Camped at Tern Lake - Kenai Peninsula

Tern Lake has a large turnout parking area which is near the junction of the Seward Highway and the Kenai Peninsula Highway. On weekends Forest Rangers often come to answer questions, bring scopes for better wildlife viewing; pelts to feel the coats of the different animals in the area; and perhaps give a lesson or two. Best of all, overnight camping is allowed here for no charge! What a beautiful place to spend the evening and night. That's us below!

What great luck to catch this Pacific Loon stirring up the waters. No, he didn't take off, he was bathing.

This pretty reddish-brown flower, a Marsh Five Finger, was something new to the Forest Ranger. I spotted it at waters edge. Very unusual flower.

Tern Lake is full of ponds and creeks all leading into the lake.

Surely Tern Lake must have been made by a glacier at one point. There are still snow capped mountains close by. Breathtaking scenery!

I am always facinated when I see someone on location painting the landscape they are viewing. This fellow is from Dallas, Tx. and blown away by the beauty of Alaska. He was so into his work that he remained there painting even during the drizzly rains. I thought he was doing a very good job of capturing the scene before him. He told me he does take pictures too so that he can complete his pieces later, if necessary.

A Northern River Otter was very busy hauling long stalks of grass from across the lake to build a home on our side of the lake. fun to watch, hard to capture him on film. He seemed keenly aware of my presence and dodged me very well.

The water is so clear at Tern Lake I was able to capture the Loon's legs under water as he was swimming.
And this Loon pair seem to have made friends with the Northern River Otter who is swimming next to the Loon on the right.

Female Blue-winged Teal Duck

Lazy smoke from a campfire across the lake.


Across the street were more ponds. In some ponds Yellow Water-Lilies grew.



The ever present sea gulls. These were two born this year. On one of the islands along the streams leading into the lake, there were many immature seagulls. Their color still being brown, they could easily hide in the tall grass. Mew Seagulls

Some ponds were still enough for reflections.

Another name for the Marsh Five-finger is Swamp Cinquefoil; not nearly as pretty a name.












Other ponds were light and clear enough to grow grass and see stones.

Who couldn't help but like these views! They are always changing with the clouds, winds and rains. Could have stayed there a few days just watching all the critter activity.






The reason for the name Tern Lake is for all the Arctic Terns, such as the one seen here. These birds migrate from Alaska to the Antarctic (south), over 2,000 miles, each way, every year. Their life span is said to be 13 years. Now that is a bunch of wing flapping!

Mountains are sometimes at their best when the clouds are floating across them in the mornings.


This very loud, tree perching seagull squawked and dive bombed me continuously as I walked past his tree to get to the ponds across the highway. To avoid him on my return, I did not cross over until I was well out of his territory. I'd say that bird has a strong sense of self-confidence.

BBFN, Karen and Don