Magnificent northern lights have been flooding the sky lately in Churchill and surrounding northern regions. Full panorama views have been the norm as opposed to last years waves of isolated aurora borealis. By all means the aurora last season was by far the most consistent year to date in Churchill. However, this season has produced incredible northern lights with more full sky – filled evenings. With still a few weeks to go we can’t wait to see what comes next! Enjoy!
Northern lights in Thompson, Manitoba. Andre Brandt photo.
Into the wild under the northern lights in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Churchill cabin under the aurora borealis. Andre Brandt photo.
Wapusk Adventures warming tee – pee in Churchill. Andre Brandt photo.
Near Wekusko Falls in Wekusko Falls Provincial Park. Andre Brandt photo.
Natural Habitat Adventures guide Justin Gibson has had an incredible week in Churchill with his group of avid travelers. Recent northern lights activity has been quite spectacular to start the season and these are just a few of the great ones Justin captured last week. Keep posted for many more aurora pics and field notes coming your way from the north. Enjoy!
Natural Habitat Adventures guide Justin Gibson outfitted for the Churchill weather. Justin Gibson photo.
Igloo in Churchill under the northern lights. Justin Gibson photo.
Natural Habitat Adventures Aurora Pod in Churchill below the northern lights. Justin Gibson photo.
Tee pee at Wapusk Adventures do yard under the aurora borealis. Justin Gibson photo.
Yellowknife witnessed exploding aurora in the sky a couple of nights ago, creating some of the most dynamic and unique aurora borealis we have seen in a long time. These breathtaking video images taken by David Yau at Aurora Ninja Photo Tour show the majestic beauty of the northern lights in the north. Enjoy!
A snowy tundra was the perfect setting for an Arctic fox greeting Natural Habitat Adventures guide Moira Le Patourel and her group of travelers. As snow fluttered to the ground the inquisitive fox seemed indifferent to the rover’s presence. What beautiful colors melding together in an Arctic landscape!
Arctic fox surveying the land fast ice along the Hudson Bay. Moira Le Patourel photo.
Caught between the search for lemmings and waiting for the Hudson Bay freeze, this gorgeous fox will patiently wait for the latter in order to feed off the left -overs of polar bear seal kills. A fascinating existence for sure. Polar bear season in Churchill reveals the subtleties of survival in the far north.
Arctic fox waiting out the eventual freezing of the Hudson Bay. Moira Le Patourel photo.
Later, out on the tundra of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, a sow with two cubs of the year (coy) revealed themselves on the horizon and explored the ground close to the polar rover. The three moved confidently across the thermokarst landscape while circling the group observing from the rover. Purely incredible to witness these polar bears in their natural environment.
Sow and two coy wandering the Hudson Bay coast near Churchill. Moira Le Patourel photo.
The persistent unseasonable moderate temperatures have polar bears resting and conserving energy for the most part though we are still seeing magical behavior across the tundra. Surely the snow and cold will escalate and we will see more sparring in the coming weeks. Until then we are not complaining about the number of family interactions so far this year as well as the variety of other wildlife sightings.
Resting polar bear by a stand of willows. Moira Le Patourel photo.
The group was charmed with a first – night orientation of some fantastic northern lights which they took in down by the large inukshuk behind the town complex. What a display squeezed in between the clouds and snow squalls.
One of the best spots in Churchill to capture the magical northern lights. Moira Le Patourel photo.
The following day Moira brought her travelers back for an iconic group photo from the head of the Hudson Bay. If the incredible aurora displays this polar bear season are any indication, we are in for quite a northern lights season in January through March.
Natural Habitat group photo at the Churchill inukshuk. Moira Le Patourel photo.
