The common murre is a medium-sized waterbird with a black back and head, white underside and a long, slender, pointed bill. Ironically except for the waterbird and bill it also describes an orca / killer whale. On this morning we came upon a lone transient or Biggs orca (they are the mammal eaters). It was odd enough for this orca to be on its own but apparently it travels this way frequently. It was also playing with the murres with unfortunate side effects. It would come up beneath the birds and grab them and then toss them into the air. It would play with them for a while and then find another. It was fascinating to watch but also sad as there were four murres left on the surface.
Sharing the river with a grizzly bear
Spring and early summer grizzly bear tours from Grizzly Bear Lodge take place in Knight Inlet’s Glendale River estuary. This is a one hour and fifteen minute boat ride and then a transfer to a large skiff, which allows us to go into the shallow river to view the grizzlies. It is like a scene from the old movie “African Queen” with your guide in waders pulling the skiff up the river and often finding a grizzly walking along the river. If the river is wide we pull to one side to allow the bear to pass if it is narrow we back down the river either way there is opportunity for great photos.
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