by Steve Selden | Jul 20, 2015 | Churchill Photography
Churchill’s summer wildflowers are in full bloom igniting the tundra with a patchwork of life exuding color. The Arctic wildflowers are incredible and throughout the summer different waves of color emerge. As a guide for the Arctic summer trips, I became immersed in identifying the flowers and educating travelers on the unique qualities of each. The tundra and its colors are one aspect of the amazing Churchill Arctic summer!
Round-leaved orchid, purple paintbrush and bog asphodel. Rhonda Reid photo.
Round – leaved orchid in Churchill. Steve Selden photo.
Churchill wildflowers on the tundra. Steve Selden Photo.
August colors of the tundra. Ed Bouvier photo.
by Steve Selden | Jul 6, 2015 | Churchill Photography
An overcast day in Churchill provided the perfect setting for some beautiful photographs of the natural surroundings of the region. Birds are nesting and the wildflowers are blooming all over the tundra. Beluga whales are arriving in the Churchill River in pods and we will be posting photos soon from some Natural Habitat Adventures trips in July. Enjoy these Awesome photos!
Arctic tern in a nesting area. Rhonda Reid photo.
This exquisite close – up image of an Arctic Tern incubating eggs on its nest shows just how camouflaged their eggs are. It took me awhile to even see the one egg in front of the tern since it blends so well into the tundra. Arctic terns lay 1 – 3 eggs and both the male and female incubate the eggs for up to 22 days. After birth the parents supply small fish up until they fledge at three to four weeks old. Female and male Arctic terns mate for at least a year and can mate for life. Females lay eggs once a year. Terns live on average up to 34 years.
The photo of the three Arctic tern eggs illustrates the magnificent camouflage adaptation the eggs have developed over many years. The way animals and their eggs adapt to the environment using camouflage is fascinating. Survival of species depends on these slight changes over periods of time. The faster a species can adapt the longer they can survive in nature.
The Precambrian shield rolls down to the Hudson Bay in Churchill. Rhonda Reid photo.
Precambrian shield with a bog and krumholz spruce. Rhonda Reid photo.
These two photos of Precambrian shield rolling toward the Hudson Bay show how the rocks have been smoothed over in previous eras by ice and water covering them. If you look closely you can see marks or “striations” caused from rocks embedded in the bottom of glaciers that were dragged over them during the slow movements of the massive ice formations. It’s quite interesting to search out these striations while hiking over the shield in Churchill.
Eider duck female and her brood of five chicks. Rhonda Reid photo.
by Steve Selden | Jul 5, 2015 | Churchill Photography
Churchill is getting into full Arctic summer swing and the region is opening up and sharing the treasures of the short season of vibrant life. Beluga whales, wildflowers, incredible bird-life and the mystery of the tundra all complete a picture of vibrant life that burns brightly for just about three months. Even polar bears join the party as the summer rolls on. Summer is a very different season then the dynamic fall polar bear season or the winter northern lights season in February and March. The summer is certainly the jewel of the Arctic!
Fireweed is prevalent in Churchill. Steve Selden photo.
Beluga whales in the Churchill River. Sea north Tours photo.
Lesser yellowlegs. Rhonda Reid photo.
Polar bears nestled in the Pre cambrian sheild. Steve Selden photo.
Kayakers surrounded by beluga whales in the hudson Bay. Sea North Tours photo.
by Steve Selden | Jul 4, 2015 | Churchill Photography
Have a great holiday weekend celebrating independence and summer! Sit back and relax and enjoy the fun. Take a trip to Churchill and see the incredible polar bears this fall!
Action packed sparring near the lodge. Colby Brokvist photo.
A polar bear frolic’s on the tundra. Rick Pepin photo.
Chillin in the snow. Colby Brokvist photo.
by Steve Selden | Jun 29, 2015 | Churchill Photography
Some more fun photos from Churchill..Enjoy these three images from the north!
Hudson Bay Quest dog eager to run. Laurie Dingwall photo.
Sparring bears in the CWMA. Melissa Scott photo.
Polar bears in Churchill. Melissa Scott Photo.
by Steve Selden | Jun 29, 2015 | Churchill Photography
This photograph by long – time polar bear photographer and expert Dan Guravich is of the largest polar bear ever recorded…2, 209 lbs. Now that’s a lot of polar bear! Churchill is home to many large polar bears but this one is top of the heap.
Largest polar bear recorded; 2,209 lbs.
Dan Guravich photo.
