With reports coming in rapidly from Natural Habitat Guides in the Churchill area, wildlife sightings are diverse and plentiful all across the tundra.
Guide Rinie Van Meurs sends his first Tundra Lodge report with inspired enthusiasm from what he says is the best trip ever for this time of the year polar bear-wise in nine years of working out in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area.
Mother and cub polar bear in the CWMA. Brad Josephs photo.
With a overall count of at least 16 different individual bears, including two different families with two cubs of the year (coys), there was all kinds of varied behavior. Some interesting interaction between sows and other male bears was a thrill to the group as mom made all efforts to avoid the young males with her cubs….sheltering them from potential harm.
Mother polar bear and cubs heading for the high ground. Brad Josephs photo.
Every day there were a few polar bears around the lodge, with times up to four animals at the same time. And as previously reported by Colby some of them sparring in the evening under the stars and lights off the lodge. “There seemed to be a group of buddies which liked hanging out together, hopefully they stay in the area” reported Rinie.
Two polar bears spar in front of a pond, Brad Josephs photo,
On their first polar rover trip away from the lodge out toward Gordon Point, sparring polar bear juveniles grappled right next to the Rover. Luckily another Natural Habitat group in their rover was in the area as well and quickly maneuvered close to the action. Otherwise, several single bears between the Tundra Lodge and first tower were observed as they meandered across the tundra in stoic fashion.
Bonnie Chartier’s Bird Tracker:
18 Oct, Snow Buntings-10
19 Oct Brant Geese 6, pretty big deal for the province, Black Scoter 6, Gyrfalcon- Gray Phase 1, Ptarmigan mixed flocks- many, Snow Buntings 20+.
21 Oct Long-tailed Duck, Snowy Owl 2 ( didn’t see the snow owl)
22 Oct Churchill- Glaucous Gill 1, Common EiIder 8, Snow Buntings 20+, Common Ravens daily, 6+.
Snowy owl perched on tundra near the coast. Brad Josephs photo.
On another rover expedition from the lodge, two regal Golden Eagles flew close to the rover, as well as a fairly rare bald eagle. A snowy owl perched along the coastal plain near the willows and many other bird species. “Every day we saw Arctic Fox and as this was not enough we had an Arctic White Wolf !!!!! This was my first wolf ever!” stated an elated Rinie.
Polar bear season is over for travelers to Churchill yet the real polar bear season is ongoing out on the Hudson Bay ice. Polar bears are hunting seals, mostly ringed seals, as the birthing season is building. While this goes on, Churchill is recouping and slowly settling in to the long winter. Seasonal workers have headed south for the winter with the exception of those brave few who will try to make it through to spring. Most restaurants and some hotels have closed for the season. Even many locals head out of town for some much needed relaxation and warmth before returning back home. Another amazing array of healthy polar bears and the return of good numbers of Arctic fox provided thrills for everyone involved in this year’s polar bear season. Here are some more photographs from this past fall…enjoy!
Red fox along the coast in Churchill,MB. Brad Josephs photo.
Inukshuk group photo with aurora over the bay. Colby Brokvist photo.
Two large polar bears waltz across the tundra in a sparring session. Eric Rock photo.
Snow covered Fort Prince of Wales. Karen Walker photo.
Polar bears sparring in the willows. Colby Brokvist photo.
One of the most photogenic yet underrated Arctic animals is the Arctic fox. This svelt little bundle of energy was recorded out in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area earlier in the polar bear season by Natural Habitat guide Colby Brokvist…see, we don’t call it “Arctic fox season” ….These creatures are incredible to watch and photograph..enjoy!
Colby Brokvist and his Natural Habitat travelers Started off the week in Churchill with a great day of bears sparring on the ponds and an arctic fox running around with an unidentified duck in its mouth. Near the end of the first day, a late season red-breasted merganser with a gimpy leg was seen aside a nearly frozen pond. Tough conditions and a slight chance of escape for these laggards. A rare sighting of a mink running around on the ponds finished off quite the full day.
Young polar bear in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. Colby Brokvist photo.
Polar bear cub roaming the tundra. Colby Brokvist photo.
The next evening on the group’s night-rover, some big bruiser bears came curiously wandering by the machine at the lodge while poetry was being read by candle- light. As the travelers sipped wine an arctic fox was observed running around the tundra.
“Our final day on the tundra was riddled with sows and cubs!”, reported Colby. Overnight, seemingly many males moved out and several sets of sows with coy during the course of the day tested he ice. A good south wind is high on he list these days. “One particularly curious sow brought her cub over to our machine, which of course delighted everyone. All in all, a great trip!”
Sow and cub working the land. Colby Brokvist photo.
Sow and cub polar bears on rocks along he Hudson Bay.
