July 8th, 2010

Good morning from the Float House !
Discovery Harbour Marina

Yesterday was quite a day ! Weather excellent ! Wildlife incredible ! Guests - blown away !

The morning began warm with calm seas and a group of about 20 -25 Pacific White Sided Dolphin in Seymour Narrows heading north. Playful in the incredibly clear waters of Discovery passage, it was hard to leave this group behind but we had Orca farther up the Strait. About an hour later we found the Orca near Kelsey Bay. A group called the A36's (pic attached) and A12 were making their way west but turned about noon and headed back toward Campbell River.
Heading for lunch at Blind Channel Resort, we found 2 yearling Black Bears in Chancellor Channel. (pic) The same brother and sister that we had seen few days earlier. Back in the boat after lunch we were back into Johnstone Strait to see the same Orca near Rock Bay, still heading east and then the Pacific White Sided Dolphin again except the numbers had increased to about 30+ and they were in the mood for some aerial stunts. With the some incredibly high jumps and repeative belly flops, the Dolphins stole the show ! The Dolphins will be remembered as the highlight of the day. (this always happens as I think the Orca take life way more seriously then their cousins, the Dolphins)

Another warm day set for today and word has it that 3 more Orca groups have arrived in the Strait late yesterday!
Check : http://www.orca-live.net/

See you at the Float House.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

July 3, 2010

Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina

The resident Orca have arrived !!!

We headed out yesterday morning with confidence high and we were rewarded with great news, A12 and the A36's had arrived in Johnstone Strait for the first time this year. The way up was cool but a pair of Black Bear yearling (most likely siblings) warmed our hearts as they foraged together along the mainland shore near Kelsey Bay. (pic) After a great lunch at Port Neville we ran into about 500+ Pacific White Sided Dolphin in Blackfish Sound. Much to our surprise a Humpback Whale surfaced in the middle of the Dolphins ! (pic) Lots of very small herring for all to eat and the Dolphin made a sport of it as they raced through the herring and terrific speed.
We finally caught up with the Orca a few miles further on in Blackfish Sound. A12 and the A36's were working their way slowly east. No vocals but the weather was warm and calm, creating the perfect lighting for pictures ! (pic - A12 & A37)

A super day all round for our very greatful guests.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

July 3, 2010

Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina

We all may be a bit frustrated by the cooler summer so far but the Black Bears are enjoying it. It seems as though the food supply was good last fall as there are a lot of young health cubs in the area.

Picture from the mainland of BC near Campbell River.

The Resident Orca have not arrived as yet but we are hopeful it will be today !

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell river Whale Watching

June 28th, 2010

Good moring from the Float House

A wild ride for the 24 teaching staff at Pinecrest Elementary School in Campbell River as they enjoyed a Ocean Rapid Tour yesterday afternoon. A great time as had by all and as luck may have it, we ran into 4 Transient Orca in Bute Inlet on the way home. With a bit of wind in the inlet we simply drifted with the playful small Orca family as they made their way north. A special experience to be sure!

Special thanks to Tina for the great pictures!

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

June 23. 2010

Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina

Question: How long do Grizzly Bears live?

From what I have read, they can live 20 -25 years but until recently, I have never seen a Grizzly that old in the wild. Have a look at this fellow who has recently arrived on an Island in our area. I think he may have been chased off the mainland by competing males.
What is in store for him now? If all goes well he will stay away from the populated part of the island and will live out his remaining years in peace but that is unlikely. Old bear or not, if wonders near homes on the island, the residents will feel he is a threat and his retirement days on the island will be cut short. Sad but true.

Update this morning!

I type, one large male Orca heading north at the Quadra Island lighthouse. Gotta go !

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

June 21, 2010

Good morning from the Float House at Discovery Harbour Marina

We found this sow and her 3 cubs just north of Campbell River at about 10:00 am this morning. If you look closely, you can see that one of the cubs has a hint of "brown" colour in his coat. Interesting as we haven't seen very many "Brown" coated Black Bears on Vancouver Island, they are mainly on Sonora or on the mainland. Perhaps..., we have one in the area.!

Great day on the water. The Bald Eagle show near Stuart Island began yesterday as the Hake finally showed up and today the show was short but we still had about 50+ Eagles feeding. The morning tides are building this week and we should have a tremendous show by the weekend.

Grizzly Bear sightings for the past 7 days on one of the Islands north of Campbell River. Pictures on tomorrows site.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell river Whale Watching

June 9th, 2010

Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina

Summer finally arrived here on the coast yesterday and what a day it was. Off the dock at 9:00 am, the water was like glass the entire 4 hours. We thought the story of the day was going to be the Pacific White Sided Dolphin as they seemed to be everywhere but then we ran into the energetic Dall Porposie near Okissolo Channel and they stole the show. What a high energy mammal they are, darting everywhere with no real objective in mind. (sorry no pictures as those guys are just too fast)

The evening was topped off with a large group of Transient Orca travelling slowly north in Discovery Passage. We counted at least 12 but there may have been more. A few pictures gave us some ID's of T18, T20 and T21 but we eventually put the camera away and drifted with them silently as they made their way through Seymour Narrows and not a boat in sight !

It is days like this that help us to remember just how lucky we are to live here on the coast.

Cheers from Campbell River


Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching