Great Bear Update

A-clan orcas coming to visit us in Taylor Bight on the evening of June 30. Squally Channel and Campania Island in the distance.

A-clan make Orca in Taylor Bight on the morning of June 28

The last couple of weeks in the Great Bear Rainforest, on British Columbia's northwest coast have been wonderful. The terrestial and marine environments are beautiful. The wildlife is incredible. So far I have seen bald eagles, ravens, loons, kingfishers, humpback whales, orcas, Dall's porpoise, fin whales, salmon, black flies, mosquitoes (huge) and slugs (everywhere!). Starfish, sea urchins, whelks, limpets, crabs, anemones linger in rock pools. Squirrels show no fear as they try to break into our food containers, quite angry when we disturb them. The mice are quite happy to snack on anything not put away properly. And wolves......a few days ago we were getting ready to sit down for the evening meal, when snarling and growling echoed across the bay. On the far shore 3 wolves were in a fierce tug of war over something. We took turns watching through the binoculars, while a lucky individual got her camera and canoed over to the shore and got some fabulous pictures of this encounter. The next morning when on a whale survey, the 3 sandy-coloured wolves were seen again on another beach to the west, they weren't as keen on a motorboat approaching and they slipped into the woods, but a humpback mom and calf appeared nearby, so we followed at a respectful distance for the next 2 hours until the momma humpback fluked and we were able to get a photo ID. The underside of every humpback tail is like a finger print, so being in the right spot to get a good photograph of the whale is important part of studying them. With orcas, it is the dorsal fin on their backs that is used to identify them. The month of June is coming to a close. I am looking forwarded to July and maybe some sunshine! But without the clouds and rain, the Great Bear Rainforest would not be such a magnificent place.