Humpback Spectacular

Remembrance Day in Canada

Mon Nov 14th 

Remembrance Day is a Federal holiday in Canada, which means schools and other public services are closed.  Some businesses shut for the day as well.  The ceremony around the two minute silence is very similar to the UK with one exception, young people appear much more involved in the day's activities.  

In Vancouver, a youth choir was part of the act of Remembrance.  The winner of a school Remembrance Day poem competition read their poem as part of the service.  I can't think of a better way of engaging tomorrow's beneficiaries in the sacrifice of those who went before us and who brought about the freedom we enjoy today, than by involving them in these events.  

Despite recent rainfall, our drought continues and the Emergency Order has been extended.  Businesses that use water as part of their activities had a reprieve after the deluge and were allowed to restart water use, but have now had the ban reimposed.  

Chapman Lake - which remains at low levels

The Chapman Lake watershed is covered in snow and it won't be long until the lake is completely frozen and covered in more snow.  The latest picture shows the extent of the freeeze around the main lake.  We are now dependent on run-off into the creek below the snow line to provide water.  

Snow has also fallen locally.  Last Tuesday we woke to a couple of inches of the white stuff, though it disappeared quite quickly.  It has been cold since though.  

With the arrival of the cold weather, the Rufous Hummingbird has high-tailed it down south to warmer climes.   The Anna's Hummingbird stays all year and gets the feeder all to itself.  There are a couple of them that regularly drop by and will happily feed even when I am standing next to the feeder watching the Humpback whales out on the Salish Sea.

The whales seem to have been a constant presence for the last week or two along this stretch of Coast.  At any one time there have been four to five distinct pods several kilometers apart and with what appear to be six to ten whales in each pod, based on the number of water spouts that have been shooting up in the air.   In fact as I have been writing this blog, I've been watching two groups about 2km offshore.  A local whales and dolphins Facebook group has been busy with reported sightings and pictures.  For the last two days, they have been almost a constant presence during the day off Bonniebrook Beach and it's an absolute delight, albeit they're sometimes a long way out.  

Sunday - late afternoon

The Salish Sea is the summer feeding ground for many Humpbacks and 300+ were recorded in 2017, according to Wild 4 Whales, a charity that carries out conservation work.  There are though some which are resident year-round.  You can read more here.  

We have seen only one during the summer, but more than we can count in the last week.  Some pictures below, though despite spending quite a while with camera ready, I've not yet got a picture of a whale breaching or a full-blown smackdown!  I shall keep trying.  These were all taken with my long 500mm lens and low ISO as I knew that would need to be heavily cropped.

Sunday - sunset

Sunday sunset

Monday mid - morning 

Their presence we assume is because of good feeding grounds.  They are filter feeders and consume plankton, krill and small fish.  As well as the whales, large flocks of gulls have been seen out on the Salish Sea, feeding on the fish that is attracting the bigger critters.

While watching the whales this morning a tug went past towing a log boom.  Rather than disappear as the boom went through, the whales seemed to get closer to it.   Perhaps it throws up food around it?

Aside from the sealife, a pair of local Bald Eagles seem to be getting acquainted. 

We have a known Bald Eagle nest high up in a Douglas Fir at Bonniebrook Beach.  Maybe Bald Eagles chicks next April/May?

There's supposed to be about 20,000 Bald Eagles in BC.  We have had a few around all summer, including a couple of brown juveniles.  

They will happily sit in a tree as you walk underneath, staring down at you with their beady eyes.

Fred has been playing alot of tennis, perhaps too much, and took part in the club Brudermann Cup tournament at the weekend.  She is now out of action for the rest of the week!  She has been told she needs a new hip, which we are arranging to have done in Calgary AB in the Spring.  There is no private healthcare in BC and as we are not yet part of the BC health system, there's no choice but to pay.  It looks as though part of our roadtrip next year, might be via a three-week stay in Alberta.  Anybody want a month long stay in BC in the Spring?  You might get the added bonus of a friendly spaniel to show you round!

And finally.  Fred has been sorting out some of photos that came over from the UK.  It may look like an old sepia photo, but it's not that old!   Fred with eyes shut as usual!!!