Harlequin Ducks on Astronomicheskiy Bay

The last paddle for this expedition to the Sea of Okhostk took us to Astronomicheskiy Bay, northeast of the town of Magadan. Mumma Bear and 3 cubs on the beach, some Stellar Sea Eagles (an impressive bird in stature and markings), harlequin ducks, a bearded seal spread out along a rock, basking in the rare sun. And some small boat wrecks, including a tractor. It must have been on the deck of one of the small boats; no wonder it capsized.

All the wild life is very skittish here and takes off at the merest hint of your presence, even in a kayak. Mumma Bear and cubs had raced off up the hill before we got close, the bearded seal didn't take long either and we had no show of getting close to a sea eagle. I have a nice image of my companion paddling past some rocks and snow, with the sea eagle perched up high on a crag. He's too tiny for blipping.

So, it's harlequin ducks, mainly because I was so pleased that I got a reasonable photo of them taking off. They're a beautifully marked bird.

Tomorrow we sail into Magadan in the morning; the end of a fascinating voyage.

PS - I arrived into Magadan this morning, Sunday. Am now going to start back blipping, backwards!