Month: December 2018

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!

Hummingbird, Tofino Birds, Tofino Wildlife

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It was pouring hard today,we’re talking biblical! I got suspicious when I saw the animals beginning to pair up.

We have regular visitors staying during the winter.A handful of Anna’s hummingbirds winter over where I live.They like my spot because the feeder is out of the rain.So they can just hang out & chill when its pouring. They come from California.Why they hang out  here in the cold when they could be hanging out in a much warmer place is beyond me?

This is a adult male Anna’s.I think he just arrived because all the other hummers have been getting along just fine.They share the feeder with each other no problem.This guy however decided to park his butt on my bikes mirror & guard “his” feeder! If another hummer came by he’d fly up in a shot & ward them off.He’d than fly back to his mirror perch & continue to stand guard!

 

FRANK ISLAND SUNSET VISTAS

Chesterman's Beach, Clouds, Lennard Island Lighthouse, Tofino Beaches, Tofino Wildlife

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Frank island is a small island on Chestermans beach.Chestermans beach is Tofino’s premier beach! Many think Long beach is but I prefer Chesty.

Chesty is in the shape of a “L” & about a mile long.Frank island is located right at the bottom corner of that “L”.You can only get to it at low tide & yes, many a tourist have gotten a soaker getting caught out there!

I come prepared.If I know the tide will be coming in I take my hip waders with me.I’ve seen many people follow me out only to run away when the first wave makes them do the Chesty hop!

Frank island unfortunately was allowed to be divided into two properties. Hanns & Tony own the two lots. Neither of them live there on a permanent basis. Tourists are constantly walking around the island even though there are signs saying private island.It drives Tony crazy chasing the tourists away!

They both allow me to walk around.I generally send them shots to pay for my visits.

Frank & Frieda are the resident eagles.I do not know them very well.They tolerate my presence. I walked around the island once & found a unusual feature near their nest tree.On the ground I found something odd.It looked like somebody had taken a rake & raked the earth hard enough to create deep furrows.I speculate that this was done by both Frank & Frieda to keep their talons sharp.The way you put a pencil into a pencil sharpener would be the same thing for them with the earth & their talons! Never seen that before.

During the winter we get lots of rain here in Tofino.I like going out to Chestermans beach after a good 7 day soaker.I need to line my ducks up for this kind of shoot. The low tide needs to be happening near sunset.If its high tide I won’t have any beach.I need as much of the beach surface to act like a mirror. All that rain bleeds off the earth onto the beach.This makes a great reflective surface.Than I need GREAT clouds! Clouds really add icing to the cake! They can make or break a great shot!

So to sum up,low tide,great clouds,lots of rain followed by a break & all of these need to happen at or around sunset! Those are perfect ingredients for a perfect sunset beach shot!

 

TRANQUIL’S TRUMPETERS

Birds, Tofino Wildlife, Tranquil Inlet, Trumpeter Swans

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I counted 8 today.Four adults & 4 cygnets.These are the hardest birds to get close shots of! Next time I go camping I have a plan! When I know they are inside the river system (only at high tide) I make a few noises.They’ll get nervous & begin to exit the river system.I know their normal exit route, so I’ll simply hide & wait for them to swim past.Once I start shooting the sound from the mirror reflex will spook them for sure,but by then its too late……I’ll will have gotten the shots! Busted!