Declan Troy
@troydeclan.bsky.social
960 followers 95 following 810 posts
Alaska based biologist and photographer.
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Reposted by Declan Troy
zacklabe.com
Record warm ocean temperatures continued in September across the North Pacific Ocean, with a number of consequential impacts (including on downstream weather patterns).

This graph shows the average for a band across the midlatitudes for every September from 1854-2025 using @noaa.gov ERSSTv5 data.
Green line graph time series of average sea surface temperature anomalies for each September from 1850 through 2025 for only the midlatitude region of the North Pacific Ocean. There is large interannual variability, but an overall long-term increasing trend. Anomalies are computed relative to a 1981-2010 baseline. 2025 is a record high.
troydeclan.bsky.social
Making a splash. Fishing is serious business but sometimes it looks like brown bears are just having fun. Katmai NPP #Alaska 🦊
troydeclan.bsky.social
After all that time kayaking with coyotes now you're doing a Wile E Coyote impersonation!
troydeclan.bsky.social
An intruder in my swimming hole! Brown bear snacking on red salmon Katmai NPP #Alaska 🦊
troydeclan.bsky.social
thanks, I may post another
troydeclan.bsky.social
Catch that fish! I thought the red salmon had outrun the brown bear but no so. A valiant effort though. Katmai NPP #Alaska 🦊
troydeclan.bsky.social
Sure, it's easy to act tough when you've got mom at your back. Brown bears fishing in Katmai NPP #Alaska 🦊
troydeclan.bsky.social
Alpine riverbanks is not the usual habitat for Greater White-fronted Geese but I saw some most days I was there. This one is waving goodbye as we both readied for departure. Katmai NPP #Alaska 🪶
troydeclan.bsky.social
If the location does not exist you can not count those birds. Hope you don't lose any lifers!
troydeclan.bsky.social
Arctic ground Squirrel wondering when fat squirrel week starts. Katmai NPP #Alaska
troydeclan.bsky.social
Harlequin Ducks, likely a family, taking a break on a river in Katmai NPP #Alaska They spend most of their time in fast moving water but a break from paddling is just a hop onto a rock away. 🪶
troydeclan.bsky.social
Those bears are much older than this year's cubs.
troydeclan.bsky.social
If only Fat Bear Week had a pewee division then this cub might have been a contender. Oh well, maybe in a few years. Still in the running for cub-of-the year! Katmai NPP #Alaska 🦊
troydeclan.bsky.social
Indeed it is. I do like them better in winter but they always look good.
troydeclan.bsky.social
There weren't many eagles but I was delighted to find several Gyrfalcons. They wouldn't bat a nictitating membrane at the salmon but there was an abundance of prey in the form of ptarmigan and gulls to chose from (the only pursuit I saw was of a Wilson's Snipe). Katmai NPP #Alaska 🪶
troydeclan.bsky.social
They are brilliant once they are ready to spawn, hard to miss.
troydeclan.bsky.social
Red (sockeye) salmon heading upstream to their spawning areas. A few obstacles like bears and eagles yet to pass. Katmai NPP #Alaska 🌿
troydeclan.bsky.social
A young Bald Eagle on the hunt for salmon. Not a difficult task as there were multitudes everywhere but the eagles preferred to let the bears catch and open diner for them. Katmai NPP #Alaska 🪶
troydeclan.bsky.social
I tend to post shots of Willow Ptarmigan sporting their winter plumage so for a change here's how they look in their summer garb. Easy to see where the name Red Grouse comes from. Katmai NPP #Alaska 🪶
troydeclan.bsky.social
And you captured a never before seen view of the pantaloons!
troydeclan.bsky.social
thanks, good-looking subject
troydeclan.bsky.social
Cleaning Up The Tundra: Many shorebirds remove eggshellls from their nests as the bright objects draw attention of predators. This American Golden-Plover got ambitous and removed a nearby ptarmigan feather just in case. NPRA, #Alaska #WorldShorebirdDay 🪶