Photo and caption by cathy boyles

My first trip to Alaska. Fishing time on the water was spent juggling poles, binoculars and cameras to take in the trip of a lifetime. Experiencing what I'd seen only in photos or TV took my breath away- soaring eagles, pivoting on a wingtip to dive, silent graceful otters, seals and porpoises; ducks bobbing and paddling on the waves; whales breached with huge vaporous sighs and flapped lazy flukes. The eerie calls of loons. I was lucky to have had my camera up ready for the next thrill when, crashing up from below, sea life breached, and collided into the avian world above it.

Location: Prince of Wales Island area, Alaska