A Trip to the Aleutian Islands: August 2014

The passage from Kiska to Attu was only 24 hours so we arrived fairly well rested.
We saw a pod of orcas as we approached the Island.

We arrived at Holtz Bay first. This was a major installation for the Japanese. Unfortunately most of Attu Island has been cleaned up and there is not a lot of ruins to see.
We spent an afternoon walking around and I saw a bunch of new pelagic bird species. Unfortunately I didn't get very good pictures.
the next day we motored over to Massacre Bay where there is the remains of a Loran Base that looks abandoned. There is also a very good airstrip there. Besides a few memorials, there is not a lot to look at.

Left to right. Corrine, Rich, Bill, Ken

The Aleutian race of the Cackling Goose was reintroduced to Attu Island. Now they have overrun the island.We saw no Bald Eagles on Attu or foxes. It seems like every stream through out the Aleutians has a salmon run in it.

Ruddy Turnstone

Loran Base at Massacre Bay

Common Murres

Military Base at Shemya Island about forty miles from Attu.

On the way back, just off the Southern Tip of Kiska Island I was fortunate to see 12 orcas and a whack of pelagic birds indulging in a feeding frenzy.

Laysan Albatross

This Black-footed Albatross has a band on his leg. Looking forward to hearing where it was banded.

Anyways here we are back at Dutch and I have skipped over many many miles but I am sort of up to date.

Just before arriving at Kiska, after another long passage we spotted a Sperm Whale sleeping on the surface

Kiska and Attu were the two islands invaded by the Japanese. There is lots of old junk lying around. The americans and canadians geared up for a big assault. When they arrived they found that the Japanese had evacuated and left in the foggy night.