As I discussed in my earlier submit (September 17), we had been on Vancouver Island for a nature tour to see whales and bears. Our second marine journey took us from the east coast of Vancouver Island to the British Columbia mainland. We traveled there to see Grizzly Bears, as a result of they don’t stay on Vancouver Island. I’m going to go a bit off the weblog mandate to inform you about them (in addition to some chook sightings).
Our guides met us on the dock and drove us to one of many close by rivers. Salmon had been returning to their spawning grounds, which had been bringing bears out of the bush. We waited in an enclosed tower for half-hour for the primary Grizzly to indicate up. After it had hunted in that spot, it ambled upriver. Our guides loaded us again on the buses and drove us to a river financial institution the place the bear was anticipated to indicate up. We had a complete of 5 Grizzly Bears present as much as fish within the shallows. They had been solely 30 metres away from us. When one feminine ran from a male who wished her catch and headed in direction of us, our guides unhooked their cans of bear spray, simply in case it was wanted. Happily, she turned apart earlier than she reached us.
Feminine Grizzly Bear carrying her catch, working from male
The opposite creature drawn to the salmon runs are Bald Eagles. They had been all over the place we visited on our journey. As we had been driving again to the dock, we noticed a pair of juvenile Bald Eagles squabbling over a fish. Whereas they had been distracted, an grownup flew in and grabbed their catch. The 2 stopped combating, trying round for the lacking fish. If birds may have human feelings, these two seemed puzzled.
Bald Eagle
Our third and closing marine tour was to journey across the waters off Tofino. We had been on the lookout for coastal Black Bears, which we did see. Once more, I used to be on the lookout for birds. I added to my journey listing Black Turnstone, Western Gull, and Brief-billed Gull (pictured at high of weblog). The latter was a lifer. I discover it ironic that my two lifers on the journey had been gulls, as a result of they’re my least favorite birds.
Black Turnstone
There have been a couple of different birds that I added to my journey listing from different spots: Pacific Wren, Violet-green Swallow, and Rufous Hummingbird.
Rufous Hummingbird – male
Our journey was a enjoyable journey, in a wonderful a part of our nation. I want I had employed a chook information to take us out after the tour was over. However, that should wait for an additional journey. By the way in which, we ate plenty of salmon, similar to the eagles and bears.
Notice: Photograph of Grizzly Bear by Leslie Kinrys. All different pictures are from Wikipedia Commons, a web-based supply of copyright-free pictures: Brief-billed Gull by Dick Daniels; Bald Eagle by Andy Morffew; Black Turnstone by Alan Vernon; Rufous Hummingbird by VJAnderson.
