Kenai Peninsula

Back to Anchorage from a week on the Kenai Peninsula.  We stayed near Anchor Point at a cabin overlooking the Cook Inlet with a 280 degree view of the ocean.  Bald eagles are more common than crows here, and they flew by our window many times.  We enjoyed two days of salmon/halibut fishing with a guide.  Missed the salmon run, guess it is late this year, but caught our limit of halibut both days and also some cod.  My arms are sore from reeling in the halibut-Duane caught one that was 47 inches long, about 50 pounds.  This morning we took a birding tour from Homer Spit, and saw quite a few different species, including some that were new to me.  We also saw a raft of sea otters that had tied themselves into the kelp to remain in place while they slept.  Some of the otter had young as well.  One of the most interesting sights was a raft of Common Mures and Kittiwakes on a "Fish Ball".  It was amazing to watch all those birds diving for fish, flying overhead, and making so much commotion.  Saw Tufted Puffins, Common Eider, Harlequin Ducks, Marbled Murrelet, Surfbird, Black-Legged Kittiwake, Glaucous-Winged Gull, Common Loon, etc.  Had lunch in Homer at the Two Sister's Bakery, excellent clam chowder.  Drove back to Anchorage in the afternoon.  Stopped once more at the Kenai/Russian River landing, and found the Dall Sheep on the slopes, but still were unable to spot a Mountain Goat.  Have seen so many moose we have lost track.