All posts by Lodge Guide

Killer Whales 2 of 2

Spring Salmon

To explain this photo. The odd shape is because the lower left corner is the edge of a white boat. I am the figure over the edge of the boat taking a picture of the salmon.  There is not much to show perspective but this salmon would likely weight close to 12 kilo (twenty-five pounds). This is a good size spring salmon and the orcas favourite food. We remained drifting in this area for about twenty minutes with orcas around the boat and the salmon beneath coming out on occasion but staying close to the boat. If I had a net we would have had fresh salmon for supper but the guest agreed we were sanctuary and netting would not be fair.

 

 

Killer Whales 1 of 2

Large male orca

Grizzly Bear Lodge’s whale watching safari trips travel to the waters of Johnstone Strait, between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia.  The orca / killer whales arrives in the area by late June or early July and remains until late October.  These resident salmon eating orca travel in pods and are curious, as most dolphins.  They have been known to detour from their normal path of travel to inspect boats and whale watchers passing on all sides of the boat which makes it hard to choose the best chance for a picture. This large male may have come close for another reason. See tomorrow’s post

 

 

How Many Grizzlies?

Grizzlies in river eatuary

Spring grizzly bear viewing from the lodge can become interesting.  We travel up Knight Inlet to the Glendale River and transfer to s 5.5 meter (16 ft.) skiff to move in the shallow waters along shore and into the river estuary. As we move up the river we encounter grizzlies coming out of the tall sedge grass. We were about 30 meters (90 ft.) away from these bears when I used my small camera to get a photo of the bear in the river plus the four on the far river bank. The bears did all come into the river and the guest with their “good” camera got pictures and memories.

 

 

Visiting Humpback Whales

Humpback Whales visiting

The lodge’s whale watching is takes places on the waters between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland.  An area around Telegraph Cove on the Johnstone Strait.  Humpback whales and calves are becoming a more common sight in our viewing area. They arrive in the waters off the East Coast of Vancouver Island in the spring and feed in the area until late October. In this photo one of our boats was sitting quietly watching another humpback whale when this mother and calf came for a visit.

 

 

Pacific Whitesided Dolphins

Whitesides aka Dolphins

The waters between Vancouver Island and mainland BC contain an abundance of marine life.  Frequently while traveling Knight Inlet between the lodge and the grizzly viewing area we encounter large pods of whitesided dolphins.  When you are seeing pods of several hundred whitesided dolphins it is mostly aim and click and HOPE.

 

 

Grizzly Bear Watching Us?

Grizzly Bear Watching?

Knight Inlet is north of Campbell River on mainland BC off the east shore of Vancouver Island.  Our lodge on Minstrel Island is approximately 20 kilometers from the mouth of Knight Inlet.  A further 25 kilometers up the inlet and you are at the viewing area.  The fall viewing stands provide great photo opportunities of grizzly bears feeding on the salmon.  Some of the bears seem to be posing for the camera but their main interest in eating as “den time” is not that far away. The white shape in the water behind the bear is a dead salmon. This grizzly sat in the pool below the viewing stands and picked salmon of the bottom and wasted few calories doing so, which means more fat.

 

Grizzly Bears also enjoy flowers

Grizzly Bears Like Flowers

Our lodge is located between Vancouver Island and mainland BC on Knight Inlet a forty five-minute plane ride from Campbell River.  The grizzly bears are normally viewed “up” the inlet from the lodge on the Glendale River.  In the fall the bears are feeding on the salmon in the river as the photo shows even a grizzly seems to pause in the meal to enjoy a flower.

 

Grizzly bears looking for dry land

Grizzly Bear

The same grizzlies from the December 28th post have left the water and are heading for higher ground. You can tell that this is a mid August grizzly by the lack of “belly”.  By the early October and more than a month of eating salmon her legs will appear much shorter.  Grizzlies can increase their body weight by one third to one half before they den up for the winter.

 

 

Killer Whales – aka Orca

Killer whales

The orcas in our whale watching area arrive in late June and stay through mid-October. The most common orca / killer whales in the area are the residents. Residents or fish eating orca live in large family groups called pods, with multiple pods making up a population or community. The pods consist of multiple related matrilines, with each matriline often containing 3 or more generations. Each pod is led by the head female or matriach, as orca are a female dominated species. The matriarch tends to be the oldest female in the extended family. Her experience and knowledge guides the pod, and the matriach teaches younger whales about everything from parenting skills, feeding tactics, and navigation through the vast territories that they cover. Marc & Solange and family from France provided the photo and I know enjoyed their time with the orca.

 

 

Grizzlies Cool off

 

Grizzly and cub

All grizzly bear trips from the lodge prior to August 25th view bears along the shore of Knight Inlet and in the Glendale River estuary. Mother grizzlies start to bring their cubs to these areas in late May and stay for the salmon that arrive in late August. Grizzly cubs are naturally playful and if there is more than one the mother gets some rest as they play together but in this case it is all about mom. If there is not much shore remaining then lets play in the water.  Can you think of a better way to cool off in August? Thanks again to Marc & Solange from France for the photo.