Churchill Summer Treasures

These amazing images from Churchill were taken last week by Natural Habitat Adventures guide Eddy Savage while exploring the tundra and water around the area. This particular group literally found some treasure under a rainbow when they came across a caribou on the tundra. Other incredible beluga whale encounters were quite close up with the zodiacs. A beautiful red fox was quite inquisitive toward the group and posed for some of the best shots we have seen in a long time.

All in all the weather for the week cooperated for the incredible wildlife viewing and a full exploration of the Churchill region was successful. What a week for seeing all the treasures around every rock or inlet in Churchill and on the water!

caribou on the Churchill tundra

A rainbow marks the spot a caribou pauses on the tundra in Churchill. Eddy Savage photo.

 

Red fox in Churchill.

A red fox is surprised by a group of Natural Habitat travelers while searching the land for food. Eddy Savage photo.

 

Zodiac of travelers in Churchill

A group of hearty Nat Hab travelers heads out on the Churchill River to view the beluga whales. Eddy Savage photo.

 

Halfway point beach in Churchill

Secluded beach at Halfway Point with hearty sea purslane growing above. Eddy Savage photo.

 

Polar Rover in Churchill.

Natural Habitat travelers pose with their massive Great White Bear polar rover in Churchill. Eddy Savage photo.

 

Fort Prince of Wales cannons.

Cannons on the walls of Fort Prince of Wales across from Churchill. Eddy Savage photo.

 

Beluga watchers from Natural Habitat in Churchill

A group of Natural Habitat travelers ready to roll and see some beluga whales. Eddy Savage photo.

 

Happy Summer Solstice from Churchill

The longest day of the year is gorgeous in Churchill and the sun sets around 10:30 this evening. Tomorrow the daylight will begin to wane but Churchill’s Arctic summer is just beginning. Wildlife sightings have been bountiful so far this spring and we expect the summer to be just as prodigious with bird – life, wildlife and wildflowers keeping travelers enthralled with the northern mystique! This image by Alex De Vries – Magnifico captures the stoic energy Churchill embodies this time of year.

Churchill River with remnant ice - floes and Fort Prince of Wales on the horizon. Alex De Vries - Magnifico photo.

Churchill River with remnant ice – floes and Fort Prince of Wales on the horizon. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.

Churchill Photo of the Week – Tundra Colors

 

Magnificent photo by Alex De Vries – Magnifico of the changing tundra colors in Churchill with Fort Prince of Wales in the background. The Arctic summer is giving way to fall and within three weeks the 2015 polar bear season will begin in Churchill. Looking forward to reporting all the wild and amazing polar bear stories from Churchill this season!

Churchill Tundra fall colors

A beautiful photo of the fall colors of Churchill!
Alex De Vries Magnifico photo.

Polar Bear Adventures

Polar bear season is the marquee season for Churchill and just about everyone knows why….the mighty polar bear! Polar bears can be sighted all along the Hudson Bay surrounding the frontier town though the best and safest destination to observe their behavior is in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area about 20 kilometers east of town. This designated protected area is strictly regulated with permits for limited Polar Rovers daily and two tundra lodges for two existing tourism companies.

polar bear on Tundra Lodge

Polar bear checking out travelers on the Tundra lodge, Brad Josephs photo.

With hundreds of bears in a  850,000 hectare area, every behavior and dynamic can be seen throughout the season. Sparring, nursing cubs, polar bears with seal kills on the coast and bears sleeping in the willows all provide unique ways for observation. However, most travelers agree that polar bears approaching the Polar Rovers at close range as well as at times sniffing at the people inside as they press up against the vehicles is more spectacular and thrilling then anything else in Churchill.

With a variety of expeditions to choose from, travelers are able to tailor trips to their desires in Churchill. Time in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area can be blended with time in and around town in order to get a feel for the culture as well. Nights can also be reserved out on the Tundra Lodge where one can observe polar bears all day and night in their natural habitat.

Aside from seeing polar bears, travelers can immerse themselves in other activities in Churchill. Helicopter excursions over Wapusk National Parc and the Churchill Wildlife Management Area as well as the town of Churchill, Port of Churchill and Fort prince of Wales provides an incredible expansive view of the north. It really is worth seeing the land from this perspective!

Tremendous opportunities exist for seeing the “king of the Arctic” in the Churchill region. By land or air, viewing polar bears in their Arctic world can be the ultimate wildlife experience providing endless polar bear behavioral situations. A trip to Churchill is always unique and unpredictable!

 

Classic Polar Bear Adventure

Churchill is home to thousands of polar bears in the fall months of October and November. Join Natural Habitat Adventures for one of our small – group adventures guided by one of our world class polar bear guides.

Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure

Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure

Expert naturalist-photographer’s lead these small groups around the sub-Arctic Churchill region. Incredible opportunities to capture amazing polar bear images in their natural habitat!

Ultimate Churchill Adventure

Notes From the Field – Churchill Arctic Summer

Churchill’s Arctic summer season for Natural Habitat Adventures groups has been incredibly exciting so far. Aside from the bountiful array of beluga whales in the Churchill River and Hudson Bay, there’s been some polar bear action out on Eskimo point just north of Fort Prince of Wales. This peninsula of land juts into the bay and the isostatic rebound over the years has caused the land to emerge from the water and grow in size.
Polar bear churchill

Male polar bear holding his position on Eskimo Point. Moira Le Patourel photo.

The “point” has also become traditional resting spot for polar bears in the summer months and quite often mother’s and cubs are found there. Because it is somewhat isolated from the town, it may attract bears hoping to nab a seal or beluga whale venturing too close to shore. I have seen bears swimming across from Cape merry over the years and a couple of times we were able to approach them fairly closely in zodiacs.
polar bear churchill, Manitoba

Male polar bear on Eskimo Point. Moira Le Patourel photo.

Natural Habitat guide Moira Le Patourel and her group of travelers spotted three polar bears in this area just a few days ago. These were the first such sightings of this incredible Arctic summer campaign. The first healthy adult male polar bear was seen from Cape Merry with a spotting scope looking across to Eskimo Point. A little later the group was able to get up close in zodiacs during a whale watching excursion. What a way to see two of the largest animals in the Arctic at the same time.
Mother and cub polar bear Churchill, MB

Mother and her cub on the tip of Eskimo Point. Moira Le Patourel photo.

Continuing out into the crystal clear waters of the Hudson Bay, the group came to the tip of the point and was surprised by a mom and cub nestled in the rocks and enjoying a beautiful day in the north. Travelers were ecstatic with their fortune!
Travelers on this trip took advantage of the fantastic water clarity and engaged in some snorkeling with belugas in the Churchill River and kayaking with the whales as well. One tandem kayak had the incredible thrill of getting “fluked” as a beluga slapped the water with his tail as he submerged for a dive. Water cascaded over the travelers and their boats.
The icing on the was documenting 31 various bird species over the course of the trip. Highlights were a short-eared owl,  northern goshawk, pacific loons and young, tundra swans and cygnets and an Arctic tern chick.
Churchill sunset and beach.

Sunset from the beach in Churchill. Moira Le Patourel photo.

Fireweed is beginning to bloom across the tundra and white mountain avens are fast disappearing…summer is already half over in Churchill!

 

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