Many birds are passing through Tofino right now.It’s the Fall migration south.These are “Dusky” geese. A sub species of the much larger Canada Goose. They are heading down into Washington State & Oregon for the Winter.Breeding grounds are in Alaska.(Copper valley)
I took this shot down in Tsapee Narrows.This is “The Daredevil” & “Delilah”. They’ve been gone for months! I haven’t a clue where they went? Delilah is the one on the left.
I went camping for 5 days up in Tranquil creek.The salmon are running & the bears are grinning! I’ve been keeping a eye on the run & it looks like it’ll be coming to a end in a few weeks.Than my furry fiends will go for their winter nap.
Each day I had up there was magical! I couldn’t believe all the beauty surrounding me in oh so many ways.From the eagles flying over head,to the bears cruising looking for a tasty treat to the sound of a lone owl calling out in the night just to say goodnight!
I walked upstream with hundreds of salmon swimming all around me.With many bears walking around me.Seeing,breathing & hearing all of life dancing around me is what it’s all about….
I was in the forest when I heard some flapping out front in the water! I went to investigate & found this immature eagle having a bath.Looking at the markings,I’d say this is a one year old?
Mumma bear found a fresh salmon & promptly dropped it for her cub,but the cub didn’t get to eat it.Mumma bear kept walking away & her cub dropped the salmon to keep up.
You can’t see it,but a cub was off to the right.This Sow was searching for some salmon.Many times bears will search along the shore for recently expired salmon.Much easier getting those ones than a quick live one!
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This is the Sow & cub from the above shot.
A eagle will stay brown,black & white for 4 to 5 years. Camouflaging to help protect the young eagles. This eagle is around 4 1/2 years old? The tail feathers & head are not pure white.
I found two Sows with one cub each up in Tranquil river.
I went out today looking for any of my furry friends? I went up into Fortune Channel but couldn’t find a one out & about.I wasn’t shocked as it was high tide.Bears come out during low tide so they can overturn the rocks & get at the baby crabs.I usually find one out during high tide,but not tonight.
I always go out about three hours before sunset.Yes,I could go out earlier for the low tide but the colour & temperature (light) would be cooler.So I stick to a few hours before sunset.I find the setting & colour far more appealing!
I’ve known “The Daredevil” & “Delilah” Â for about 10 years now. I’ve seen them during each season down in Tsapee Narrows.(a mile east of Tofino)
For whatever reason,they took off about 4 months ago? I haven’t a clue why or where? So I was pleasantly surprised to see them back & perched together!
Now…………there is a possibility that these two “might” be two totally different eagles who have taken over this territory? I need to hang around them & watch their habits to see if they are The Daredevil & Delilah.
The male is the one on the left.
Some of you might remember a recent posting of mine describing how someone put spikes around a float to stop the Lions from using it. I got  DFO (Dept. of Fishier’s & Oceans) to remove the spiked strips from the float.The Lions can hop up without fear of being injured.
This link will take you to CHEK news. It’s the first news item.
https://www.cheknews.ca/5pm-newscast-october-17-2017-377596/
Bears love this spot when they are looking for salmon! Bears can get salmon either fresh or dead.More dead than fresh I’d say.The dead salmon float downstream sometimes becoming snagged in tree roots along the streams banks.Bears know this & so always check these spots out.Thats what this bear was doing………searching for leftovers.
OH………..If your curious,no he didn’t get the salmon.Most times they miss.
When a bear grabs a salmon,the first thing they do is get out of there! They know that If another bear sees him with that tasty salmon, there is a good chance it’ll charge forcing the bear to drop the salmon & flee.Bears always try to avoid fighting.
They eat the salmon deep in the forest in private.Because of this behaviour, over thousands of years the trees surrounding a salmon bearing stream grow larger! The whole fish is never eaten totally.So through out the entire forest hundreds if not thousands of salmon are scattered about.The nitrogen from the fish decays into the soil & the nutrients are absorbed by the root systems.Mother Natures fertilizing technique!
They’ve sampled these trees & found fish nitrogen in them!
This Chum salmon volunteered to be dinner tonight for this lucky bruin!
This is a Chum salmon. Many times when a bear catches a salmon the eggs or milt will squirt out! This one is a male & that whitish fluid is the milt.
I’ve known Leah for almost 4 years now.She keeps to herself over in the meadow in Tranquil.I’ve never had a good opportunity to get some good pictures of her…until today! I could tell she wasn’t impressed.She did a “Blow”.When bears do that that means they are upset.So I left her alone.
I was down in Ucluelet today.I took some shots of a bunch of Lions on a float out in Ucluelet’s harbour.I didn’t notice it at the time,but it appears that someone has placed some spiked 2X4 strips around the perimeter to prevent the Lions from wanting to get up onto the float. Anyone who knows Sea Lions,know they love to hang out on wharfs,docks & floats barking away contently.
Whoever owns this float has done this on purpose with no regard to the Lions being injured by these 6 inch spikes! I am looking into this to see If I can get these spikes pulled or this float pulled from the water? The Lions are beginning to come back into the harbour for safe refuge from the storms.
I’m sure some have already been injured! Will keep you informed on how this unfolds?
Tofino Photography 