Month: October 2016

& SO …….STORM SEASON BEGINS!

Lennard Island Lighthouse, Waves

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We get some of the nastiest storms I’ve ever encountered! The wind storms whip the waves up into a froth.All one can do is hunker down & of course make sure you have candles,flashlight,batteries & food that can be cooked on the BBQ!

I also have a generator.I can power up my computer & see where the tree came down that took out the power & how long it’ll take to repair. Being prepared is a prequisite!

A MOUTHFUL!

Bears, Tofino Bears, Tofino Wildlife

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Because bears are close to the ground,they cannot see down into the water very well.We are taller & thus can see down into the water better.If you could fly up into the air & look straight down,you’d be able to see all the salmon swimming about in that stream.

Some bears have found a way of getting around this ocular disabilty.They know the salmon are swimming around but cannot see them.They look for the fin on the back of the salmon to poke above the water.This is the salmons dorsal fin.The salmon probably isn’t even aware that their fin is above the water? This can only happen in the shallows  or when the salmon swims close to the surface. Smart bears look for these fins as a “Hi,I’m over here”sign.They charge into the water & lunge after the fin knowing there is a tasty salmon there.

Thats what is going on here. Once they get their prize they dart off into the forest to devour it in privacy.Whenever a bear grabs a salmon they are very aware that other larger bears may charge them.They are forced to drop their prize & run off while the charging bear picks up the salmon.

You can see this female bear watching me intently when she picks up her salmon.Even though she knows me she is afraid I will charge her & take her prize.It takes a long time for a bear to trust another animal.This is where I need to be patient.

GOTCHA!

Bears, Tofino Bears, Tofino Wildlife

 

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When a salmon comes into a river system,they’re full of energy. After a few weeks their energy levels begin to drop.So instead of being able to swim against the strong river current in the middle,they move closer to the rivers edge to get out of that strong current.The bears are constantly patrolling the rivers edge for these salmon.Ones which have become “tuckered”. When the bear finds one of these salmon,the salmon makes a frantic attempt to escape! Sometimes they escape…………& sometimes they don’t.

STALKING ME

Harbour seal, Harbour Seal Haul Out, Tofino Wildlife

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Seeing a Seal inside the stream was unusual. They normally do not come into the system & If they do come in It’s always during high tide. They wouldn’t be able to get in during low tide. During spawning season,they must come in,grab a salmon & head out.They’d never eat it on shore! A Bear would love to grab one of these guys! So Mr.Seal grabs & runs.

FULL MOON TONIGHT

Eagles, Moon, Moon Eagle, Tofino Birds, Tofino Eagles, Tofino Wildlife

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It’s a full moon tonight but because of bad weather,I’m not going to see it.So I decided to post some previous moon shots. I’ve found eagles to be a excellent subject to take pictures of when the moon is rising.They’re both up in the sky.

Tonight is what they call a “Hunters” Moon.(the first full moon after a harvest moon)

THEIR GETTING READY!

Salmon, Tofino Wildlife

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I like this spot.It’s at the rivers corner,so I can see upstream & downstream.When I see a bear in either direction,I paddle my canoe in that direction.While waiting for one of my furry friends to drop in for tea,I kept seeing the salmon jumping downstream! So I decided to play a game to pass the time.My goal was to get a shot of one of them jumping! I found it fairly hard! I had to basically prefocus,get the exposure & wait.I put my elbows on my knees as an in prompt bi-pod. I held the camera steady but didn’t look through the viewfinder.Instead I watched over the camera with both eyes & shot as quickly as I could when I saw one of the buggers jumping.Even than the best I could do was a tail! The amount of time we’re talking is measured in hundreds of seconds to react!