw today. Be sure to check out (and “like”) my Stay Curious Facebook page, where I post some quick pics whenever I can!

TBL_May_2015_17

TBL_May_2015_18

TBL_May_2015_19

TBL_May_2015_20

TBL_May_2015_21

Juvenile Octopus

Look what we found at Within the Wilderness Adventures‘ Tutka Bay Lodge during super low tide (-4.7) today! A tiny octopus. We had a great time watching it swim, change color and respond to our observations! It was about 8 cm from tip to tip of tentacle when it was fully extended. We carefully released it back into the ocean after we were able to get a closer look at it! So special.

TBL_May_2015_04_octopus

This photo shows a little of the scale of the octopus.
TBL_May_2015_05_octopus

TBL_May_2015_06_octopus

Underwater photography

Last year I took my GoPro to Tutka Bay and got some underwater video of an octopus that had a den in the intertidal zone. I also used the GoPro for a timelapse of one of the tide changes. This year, I’ll be borrowing an OpenROV (remotely operated vehicle) with a camera to explore more of the underwater flora, fauna, and geology of the Tutka Bay Lodge area.

octopus_gopro

octopus_den_02




I can’t wait to see what we’ll find with the OpenROV!
openROV