Ian and Julie’s photo is another first in that is has multiple spy hops from a pod of killer whales. I remember the day but cannot recall the reason for this spy hopping. It obviously occurs when the orca want to see the above water activity which may be a fast moving boat, commercial fishing in the area and even saw spy hopping when one the “Whale Research Vessels” was flying a drone to get some pictures. Also note on shore in the right hand corner the campers on the beach watching the orca pass. There are numerous kayak camps along the shore which are very busy in the summer.
Grizzly Bear and Wildlife Tour Blog
We offer an exceptional fly-in lodge for Grizzly Bear Watching and Whale Watching in British Columbia.
Learn about What’s happening at the Lodge, view our British Columbia’s Wildlife Report, read our Grizzly Bear Watching Blog and Whale Watching Blog. Learn more about a Day on the River Blog, see Our Tour Guide’s Photos & Blog and Photos from Our Guests.
Humpback as a Grizzly Bear Lodge guest
A comment on their visit form our Southern neighbours Ian and Julie Anderson: “Just a note to thank you for a fantastic couple of days, we came away from your lodge in a state of amazement. We had so many wonderful experiences and have told everyone that they should go and see you.” The best advertisement we can get is an endorsement from our guests. Thank you very much. The first photo is mine just to show the location of the lodge in relation to Ian and Julie’s photos. We do occasionally get humpback whales in front of the lodge but they are normally located in the middle of the bay where you see the boat passing. All I can add is that all our guest manage to get good photos of grizzly bears but these photo of whales directly off shore in front of the lodge are a first as is the photo in tomorrows post.
Humpback diving and guide hoping!
I like David’s photo of the diving humpback whale diving as the swirls in the water shows the power of the dive. The vertical tail indicated that it will be a deep dive and for me that means that it “might” be followed by some lunge feeding or even a breach. These whales show up in out view waters near the north end of Vancouver Island is late May and rather than travelling north to Alaska stay is this area to feed because of the abundance of herring one of their preferred food. David thanks again for the great photos.
Spring Grizzly Bears Grazing
“It was wonderful to see our very first bear in the wild even if they were very skinny, I’m guessing they’re much fatter now!” A comment from David and Drina on their photos taken June 16, 2015. And David is correct on both accounts the spring grizzly bears of Knight Inlet are skinny as their main food is the sedge grass that this bear is eating. It is a little early for the many berries that ripen later in June and July. Once they are ripe the grizzlies have access to black, huckle, thimble, salmon and salal berries to name a few. And of course the salmon are not in the rivers in any great number until late August. David is also right that this bear was in great shape to hibernate after the two months of September and October fattening on the salmon.
Dock fishing at Grizzly Bear Lodge
Not all guests are this lucky when spending time fishing off the dock at Grizzly Bear Lodge. This is a 30 k (app. 65 lb.) halibut that we were able to bring onto the dock after getting it free of the anchor chains holding the dock in place. Not sure how that happened but it did and with Angus’s help we got it up for a picture. With halibut this would mean about 45 lbs. of meat which also means several dinners at the lodge and many happy guests.
Killer Whale tail slapping
A killer whale’s inverted Tail Lob – while on its back, it raises its flukes above the water’s surface and brings them down with force. This type of behavior is often viewed when the whales are in close contact with their pod or grouped together with other pods and seems to be a form of communication. Whether tail slapping is a friendly or an aggressive form of behaviour is not proved beyond a doubt but a majority of the times it seems to be a playful thing especially within the Northern Resident Whales that are in our viewing area. The sound that echoes after a tail slap can be very loud.
Humpback whale off bow of boat 2 of 2
They were not paying attention because there were two humpback whales of the stern. And one was closer than the one from the front but I missed the tail again. I did get the photo I wanted one that shows a guest getting a close up of the whale activity we frequently experience on your marine wildlife trips. It in not uncommon to see a dozen or more humpbacks on a day trip from Grizzly Bear Lodge and when we stop for lunch and drift in an area where the whales are feeding it can get very interesting.
Humpback whale off bow of boat 1 of 2
While on one or our whale watching tours I took the photo too soon and missed the tail and it was a good show. Made that comment to the guests but when I turned around to the back of the boat nobody was paying attention…
Grizzly bridge over river to salmon?
Yes this is the same mother grizzly bear from yesterday’s post. Most first year cubs prefer to stay dry so would rather walk a log than swim the river. But they are sitting down looking into the river and this is their favourite perch when their mother is fishing. As soon as she catches a salmon they leave the perch and go to mother for their share but some times (see yesterdays post) they are too late.
Backward grizzly bear eating salmon
Most grizzly bears that catch a salmon will take it to shore or at least use a rock as a table to make it easier to eat. This grizzly sitting on the rock and eating the salmon almost in the water seemed to be hiding its catch. It was hiding its catch from one of its cubs. Above the bear to the right you can just see one of her cubs and the fact that she has two means she needs a meal on her own and does not share all her catches.
