HOMEWARD BOUND

One more night in the Black Bear Resort then it was a drive down the east coast to the ferry at Duke Point.
The lunch stop at Miracle Bay gave up a few new birds,and its still raining.


PILEATED WOODPECKER

PILEATED WOODPECKER

RED BREASTED SAPSUCKER

HARLEQUIN DUCK

GOING DOWN

DIVING AGAIN
Arriving at Duke Point Ferry terminal in good time we had an hour or so to wait,so here are some trucks.

KEEP ON TRUCKING

And some shipping news.

MERLIN ARROW LOADING SAWDUST

SEASPAN CUTLASS



The ferry crossing was uneventful and it was dark by the time we docked in Vancouver.
After a hearty breakfast it was off to the airport with a call at the Reiffel Reserve in the rain, to finish the birding.As we drove in a couple of guys were looking intently into a tree we pulled up short to see what they had and this beautiful Barred Owl was the subject in their telescopes,everyone loves an owl so we filled our cards.



BARRED OWL

ASLEEP?

NOT QUITE

GREATER AND LESSER YELLOWLEGS

LESSER YELLOWLEGS,behind GREATER

LONG BILLED DOWITCHER

LBD

SHORT BILLED DOWITCHER AND GLY

SHORT BILLED DOWITCHER

ANNAS HUMMINGBIRD

BACK FOR ANOTHER BARRED OWL SHOT.

WOOD DUCK

WOOD DUCK

WOOD DUCK

WOOD DUCK
It was still overcast and raining slightly as we arrived at the airport for the flight home.

AIR TRANSAT AIRBUS 301

THE SKIES CLEARED AS WE LEFT VANCOUVER

THE ROCKIES OVER CALGARY

THE END

GREAT BEAR LODGE 2

We continued the regime of bear watching after breakfast and after lunch and before dinner,now solely from the open platform .So here goes with more bears catching salmon,

THE OLD SCHOOL BUS used to transport us to the bear hide.

 This young male caught three salmon in quick succession



THATS A BIG UN

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.

 The look of surprise and terror in the eye of the salmon is amazing.

ITS A BOY ALRIGHT.

AND VERY GOOD AT SALMON CATCHING.

HE HAS ALSO BEEN FIGHTING BY THE LOOK OF THE SCAR ON HIS SIDE.

 On the final morning we were paid a visit by four river otters.




 THAYERS GULL

 CALIFORNIA GULLS

 THAYERS GULL

 A MOTHER AND TWO CUBS WERE OUR NEXT VISITORS.

 THE TWO CUBS SPENT A LONG TIME CHASING THE SALMON WHILE MUM SOUGHT OUT EGGS WHICH HAD BEEN LAID IN THE ROCKS WHEN THE WATER WAS HIGHER.

 THIS WAS THE SMALLER OF THE TWO CUBS.

 THIS ONE HAS A WHITE COLLAR.

 GREAT BLUE HERON.

 GBH

 CALIFORNIA GULL Black and red marks on bill.

 MOTHER BEAR IS NOW GOING FISHING

LOOK AT THOSE CLAWS.

 SHE TOO CATCHES THREE SALMON IN QUICK TIME = ONE FOR EACH OF THEM.

ALL TOO SOON IT WAS TIME TO GO AND PACK OUR BAGS,WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
A second short boat trip around the estuary was uneventful and it was time to say goodbye to Tom and his lovely team of young ladies.

THE LODGE FROM THE ESTUARY

THE OLD GREY GOOSE COMING TO TAKE US BACK TO VANCOUVER ISLAND.

THE LODGE,OUR ROOM WAS TOP RIGHT- THE POLAR BEAR ROOM.

THE SUN CAME OUT AS WE WERE READY TO LEAVE.

HAPPY BAND OF BEAR WATCHERS.

STUNNING VIEWS FROM THE AIR



ON THE FLIGHT BACK TO VANCOUVER ISLAND