This week’s video comes directly from Churchill..hot off the press, rather camera. Natural Habitat Adventures Churchill office staff member Joel Moore filmed this unique angle time lapse of some pretty awesome northern lights a few days ago. The scene is near the inukshuk behind the town complex. Very rarely does Churchill experience aurora with these kind of clouds moving below. The effect is pretty cool and inspiring for hopes for another outstanding northern lights season commencing in January. It will be tough to top last year’s explosive displays of aurora borealis though we hope to make a run at it! Enjoy.
The exciting news from Churchill is polar bears have been spotted out at the Tundra Lodge in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA) and they are becoming more active as the season begins here. The first Natural Habitat Adventures group at the lodge guided by Colby and Eric came quite close to a big male bear out by first tower as their group explored away from the base lodge on a rover. A few others lounged around the lodge moving about the willows.
Majestic polar bear resting in Churchill. Katie DeMeulles photo.
More exciting news from polar bear season Churchill is there are still at least 30 – 40 beluga whales still lingering around the mouth of the Churchill River and along the coast in the Hudson Bay. Some travelers took a helicopter journey and spotted the beluga pods below..what a sight for this late in the fall! I imagine there will be some more time for beluga’s here though soon they will depart for the Hudson Straits up north.
Moose on the tundra in Churchill. Madison Stevens/PBI photo.
Other sightings by our friends at Polar Bears International (PBI) included numerous black foxes- a color morph of the red fox – as well as traditional colored red foxes. A couple of Arctic fox have been spotted as well. Ptarmigan, Arctic hares and numerous bird species have also filled out the wildlife sightings for travelers over the past week. PBI travelers also were surprised by a large moose galloping along the tundra between ponds out in the CWMA!
Northern lights made an appearance on a couple of nights and were some of the best since last aurora season in February. Greens and pinks shimmered across the tundra in the darkened sky of the CWMA.
Intense northern lights in Churchill. Drew Hamilton photo.
Perhaps the most incredible sighting was also by the PBI group. They witnessed a Peregrine falcon feeding on a gull on the fringe of the willows. They observed the web of nature and the life-cycles of these hearty creatures firsthand!
Peregrine falcon feasting on prey of a gull. Madison Stevens/PBI photo.
Another superb northern lights shot by Churchill photographer Alex De Vries – Magnifico. Many people have the misconception that a full moon obstructs good aurora activity and thus photography of the incredible phenomena that fills the northern sky fairly regularly this time of year. If the light is managed correctly the moon used as a point of reference can take an image to another level.Natural Habitat Adventure’s final group of the season is in Churchill just in time for Aurora Fest and hopefully more magical aurora borealis to finish up the season. Enjoy!
Unique angle on the northern lights in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
After a solid week of stellar northern lights, Natural Habitat Adventure guides Justin and Alex were playing the waiting game for the reappearance of aurora in the Churchill sky. While the images including northern lights have been just phenomenal, these shots are just as impressive without the feature. Churchill in the winter is such a beautiful place and there are always opportunities for exquisite photographs like these!
Beaytifully composed shot at the Wapusk Adventures dog yard. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Igloo with the boral forest in the distance. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Igloo with faint northern lights. Justin Gibson photo.
