October 3rd, 2010

Good evening from the Float House
Discovery Harbour Marina

And what a day is was !

Our Grizzly tours has been wonderful this year but today ..... had to be one of those that will stay in our memories for a long time.

The pictures only begin to show the Grizzly show at the Orford today, the sleeping boar, 30 feet from our viewing tour, the snorkeling for salmon Grizzly and many, many others as well. The weather was wonderful as well, the lunch on the dock in Orford Bay and then ..., 35+ Orca in Discovery Passage on the way home. I have attached a picture of A38 (of the A30's) and G38 (of the G17's) but we also had the A12's, A36's, and I11's. These Orca have been south of Campbell River for the past 3 days. Why ? We are not sure but Northern Resident Orca often feed south of us in the winter and early spring but this was a new one for most of us.

A fabulous day for all who happened to be on the water or at the Orford today.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

September 13th, 2010

Good evening from the Float House
Discovery Harbour Marina

It was just a "Orca Love in" today !
Transient Orca numbering 25+ came together to socilaize and frolic in the calm water and sun shine about 2 miles south of Mitlenatch Island this morning. We have had transient Orca (mammal eating) in and around the Campbell River area for over a week now and today they all showed up together to enjoy the return of the good weather.

Some incredible vocals and breaching displays from both the males and females but what was really evident was the way in which they love personal contact. They rolled, pushed, tail wagged and spy-hopped their way slowly westward, last seen just south of Quadra Island.

The weather looks like it is going to hold for the rest of this week and I'm sure the Orca will still be close.

Hope to see you out there.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

September 12, 2010

Good evening from the Float House Office
Discovery Harbour Marina

The Grizzly Bears tours are heating up and it will just get better and better !

Our morning tour began by spending the first hour with Mom and her 2 new cubs as they spent a restful morning near the spawning channel at the Orford River (Bute Inlet). We later moved to the 5th viewing platform where we watched as 2 other Grizzlies stolled by searching for fish below. The sow and 2 cubs from earlier appeared as our viewing time came to a close when everything went into high gear quickly!
That old saying "Never get between a Sow and her cubs" became very clear to one of the younger Grizzlies as she found herself in the wrong spot at the wrong time!
It was all over in a few hectic minutes and thankfully things were worked out without any physical contact. A lot of posturing by both sow Grizzlies and a lot of howling by the cubs for a few frantic minutes but everything worked out. Still pictures just don't do it justice.

Hope you get a chance to take in the Grizzlies at the Orford River this fall.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

September 7th, 2010

Good evening from the Float House
Discovery Harbour Marina

While the Orca have been absolutely fantastic this past week, our Grizzly Tours are in full swing and I wanted to give everyone an idea of what really happens on our Grizzly Tours.
We travel to the Orford River In Bute Inlet by covered and heated vessels. Once on the ground, we travel by van about 4 km up the river where we watch the Grizzlies catch and feed on the spawning salmon from the safety of raised platforms along the river bank.
Pictured below is an effort to show you the picture takers (our guests) and the pictures they take from the towers. The bears travel up and down the river depending on the tides and the time of day. On this day, Sept 5th, we saw 8 separate Grizzlies while on this one tower as well as 4 more while traveling in and out in the van, one Sow with 2 cubs.
The Salmon are just arriving in the Orford River and by the end of the week the number of Grizzlies should double. We expect to see a lot of cubs this year as last fall the salmon numbers were high and that gave the pregnant females a healthy boast for their winter hibernation.

If Grizzly viewing is on your bucket list or you just want to see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat, this is a good time of the year to do it.
Hope to see you out there.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

August 31th, 2010

Good morning from the Flaot House
Discovery Harbour Marina

Yesterday will go down in the memory of the many who were on the water north of Campbell River ! The day began quickly with a 2 groups of Resident orca (fish eating) called the C6's and C10's (pictured) heading south at Race Point. (10 minutes out of the marina)

Once in Nodales Passage, the real story unfolded as wave after wave of Orca arrived. A12's, A36's, all the A4's and A5's as well as some "I" Clan members that we were not able to get an "ID" on. This on a day that we were headed into the Orford River on our first Grizzly Tour!

The Grizzlies were good but we do need more water in the river in order for the fish to enter and this rain that we have today may be just what we need. Only 3 good (close) Grizzlies today. Pictured is a large male foraging amongst the shoreline wood jam for remnants of early spawned salmon and a young male strolling along the road while we took a washroom break.

While most of the day was spent with the Grizzlies, the 50+ Orca in Nodales stole the show !!

Hope you find time to get out and enjoy the water.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

August 28th, 2010

Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina

As we approach the end of the summer we are experiencing some of the best Whale Watching of the season. Lots of fish and lots of happy Orca in the Strait. Pictured is A37 as he makes his way east in Johnstone Strait near "Beautiful Bay" yesterday. His younger brother and adopted matriarch, A12 have spend a good part of their summer together in the waters just north of Campbell River this summer.

As the kids get ready to head back to school, commercial sockeye fishing finally ends and the number of recreational fishing boats drops off, September is a quiet place to enjoy the Orca ! Get ready for a warm and sunny fall !

Hope to see you out there.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

August 25th, 2010

Good morning from the Float House
Discovery Harbour Marina

While the story of the fabulous fishing on the B.C. coast has made the news this summer, the underlying story of the numerous and happy Orca in Johnstone Strait has gone unheard. What a season it has been!

The past 2 weeks of warm weather and little wind has made for some of the best Whale Watching experiences in the past 10 years. With multiple pods of "A" and "I" Clans in the Strait combined with "Transient Orca " sightings almost on a daily basis, has made everyday on the water an incredible adventure.

Pictured is "A12" along side her adopted boys A37 and A46. Quite a touching story is unfolding with this small group of Orca. A story that is too long for this Blog but needs to be shared at some point.

If you haven't been able to find the time to get out on the water this summer it is not too late. The fish keep flowing in from the west and the Orca will be here right through September.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching