Month: January 2014

HARBOUR SEAL

Harbour seal, Tofino Wildlife

20140131-IMG_425120140131-IMG_4249A arctic cold front descended upon us from the north. It cleared out the clouds but dropped the temp!
I bundled up & headed out! It was high tide when I put out,so I decided to head down into Grice Bay to check things out?
As usual my Trumpeter friends were relaxing about. Many different type of ducks as well!
Left Grice & continued eastward down Tofino Inlet. I went into Cannery bay in the off chance that there “might” be some Lions hanging around?
Ever hopeful yes,but no they were not there. With the tide being high,I went down to the base of the rapids. The outflow from Kennedy wasn’t as strong as I thought it might be! Meaning………..we’ve had little rain & the lake is not as full as it would normally be!
Headed out of Cannery & went over to Rankin rocks. I always check this spot out for birds,but was disappointed today. The rocks were vacant!
At this point I normally would of gone down the end of Tranquil for the Trumpeters but the clouds blocked the light in the valley & I decided to bypass.
Started my trip back.
Stopped off at Tsapee narrows to visit the Daredevil & Delilah. I saw him flying across the narrows to greet me. They both seemed to be having a good day! Only stayed 5 minutes or so. The sun at this time of year is so low in the southern sky that I get shadows very early on the northern side of any islands. Which is the exact problem I have to deal with when visiting Moe & Maggie on Morpheus island!
When I arrived,Maggie saw me & flew over to greet me. I’ve found I always have to go much further north up Lemmens inlet in order to get into the sunshine! Maggie doesn’t seem to mind because she’s usually hovering above me before I’m even ready with my camera!
I haven’t seen Moe is so long that I’m now becoming concerned! He’s never been away this long before? I hope he’s just out & about somewhere & has not passed! Will let you know when he shows up?
Said goodnight to Maggie & continued on to Deadman for Romeo & Juliette. Romeo was perched on the west side of Beck island & flew out to greet me. He didn’t feel like posing for me today & went past his rocky throne. He simply flew over to the island & awaited my arrival.
By this time I noticed the sunset was shaping up to be a good one! The clouds were low enough to catch the light in just the right way!
Got some great shots of them both! The light did fade quickly however!
Said goodnight to them both & called it a day.
As always it was great getting out,but not having the Lions this winter sure is cramping my style!

BLUE HERON POSING

Blue Heron, Strathcona, Tofino Wildlife

20140126-IMG_398420140126-IMG_395020140126-IMG_3994When I woke up this morning there was thick fog! As the day went on I realized it was too thick & I wasn’t going to be able to get out!
Several hours later……… surprise surprise,it lifted & I did get out today after all but much later than normal.
Because the Lions are not around & the bears are still sleeping,I stayed around the harbour area.
I saw Ernie & Ethel up on their perch tree on Strawberry island! I had my big lens with me & wanted to get a shot of them with Strathcona’s snow covered mountains in behind! Only problem with that idea is that I would have to tie the boat up & walk all the way up to the highway! About a 20 minute detour but I decided to do it! After hiking all the way up to the road (all the while carrying my tripod & HEAVY lens) I looked down to the island & noticed the silly buggers had taken off! That ticked me off!
I decided to wait half a hour to see if one of them would show up!
I had seen Ernie perched there for many hours earlier & he decided to take off just when I was going to take his shot! I swear they can sense me thinking about them sometimes?
After waiting 15 minutes I saw Ernie flying up to the perch tree & I got the sequence of him perching! He did have his back to me however!
I decided I had better get back to my boat. Sunset was only 90 minutes away!
I did start to go down to Tsapee Narrows but turned around after realized how late it was. I went over to Morpheus Island instead to visit with Moe & Maggie. Once again,Moe was nowhere to be seen? I wonder if he’s ok?
I did see a immature eagle however! It had to of been Moe & Maggie’s! It flew right by Maggie & she never even put the chase on it! It looked like a 4 year old or so.
Took a few shots of my girlfriend Maggie doing her thing & than decided to head over to Deadman Island to visit with Romeo & Juliette.
Romeo didn’t greet me (oh,but Maggie did btw) tonight,but that’s ok. He probably was enjoying the warmth of the sunshine.
Took some shots of both Romeo & Juliette before the sun set into a offshore fog bank. With the light gone I called it a day & came back in.
It was a short shoot today but still great to get out!

TAKING OFF

Tofino Wildlife

20140125-IMG_3683I heard yesterday that someone had seen a “raft” of Sea Otter’s west of Tofino! I was intent with going over there today to check it out?
However Mother Nature had other ideas! The wind & waves were too much right away,so I turned back into the harbour disappointed. I also heard that someone saw a bear this morning over by the Hospital! It’s been warm lately,so I thought maybe I should go check up in Fortune Channel?
It was perfect timing too! It was low tide!
So I headed up into Fortune to look for my furry friends but didn’t find a one stirring about! Once again…….disappointed!
Thats two strikes against me & I hadn’t even taken a single shot yet!
I returned & stopped at Tsapee Narrows to visit with the Daredevil. He seemed in good spirits! He tricked me today & came out of nowhere! I missed the shot! He likes to do that from time to time if I’m not paying attention around me! He’s not afraid of me!
Stayed for only 15 minutes or so & said goodnight.
I moved onto visiting with my girl friend,Maggie! She came out to greet me! The wind was coming out of the SE,so I knew what direction she would be coming in at. She flew over top of me & hovered! She’s such a big eagle! Took a few of her & said goodnight. Right about this time,my outboard started acting up on me! I lost power several times & it stalled! I couldn’t figure what the hell was the problem,so I decided to call it a day. I went over to the Marina to get new spark plugs but they didn’t have the kind I needed! Took off & the motor seemed fine! So I went to visit with Romeo & Juliette.(going to have to keep a eye on my motor?)
Romeo was out & about. Juliette sat there looking at me as per normal. I saw several geoduck boats coming back in from their days work. Took a few shots with Romeo in the foreground & the boats in the background.
Didn’t really get much today folks & with my motor acting up,you could say I “almost” got three strikes against me today,but I managed to pull the day out of the fire!
Maybe I’ll see a bear tomorrow? Fingers crossed! It would be a record to get a shot of one in January! Our winter has been so mild!