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.

Humpback Whale Lunge Feed 2 of 2

Humpback lunge feeding

The joy of being able to spend time with the humpback whales in the viewing area used by Grizzly Bear Lodge is the variety of experiences that happen each tour. Aside from watching the whales lunge feed in the dramatic photo form yesterday’s post to the more sedate lunge in today’s post is the variety of other wildlife. Wildlife such as orca / killer whales, Stellar sealions, harbour seals, porpoise, dolphins, bald eagles, variety of sea birds and frequently black bears.

 

 

Humpback Whale Lunge Feed 1 of 2

Humpback whale lunge

At first glance it is hard to make sense of this picture. Sure it is something coming out of the water and that does look like a large pectoral fin but what is happening. A humpback whale (not too far from the boat) is making a sideways lunge through a ball of herring and turning at the same time. Tomorrow’s photo is more sedate

 

Black Bear Grazing

Black Bear on shore

The common expression heard around Grizzly Bear Lodge is “Black bear are where you find them.”  That is to say that from the time the boat leaves the dock in the morning until it returns your guide in constantly looking for black bears. The first evening at the lodge is an hour and half tour to familiarize you with the boat and your guide and to look for black bear. And on all tours for whales, grizzly bears or to Trapper Rick’s black bears are on the agenda. Black bears come to the shore for a change of diet from berries and to get some protein. This bear has found the ideal location as the logs are covered with muscles and barnacles, which are devoured shell and all.

 

Killer Whales Approaching

Killer Whale Coming

This is not the classic photo of an orca /killer whales. The classic photo would show the orca from a side view with its head far enough out of the water to get a good view of the white eye patch. But this is a much more interesting photo because it means that pretty soon there are going to be orca very close to and under the boat. From my experience of guiding whale watching tours the guests prefer the second.

 

Steller Sea Lions

Sea Lions Resting

 

A rare photo of steller sea lions at rest when they are actually quiet and resting. On most stops to observe and photograph the sea lions they are acting as their name suggests and roaring like lions. They seem to be in a constant state of turmoil with animals coming out of or diving into the water. Others climb over those trying to “rest” while looking for the perfect location so they can “rest”.  Maybe the tranquility of the islands in yesterday’s post does have a side effect in causing at least a little peace for the sea lions.

 

 

 

Fog Bound Stellar Sea Lions

Stellar sea lions

August whale watching can have some interesting mornings as the warm days will produce fog for the following morning. The fog may be patchy and is gone by noon but it does not prevent us from leaving the dock as we have radar and GPS. The fog does produce some unique photos such as this one with stellar sea lions on the rocks near Vancouver Island’s Telegraph Cove. The sea lions are now in the area most of the summer whereas in past years they were only passing through in June and September on their migration between California and Alaska.

 

Orca Timing – A Little Off

Killer whale blowing

Always looking for the interesting / different photo to post on the blog and this photo fills that category. This orca seems to be “off” on its technique of coming out for a breath of air. Normally the blow occurs after the back has cleared the water and not before. I guess the important part is that it is not inhaling at this point but waiting until it is clear to do so.

 

Humpback Whale Backward Tail Lobbing

Humpback tail lobbing

Yes that humpback whale is slapping the water with the upper-side of its tail. That means that it is on its back and slapping downward. With the increase number of humpback whales that spend the summer in our viewing area, often viewing ten or twelve whales each trip; we view more interesting behaviour. In the past summer tail lobbing, lunge feeding and breaching are common place. For the first time there has been a whale bubble feeding and this is a rare behaviour. Rare because it is one whale bubble feeding rather than a group. The whale swims in a circle blowing bubbles to keep the herring inside the ring and then turns and lunges up through it’s own bubbles.

 

Pacific Whitesided Dolphins

Pacific whitsides

Not a bad photo for a one-handed shot with a small camera while running the boat and staying with the dolphins. The dolphins seem to love to come and play with the boat and nine miles an hour is the speed that works. The dolphins are found in the inlets as well as while whale watching in the Johnstone Strait area. This means that there are opportunities to see dolphins while travelling up Knight Inlet to view the grizzly bears as well as on the extra day trip to visit Trapper Rick.

 

Departure from Grizzly Bear Lodge

Guests good morning

It must be close to 7:30 am as the guests are on the dock and ready to leave for a day of wildlife viewing. In the morning guests are called for breakfast at 6:30 for the 7:30 departure. The red / orange float suits are your government approved life jackets and as one of my guest said like wearing a duvet, in this case a warm waterproof duvet. On the dock is the picnic lunch for the boat. These lunches are always popular with the guests and our cooks philosophy is “that if the basket comes back almost empty she did not pack enough” it does not matter if the guest ate twice their body weight in food. Note that it is a maxim of four guests per boat and often less.