Northern lights swirl above the boreal forest in Churchill. Katie de Meulles photo.
Gray jay in the Churchill boreal forest. Katie de Meulles photo.
These two shots from Churchill photographer Katie de Meulles are classic winter images from Churchill. Another awesome aurora shot and a cool shot from the boreal forest at Wapusk Adventures. Enjoy!
Polar bears like to play and are quite gregarious at times. This video footage from the BBC shows two fun – loving polar bears having quite a time in the snow. The Arctic has millions of square kilometers of open space for polar bears to roam and play. Of course polar bears spend winters hunting seals which can be stressful so they also have to release their tension with some fun!
Kayakers surrounded by beluga whales in the Hudson Bay. Sea North Tours photo.
Summer in Churchill usually involves wearing a fleece jacket, long pants, hat and sometimes gloves. It also can be the “hotspot” of Manitoba with temperatures pushing 90F. These fluctuations make Churchill …well..Churchill. As a guide, I always enjoyed the cooler temperatures in the summer far away from the hot sun of Colorado. The fresh salt air from the Hudson Bay invigorates the soul. Out on the water interacting with beluga whales and seabirds hovering above and feeding off the capelin at the surface, refreshes anyone searching for nature’s freedom.The theme here is that everything is unpredictable and new adventures are around every corner in Churchill!
Arctic tern with a capelin in mouth. David Hemmings photo.
Yes, the thousands of beluga whales are the marquee attraction in summertime in Churchill. However, the tundra’s micro ecosystems of plants and lichen as well as the various birds that migrate to the area for the short season are all part of the magical experience. And, we surely know there’s always a chance to see a polar bear or two in the “off- season”!
A polar bear rolling in fireweed. A summer treasure in Churchill. Dennis Fast photo.
The best part of an Churchill Arctic summer adventure is that it changes from day to day in the northern frontier town on the Hudson Bay. Guiding ten years in Churchill allowed me to see almost everything, yet I feel as if I only scratched the surface of the tundra when it comes to deciphering the mystery of the region. The land is constantly changing, literally, with isostatic rebound of the Precambrian shield. Walking across this ancient land stirs so many emotions deep within the soul. The quietness leads one to thoughts of how we used to live and how we still can live in some remote places like Churchill. Solitude is rare these days.
The colors of the tundra as summer wanes. Ed Bouvier photo.
Incredible cumulus cloud over the Hudson Bay in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Beluga whales in the Churchill river. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
This incredible photo by Roie Galitz captures a rare scene ever to be observed by humans. Persistent Polar bears spend endless hours stalking and hunting seals out on the Hudson Bay pack ice.This is one of those very special moments for a wildlife photographer and could very well be the photo of the year. Enjoy!
A mother polar bear captures a seal for sustenance and gives her a cub a valuable teaching moment Roie Galitz photo.
As the Churchill Arctic summer nears we will be anxiously awaiting the arrival of thousands of beluga whales, some with their calves, from the north. I can’t wait to see images from the season and all the other Arctic treasures around the tundra. Stay tuned for the fantastic experiences reported here throughout the summer.
Beluga whales will soon be all around the Churchill River estuary as summer nears! Alex De Vries Magnifico photo.
