Monday, October 26, 2009
The Year in Review
From the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina
May 17th - 2009
With an afternoon falling tide flowing to the north, we found this beautiful brown coated Black Bear on Sonora Island around 2:30 pm. He was spending the afternoon searching for small, soft shelled rock crab under the rocks at low tide. He actually laid down in a seasonal stream to cool off in the warmth of a sunny May afternoon. This was one of about 5 to 7 bears that we continued to see throughout the summer on Sonora. The "brown coat" of this Black bear that is seen mainly on the mainland bears is quite common on this island.
We continued toward the mainland to Jimmy Judd Island where we found a group of male Stellar Sea Lions hauled out on the shore. Migrating north to met up with the salmon, these large mammals have traditional resting areas on their way. Jimmy Judd Island is one such area. They will spend 2 or 3 days resting, feeding and arguing over who has the "best" rock on which to spend the day. Stellar Sea lions can weight as much as 2500 lbs. The fellow in the picture is estimated at around 1500+ lbs.
After coffee and snacks at Stuart Island we headed home through the narrow passages between Sonora, Maurelle and Quadra Islands and picked up a few Dall Porpoises feeding in the tide near Owen Bay. Back to the marina by 5 pm and the 4 hour tour seemed to go by very quickly!
More reviews of 2009 to come!
Take care
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
From the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina
May 17th - 2009
With an afternoon falling tide flowing to the north, we found this beautiful brown coated Black Bear on Sonora Island around 2:30 pm. He was spending the afternoon searching for small, soft shelled rock crab under the rocks at low tide. He actually laid down in a seasonal stream to cool off in the warmth of a sunny May afternoon. This was one of about 5 to 7 bears that we continued to see throughout the summer on Sonora. The "brown coat" of this Black bear that is seen mainly on the mainland bears is quite common on this island.
We continued toward the mainland to Jimmy Judd Island where we found a group of male Stellar Sea Lions hauled out on the shore. Migrating north to met up with the salmon, these large mammals have traditional resting areas on their way. Jimmy Judd Island is one such area. They will spend 2 or 3 days resting, feeding and arguing over who has the "best" rock on which to spend the day. Stellar Sea lions can weight as much as 2500 lbs. The fellow in the picture is estimated at around 1500+ lbs.
After coffee and snacks at Stuart Island we headed home through the narrow passages between Sonora, Maurelle and Quadra Islands and picked up a few Dall Porpoises feeding in the tide near Owen Bay. Back to the marina by 5 pm and the 4 hour tour seemed to go by very quickly!
More reviews of 2009 to come!
Take care
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
Thursday, October 8, 2009
October 8th, 2009
Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina
The past few days have provided some excellent Grizzly Bear viewing at the Orford River in Bute Inlet. Sunny and warm for the most part, the last 3 days have produced a consistent number of bears (7 -10) feeding at towers 4 and 5. Each bear seems to have their own technique for catching fish, some far more successful than others. The picture attached is a middle aged male who we call the "Snorkeler" as he floats in the pool, finding his prey by looking under the water. (quite effective)
Yesterday our Grizzly tour had both Grizzlies and Orca as T20 and T21 (mammal hunting) were found traveling north at Race Point , just north of Campbell River. T20 made the day for our guests as he breached clear of the water just before we departed. We left them heading into Menzies Bay looking for a morning snack. On the way back from the Orford River, traveling south around Cape Mudge we ran into T20 and T21 again, difting in the tide near the Red Can.
Another few days before the wet weather begins. Hope you get out and enjoy the long weekend.
Cheers
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina
The past few days have provided some excellent Grizzly Bear viewing at the Orford River in Bute Inlet. Sunny and warm for the most part, the last 3 days have produced a consistent number of bears (7 -10) feeding at towers 4 and 5. Each bear seems to have their own technique for catching fish, some far more successful than others. The picture attached is a middle aged male who we call the "Snorkeler" as he floats in the pool, finding his prey by looking under the water. (quite effective)
Yesterday our Grizzly tour had both Grizzlies and Orca as T20 and T21 (mammal hunting) were found traveling north at Race Point , just north of Campbell River. T20 made the day for our guests as he breached clear of the water just before we departed. We left them heading into Menzies Bay looking for a morning snack. On the way back from the Orford River, traveling south around Cape Mudge we ran into T20 and T21 again, difting in the tide near the Red Can.
Another few days before the wet weather begins. Hope you get out and enjoy the long weekend.
Cheers
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
Monday, October 5, 2009
October 5, 2009
Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina
Yesterday had a strange twist to the day! A group of Southern Resident Orca arrived from the north! The "L" Clan from the Victoria and San Juan Island area generally spend their winters in the northern waters of British Columbia. They use Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage as their route home in the spring, usually in late May or early June, but to see them here in October is very strange. I contacted some of the researchers in the Port Hardy area and they can't remember this ever happening.
Adding to this usual event was that the "L" Clan Orca were traveling with 2 groups of northern resident Orca, the A36's and A12's. We were unaware of this until the "A" Clan groups split off and travelled into Nodales Passage while the Southern group headed south, down Discovery Passage about 3:00 pm. We rarely see these 2 different groups in close proximity with each other. At one point we had the southern "L" Clan heading east, following the northern "A" Clan group along the Vancouver Island shore with T20 &T21(Transient Orca) heading west along West Thurlow, on the opposite shore line. Strange day indeed! (picture attached - note the "open" saddle patch, typical of the southern resident orca)
The Grizzly Bears in Bute Inlet continue to be wonderful and with this spectacular weather we have been having, the quality of light for pictures is superb. About 7 different bears yesterday although we only saw one fish caught and eaten. Hopefully not a trend!
Another beautiful week of sun shine ahead. Hope you have time to get out and enjoy it.
Cheers
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina
Yesterday had a strange twist to the day! A group of Southern Resident Orca arrived from the north! The "L" Clan from the Victoria and San Juan Island area generally spend their winters in the northern waters of British Columbia. They use Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage as their route home in the spring, usually in late May or early June, but to see them here in October is very strange. I contacted some of the researchers in the Port Hardy area and they can't remember this ever happening.
Adding to this usual event was that the "L" Clan Orca were traveling with 2 groups of northern resident Orca, the A36's and A12's. We were unaware of this until the "A" Clan groups split off and travelled into Nodales Passage while the Southern group headed south, down Discovery Passage about 3:00 pm. We rarely see these 2 different groups in close proximity with each other. At one point we had the southern "L" Clan heading east, following the northern "A" Clan group along the Vancouver Island shore with T20 &T21(Transient Orca) heading west along West Thurlow, on the opposite shore line. Strange day indeed! (picture attached - note the "open" saddle patch, typical of the southern resident orca)
The Grizzly Bears in Bute Inlet continue to be wonderful and with this spectacular weather we have been having, the quality of light for pictures is superb. About 7 different bears yesterday although we only saw one fish caught and eaten. Hopefully not a trend!
Another beautiful week of sun shine ahead. Hope you have time to get out and enjoy it.
Cheers
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
Saturday, October 3, 2009
October 3, 2009
Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina
Yesterday morning we had more Transient Orca (Mammal hunting) in the area! By 9:00 a.m. they were traveling north past Painter's Lodge and as they entered Seymour Narrows around 10:00 a.m. they turned and began their way back south. We caught up with them at Cape Mudge on Quadra Island at 12:30 p.m. and enjoyed an hour of quiet time with the T2's and T20 and T21 as they made their way south.
We had heard that there had been a group of Dolphins in the area earlier but they had made a quick exit when the Transients had turned at the Narrows. After some searching we found them in the far corner of Gowland Harbour. This group of about 12+ seemed quite agitated and were racing around in very shallow water, first in one direction and then another with no indication of feed in the area. There didn't seem to be any Orca in the Harbour but perhaps the dolphins knew something we didn't. We stayed and watched for a few minutes but nothing materialized.
The Commercial gill net fishery is over with very few fish taken, however Green Sea Bay still produced well for some of the recreational boys yesterday. Commercial Trollers are still working hard and the big boys (Seiners) hit the water on Monday. Time to get your lines wet this weekend!
The sun is shining so get outside and enjoy!
Cheers
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina
Yesterday morning we had more Transient Orca (Mammal hunting) in the area! By 9:00 a.m. they were traveling north past Painter's Lodge and as they entered Seymour Narrows around 10:00 a.m. they turned and began their way back south. We caught up with them at Cape Mudge on Quadra Island at 12:30 p.m. and enjoyed an hour of quiet time with the T2's and T20 and T21 as they made their way south.
We had heard that there had been a group of Dolphins in the area earlier but they had made a quick exit when the Transients had turned at the Narrows. After some searching we found them in the far corner of Gowland Harbour. This group of about 12+ seemed quite agitated and were racing around in very shallow water, first in one direction and then another with no indication of feed in the area. There didn't seem to be any Orca in the Harbour but perhaps the dolphins knew something we didn't. We stayed and watched for a few minutes but nothing materialized.
The Commercial gill net fishery is over with very few fish taken, however Green Sea Bay still produced well for some of the recreational boys yesterday. Commercial Trollers are still working hard and the big boys (Seiners) hit the water on Monday. Time to get your lines wet this weekend!
The sun is shining so get outside and enjoy!
Cheers
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
Friday, October 2, 2009
October 2, 2009
Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour.
Things have been pretty quiet around the marina this week. The Orca are out there but very few people around to go out and find them.
Yesterday the Grizzly Tour was a little damp but the Grizzlies made our day!
We stopped off at Cyrus Rocks in Okissolo Channel for a short tour of the Salmon farm and then off to the Orford! The Grizzlies showed up pretty much as soon as we got there. We had 4 very nice, fihing, catching and eating Grizzlies for the good part of 90 minutes and then things went quiet for awhile. The picture attached shows one of the younger females' fishing technique. She chases the fish, jumps on it with all fours and then puts her head under the water and grabs the fish! Works every time!
One of the things that I haven't mentioned before was that the Orford River is a Chum and Coho River system, however this year with the tremendous number of Pink Salmon around, they have suddenly shown up in the Orford! The grizzlies are not complaining.
A few fish taken today but with the overcast skies, the Chum just were not biting. (Chum and sun = good fishing)
Hope you're making plans for the weekend as the weather looks good!
Cheers
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour.
Things have been pretty quiet around the marina this week. The Orca are out there but very few people around to go out and find them.
Yesterday the Grizzly Tour was a little damp but the Grizzlies made our day!
We stopped off at Cyrus Rocks in Okissolo Channel for a short tour of the Salmon farm and then off to the Orford! The Grizzlies showed up pretty much as soon as we got there. We had 4 very nice, fihing, catching and eating Grizzlies for the good part of 90 minutes and then things went quiet for awhile. The picture attached shows one of the younger females' fishing technique. She chases the fish, jumps on it with all fours and then puts her head under the water and grabs the fish! Works every time!
One of the things that I haven't mentioned before was that the Orford River is a Chum and Coho River system, however this year with the tremendous number of Pink Salmon around, they have suddenly shown up in the Orford! The grizzlies are not complaining.
A few fish taken today but with the overcast skies, the Chum just were not biting. (Chum and sun = good fishing)
Hope you're making plans for the weekend as the weather looks good!
Cheers
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching
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