Discovery Voyages

Full Itinerary

The itinerary will target special areas for key bird observations, as well as the wildlife that congregates due the surge of the marine food web in Prince William Sound. With the leisure of 8 days aboard the Discovery, plenty of time exists for visits to our favorite places which include calving glaciers, whales, and other phenomenon of the region. Kayaking and hiking are also popular activities.

(Updated August 2007)

Trip Leaders: Outstanding resident naturalist and great personality, Hugh Rose, has led Alaska trips since 1991 with unending praise for his amazing attention to every detail and everyone’s needs. He has an extensive knowledge of all aspects of Alaskan natural history from bird behavior to geology. He is also a professional photographer. Dean Rand is captain of the wonderful “Discovery” and knows Prince William Sound and all the special places in the Sound probably better than anyone else after more than 30 years of full time experience on Alaska’s waters. Dean is also a naturalist and photographer. Sample itinerary in brief:

Day 1: Arrive Cordova, van transfer from Cordova airport to Orca Adventure Lodge
Day 2-3: Copper River Delta
Day 4: Cordova Hartney Bay
Day 5: Board the M/V Discovery, cruise into Sheep Bay
Day 6: Eastern Prince William Sound
Day 7: Southern Barrier Islands
Day 8: Hinchinbrook Island
Day 9: Montague Island
Day 10: Western PWS/Knight Island
Day 11: College Fjord
Day 12: Barry Arm/Whittier Harbor
Day 13: Depart, or extend your stay in Alaska

Day 1

Arrive Cordova where you will be met by Hugh Rose this afternoon for transportation to the Orca Adventure Lodge. A trip orientation dinner at Orca Adventure Lodge will kick off your three days of birding and photography on the scenic Copper River Delta.

Day 2

Our day starts with a tour of the picturesque coastal community of Cordova, nestled along the mountainous shores of Eastern Prince William Sound, on the perimeter of the Copper River Delta. In spring life pulses in this small town of 3,000 residents, as commercial fishermen bustle about the harbor. The region’s resource rich “gifts of the sea” are vital to the survival of this seafaring community. The rest of our day will be spent exploring the coastal habitat of eastern Prince William Sound around Cordova. Orca Adventure Lodge will serve as home base during the stay in Cordova providing all meals and lodging.

Day 3 - 4: The Copper River Delta

Travel the Copper River Delta, culminating at Alaganik Slough Boardwalk trail and a picnic site for lunch and superb scenery. In order to optimize the best shorebird access, trips are timed to coincide with the daily high tide. The expansive Delta region is accessible by van on a gravel 50 mile road that ends abruptly just past Child’s Glacier at the Million Dollar Bridge. The bridge is a dilapidated railroad bridge built in 1910 and damaged in the 1964 earthquake. The road weaves through the tidal flats providing ample opportunities to view the variety of birds. Another fantastic trip will be to Hartney Bay to see concentrations of up to 100,000 shorebirds flying in huge flocks and feeding on the mudflats. This is a truly unforgettable sight for the birder and remarkable for the photographer! Weather permitting there will be an opportunity to do a scenic flight over the Delta with optional landing on the Gulf of Alaska coast (extra fee).

Day 5

Join the Discovery and depart Cordova Harbor to begin an amazing week cruising the spectacular waters of Prince William Sound. This region displays an intricate and phenomenal “web of life” as numerous birds and animals play their role in the Sound’s theater of natural wonder. As observers, we respectfully interact with the environment during this exciting season of the year. We will enjoy a great deal of flexibility in the following days as the factors of weather, guest’s interest, photo opportunities and regional wildlife activity influence each day’s itinerary. Enough on-board kayaks provide a great way of getting intimate to your surroundings. No experience is required and instruction is provided for beginners!

The cruise begins in Eastern Prince William Sound. Sail west through Orca Inlet and into Orca Bay watching for Bald Eagles, sea otters, sea lions and a host of resident and migratory bird life. View large groups of Common Murres, Long-tailed ducks, gulls, murrelets, mergansers, scoters and cormorants to name a few of the species that over-winter in the Sound's protected waters. Abundant concentrations of small fish and crustaceans serve as a critical fuel source for the epic migrants, the Arctic Terns, as well as phalaropes, jaegers and loons commonly viewed along this route. Flocks of acrobatic shorebirds fly rhythmically and in unison, sweeping and turning along the convoluted shores. It's a wonder how these tiny and delicate creatures travel such great distances. Some species travel 1,900 miles in 48 hours!

On to Sheep Bay and Sahlin Falls for a gourmet dinner. After dinner, we'll launch the inflatable boats and explore an adjacent saltwater lagoon at the head of Sheep Bay.

The shallow waters and intertidal shores of the lagoon offer a bounty of food for birds, waterfowl and land animals. Harlequin ducks, black oystercatchers, and other foragers enjoy the blue mussels, limpets and clams of the intertidal zone. During this time of year, juvenile salmon (fry) migrate out from the nearby freshwater streams into the lagoon and serve as an important food source for diving birds such as murres, mergansers, guillemots, murrelets, loons, scoters etc. Both Black and Brown bears may be occasionally observed foraging along the shores. As opportunistic feeders, the bears scavenge for animal carcasses, graze on the new growth grasses, overturn rocks in the intertidal zone in search for small crabs and fish, and feed on Pacific Herring egg masses, recently spawned and drifted on shore. Anchor for the evening in the serene waters of Sheep Bay.

Day 6: In Prince William Sound

In Prince William Sound today we continue west and south through the Sound's southern most barrier islands, observing the birds and wildlife along the way. The nutrient rich waters of the Gulf of Alaska pour into the Sound through Hinchinbrook Entrance, a narrow passage way between Hinchinbrook and Montague islands. As we near the Entrance, catch a view looking out of the protected Sound to the expansive Gulf of Alaska and Pacific Ocean. The ocean currents bring much of the region's food (in the form of plankton and small fishes) through this waterway creating a popular feeding ground for birds, fish and marine mammals including both Humpback and Orcas. To observe the sights and sounds of these powerful, but gentle giants of the sea, is truly a remarkable experience. Depending on the activity at sea, enjoy a casual hike along the intertidal shores, walk through the world's northernmost temperate rain forest, rich with ferns, mosses, and towering spruce, hemlock and cedar trees. Relax in the evening to a delicious meal and enjoy a pleasant evening anchorage along the area's quiet shores.

Day 7 - 10: Prince William Sound

This season in Prince William Sound marks the peak of the herring spawn and presents a feast of great proportions for the wildlife. Wildlife observations include: Flocks of 40,000 Glaucous-winged Gull, mixed groups of more than 30,000 Surfbirds and Black Turnstones, several thousand Common Murres, Long-tailed ducks, Pelagic and Red-faced cormorants, Horned and Red-necked grebes, Pigeon Guillemots, Marbled and Kittlitz’s murrelets, Common and Red-breasted mergansers, Arctic, Red throated and Yellow-billed loons, Horned and Tufted puffins, groups of Mew, Bonaparte's, and Herring gulls, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Harlequin Ducks, Surf and White-winged scoters, Arctic and Aleutian terns, hundreds of Bald Eagles plus occasional Brown Bears; several hundred Settler's Sea Lions; pods of Orcas and breaching Humpback Whales; all within one bay!

We'll remain flexible and opportunistic in order to capitalize on local marine activity or special wildlife sightings. If time permits, we'll sail to Montague Island and enjoy the evening anchorage in the protected bays or coves.

11: College Fjord, Cascade Falls and Knight Island

Cruising north, the ship crosses the open waters of northern Prince William Sound to Cascade Falls, a 300 ft. high waterfall that thunders fresh water into Eaglek Bay. After a visit to the falls, travel south along the bay’s remote shores to visit the Oyster Farm of Pristine Products. The oyster lover will enjoy a taste of one of the Sound’s most delicious sea products, fresh “Pristine” oysters. Sail northward through the quiet and beautiful narrows of Esther Passage to the fringes of College Fjord.

Enter some of the world’s most spectacular scenery -- corridors of breathtaking beauty, sprawling glaciers and a panoramic skyline of mountain grandeur. Harbor Seas hauled out on the flotillas of icebergs watch closely as the Discovery navigates the icy blue waters of Barry Arm. The enveloping mountains of this inlet stretch skyward to nearly 10,000 feet, with glacier after glacier descending the terraced mountain valleys. Alaska’s lush rainforest vegetation drapes the hillsides in green as streaming waterfalls spill from rocky cliffs. Our last night will be spent anchored in the shadow of 10,000 foot Mt. Gilbert at the head of Harriman Fjord, named for the historic Harriman expedition of 1899.

Day 12: Return to Whittier and drive to Anchorage

After breakfast on board the Discovery and a walk on shore to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Sound one last time, or photograph the beached icebergs at the Black Sand beach we depart for the 4-hour cruise back to Whittier. Our last stop will be to visit the bustling black-legged kittiwake colony located across Passage Canal from Whittier. This picturesque colony of over 5,000 birds is located on a 200 foot cliff with three waterfalls pouring down its face. It is a buzz of activity. Upon our arrival into Whittier Harbor and bidding a fond farewell to the Discovery and her crew we will drive by van through the longest car tunnel in North America, from Whittier to Bear Valley/Portage. A different world awaits us on the other side as we drive along the scenic shores of Turnagain Arm and return to Anchorage. A festive farewell dinner is planned at a local restaurant this evening and overnight at a local B&B (B&B Included in ticket price).

Day 13: Homeward Bound

Departures home will be at your convenience. The airport is a short ride from downtown. Hugh Rose will provide transfers for all flights departing before 10am.

Not included: A gratuity to The Discovery crew.

Reading and Field Guides:

• Field Guide to the Birds of North America, published by National Geographic
• Guide to the Birds of Alaska by Armstrong.
• The Discovery also has a nice library on board with many field guides.

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