GREAT BEAR LODGE

Today was the day we were looking forward to more than any other, we were going into the wilderness by sea plane to Great Bear Lodge,but that was in the afternoon so the morning was spent travelling the short distance to Port Hardy and wiling away a few hours birdwatching at the Quatse Estuary and visiting a salmon hatchery up river.

BANANA SLUG

LEAST SANDPIPER

BLACK BEAR POO





GREAT BLUE HERON





GREAT BLUE HERON

CHESTNUT BACKED CHICKADEES WERE VERY ELUSIVE.


Eventually we got to the airport but most of us had to hang around for ages as the pilot of our plane needed a rest,three of our group got away ok but with the weather deteriorating there was a distinct possibility that the rest of us would have to wait until the next day.The weather improved enough so when the first pilot got back he loaded us up and got underway without fuss.While waiting we saw a KILLDEER on the airfield another new bird for me.



COASTGUARD VESSEL see how poor the weather was.



PIGEON GUILLEMOT outside the waiting area.



PIGEON GUILLEMOT
Here is the old flying boat that took us over to the mainland and Great Bear Lodge.





THE OLD GREY GOOSE.

GETTING ON BOARD

GREAT BEAR LODGE

 COMMON MERGANSER/GOOSANDER.

 NOTE THE RIVER LEVELS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

 THE FIRST GRIZZLY/BROWN BEAR.

 The light was almost gone this was taken on maximum ISO so a bit grainy.

 He didn't have any luck with catching his supper.

 The river was swollen by the heavy rains

 which would allow the salmon to reach this point

 where they would spawn.

That was our first taste of the bear watching and believe me it got much better.

TIME FOR A BEER,PHILLIPS BLUE BUCK.

MORNING ALL.

Back to the hide this morning for a bit more bayer watching.

NO 2

BEAR NO 3 THE CHASE IS ON

SUCCESS

A DOG SALMON So called because they were only fit for dogs to eat,and bears evidently.

TIME FOR LUNCH.

In the afternoon we were taken out on the water in four small boats to see a different aspect of the area.

 ANOTHER BALD EAGLE

 BALD EAGLE

 AMERICAN WIGEON

 AMERICAN WIGEON

 AMERICAN WIGEON

 BLUE WINGED TEAL females.

 BARROWS GOLDENEYE juvenile.

THE SMALL MOTOR BOATS

GRIZZLY POO ON THE ROAD

THE BEAR HIDE OR BLIND AS THEY CALLED IT.

 A GRIZZLY  ROAD BLOCK. NO.4

WE ARE NOW IN A SECOND HIDE A BIT FURTHER UP RIVER

FIRST A MOTHER AND WELL GROWN CUB APPEAR. 5&6

BEARS ARE US

BEAR WITH ME.

AND THEN A MOTHER WITH TWO CUBS APPEARS IN FRONT OF US. 7,8&9

SPOTTED SANDPIPER SANS SPOTS IN WINTER PLUMAGE

VERY SIMILAR TO THE COMMON SANDPIPER IN LOOKS AND HABITS.

AN OLD MALE APPEARED OUT OF THE FOREST NO.10

SNIFFED AND POKED AROUND A BIT

THEN WENT BACK WHENCE HE HAD COME

A PAIR OF AMERICAN DIPPERS ALIGHTED IN FRONT OF US BRIEFLY

NOT AS GOOD LOOKING AS OURS.

CALIFORNIAN GULLS WERE THE MOST COMMON GULL ON THE RIVER

ANOTHER BEAR APPEARED AND THIS ONE WAS INTENT ON FISHING. 11

ANOTHER ONE DISPATCHED

MOTH CATERPILLAR FOUND ON THE ROAD.
Think I need a break now you probably do to.