Its a slightly cloudy morning as we get up. Today its an easy day visiting the tide pools. I'm in the whaler with Laura-lee, Diane and Jim with Lori at the helm. For our first stop we bob alongside a rock wall where starfish cling and a small worm intrigues Rebecca. Next we head along the coast to Sheep Point where we get out for a wander round. It is hard not to tread on the starfish that litter the rocks. Lori points out the various species. She shows us one that has reversed its stomach to digest some unfortunate prey. Fred picks up a crab, which promptly sheds one of its legs to escape, and runs away seeming none the worse for losing a limb. Fred is left holding the leg. Someone spots an eagle's nest, and we watch the adults return to the young. Beyond the tree we see a very blonde otter with a pup, feeding in the still waters of the point.
As we head off, there's a noise. The tide had risen as we wandered and covered the anchor, which we'd forgotten to lift. It wrapped around the propeller. We free it up and head off, promising not to tell Randall.
Back at the cabin we have an early lunch and then head out with Fred to do some more sampling, stopping to film some otters on the way out to the site. The wind picks up and the water gets a bit choppy. We get soaked heading back. The samples get sieved and bagged on the shore. We all sit in the cabin and snack as dinner is prepared - its curry night. Not quite authentic but great nevertheless.
As we're sitting digesting dinner there's someone at the door. It's Sonya. She's a journalist from Anchorage. With her is Mark King, a local fisherman who has brought her out from Cordova in his boat. . He's a friend of Fred's, but then Cordova is a small town where I guess everyone knows everyone else.
Sonya has arrived a day early. Randall was expecting her tomorrow. She's writing a piece on the Earthwatch project. Armed with her minidisc recorder she's going to be taking notes and talking to us while observing our work. Tonight she is treated to Randall and Mark discussing otter predation and mortality. Mark is an Eyak native who has lived here all his life. The talk continues into the night as we head off down to the tent for bed.
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