You know that this killer whales / orca is close when you realize my camera is a Pentax Optio Wpi 6MP and 3X Optical Zoom and does not have one of a “long lens”. Even better is the calf that is shadowing its mother.
Whale Watching
We’re not all about the bears, whales are abundant here too!
Killer whales and humpback whales are often seen during our wildlife tours. There are resident whales and transient whales that can be seen feeding and playing in our waters.
Fishing Lessons 1 of 2
With these two adult seagulls this is a less than friendly encounter. One seagull has already picked up a herring and the other wants the herring. Or maybe the other gull had the herring and this one stole the herring. Either way it is not an “adult teaching a young”.
Fishing Lessons 1 of 2
Learn by observation or by doing? In the case an adult bald eagle has come down and picked up dinner from the surface and a young eagle is right on its tail to try and duplicate the action. Tomorrow’s post less so….
Dolphins come to Play
I have tried over the years to parallel a pod of dolphins but they have their own idea of fun. Their plan is to either ride our bow wave of stick their nose right into the prop wash of the motor. The blackness in the water to the right of the dorsal fin is a third dolphin coming in for a check on our prop. I have developed my own idea (no scientific proof) why dolphins like the prop wash and it is the same reason why people like the water jets in a hot tub – they feel good.
Concerned Black Bear 2 of 2
These two cubs were at the top of the beach on a steep rock bank. When were first arrived we though that we might have scared them off the beach but soon learned that they were trying to get to their mother on the beach. We waited and they did manage climb down and show no interest in our boat. The beach appeared to be a new experience for them and we were just part of that experience. If the mother shows no fear then the cubs have the same attitude.
Concerned Black Bear 1 of 2
This mother black bear was concerned with our presence in the boat. The reason for her concern was because she is a mother and tomorrows post shows the problem….
Humpback Whale Identification
Not a good photo to be used for whale identification as IDs are based on the underside of the tail, which is called flukes with each side or lobe called a fluke. However this is a good photo if you are in the boat and a whale is coming toward you and dives close to the boat and you know that is is passing under your boat.
Non Lunge Feeding Humpback Whales
Humpback whales normally explode from beneath a herring ball with their mouth open to engulf as much herring as possible. These two whales rose slowly with mouths open and were almost treading water as they slowly twisted in circles. Humpbacks have throat groves that run from chin to belly. These grooves allow the throat to expand, which allows large volumes of water and food into the mouth. Closing its mouth the whale will press down with its tongue forcing out water through baleen plates and capturing the herring.
Enhanced Scenery
Believe it or not this little cove in often the object of photography and it is just made better when a humpback whales makes it’s presence known. Pictures from Grizzly Bear Lodge’s day trips are not all about wildlife some are just the beauty of the day.
Black Bear Gathering Mussels
The black on the rocks beneath the bladderwrack seaweed is mussels. The black bears come to the shore at low tides and scrape the mussels from the rocks as a source of protein. You will notice the white patches of rock around the bear that have already been scraped clean. This bear is promoting the “grass is always greener” philosophy of getting mussels.
