Day 25 - Sunday 7/12/2026 - Haines, AK

Well we intended to head north today, but nature decided to put on a show that wouldn't let us leave our spot.  

It was cold and windy here, and Mike was watching an eagle trying to fish in the Chilkat River, but being harrassed by seagulls every time it tried to dive.  Finally the eagle went into the water, but it didn't come back up.  We were watching through binoculars and it appeared to be struggling to stay afloat, and it was flapping its wings furiously but not lifting up.  We were worried that it had become tangled in fishing line or something.  We finally realized that the eagle was actually using its wings to propel itself with a breaststroke toward the shore, right in front of our ER150's side window! 

It took what seemed like forever, and we were preparing to go and assist the poor guy because we still thought it was tangled in line.  To our surprise, it wasn't injured but was dragging a huge salmon that was fighting the whole way trying to get loose from the eagle's grasp.  It finally got to shore (about 3 football fields worth of swimming) and fought to keep the salmon from wiggling away and back into the water. 

It began eating, but the fish fought for a really long time.  In a little while another eagle, which we presume was the mate, came along and was allowed to eat as well. 

        

The new one began calling, and soon an immature eagle arrived.  About that time, another adult eagle swooped in and stole the fish and flew away (missed that picture)! 

      

This guy watched the whole thing happen, and the poor one that caught the fish just stood around wondering what happened.

We were stunned by this spectacle that lasted at least half an hour.  Mike got some fantastic photos.  It was the wildest thing we have ever witnessed!

We're staying in this same spot tonight, and will head north tomorrow.  Our view throughout the day and evening: 

Favorite bird:  Bald eagle 🦅