Q - Do I ever get bored of doing the same tours all season.
A - Without a second of hesitation - ABSOLUTELY NOT. Every single one of my tours is so different. You could book 5 knight Inlet tours in a row (some people do) and I can guarantee that each day we will see something different. Tours are influenced by the tides, the weather and the wildlife activity I have observed in different areas in the days before your tour. I am on the water almost every day of the season (and usually the first one out there) so I have a good idea of what might be happening in certain areas but every day is a surprise ( even for me) and whatever we find is such a treat every single time.
Here's a compilation of some of the different types of bear watching we observed last season... each very different and each very special for different reasons. We never know what awaits us on the water and that's what makes it so exciting.
Traditional territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, British Columbia, CanadaTraditional territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, British Columbia, Canada.
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Beautiful British Columbia
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💡 It is thought that bears are attracted to mussels found attached to wood before their rocky counterparts as the log can add extra flavour to the mussels! Who knew #bears had such delicate taste buds?!
🐻 Grizzly bear observed having a good scratch and a little nibble in Traditional territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, British Columbia, Canada. Captured using iPhone, zoomed and cropped on a Knight Inlet tour with Vancouver Island Photo Tours. If you'd like to see bears in their natural habitat undisturbed, we are a small operator who likes to keep wild things wild!
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Filmed on one of my tours when we saw this grizzly bear foraging along the low tideline in Knight Inlet. The bear knows we are there but also doesn’t see us as a threat. It is always important to me that we do not disturb the wildlife.
It was a beautiful experience drifting along the shoreline with the engine off to have the reel nature adventure. My favourite bear watching moments, as peaceful as they come❤️.
Started the day early from @alderbayrvparkandmarina on @vancouverislandnorth
Knight Inlet, Traditional territory of the Da’Naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation, British Columbia, Canada
One of those beautiful calm early mornings on the way to search for grizzly bears in Knight Inlet.
There is nothing better in that moment than having a hot mug of coffee while enjoying a wonderful sunrise.
Having only two or a maximum of 4 guests making this a real unique and private experience.
First Nations Territory, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka'wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.
Come and join me for an unforgettable day on the water off northern Vancouver Island.
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Humpback whales feeding and diving in late September. Such an awesome time to watch them. We often go out and drift for hours, it is my most favourite “thing” to do on the water in autumn.
Broughton Archipelago, off Vancouver Island North, First Nations Territory, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.
Watching wildlife in their natural habitat while leaving them undisturbed is one of the most beautiful things to do.
This beautiful black bear was foraging at a very low tide in the Broughton Archipelago. We were anchored, engine off and enjoyed the bear doing it “thing” for a good while till he started walking back into the forest to have some wild berries for desert.
All my tours are lasting all day long to make sure we have enough peace and time for the wildlife and the amazing scenery off the northern part of Vancouver Island, First Nations Territory, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.
@rolfhickerphotography
The other day we came across a large pod of dolphins in the middle of the fog. Pure luck but when it happens it is magical.
We are having many magical days here in the Broughton Archipelago and in Knight Inlet right now.
Can’t wait to share more with you when the season is over.
Enjoy the Pacific-white sided dolphins, filmed with my iPhone. The experience was amazing.
First Nations Territory, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka'wakw People, off northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
@rolfhickerphotography @rolfhickerphototours
My rule #1 is NOT to disturb the wildlife
Ethics should be above likes!
When a bear stares into your camera then it is stressed, no matter how far away you are or what big lens you are shooting.
Don’t stress the bears just to get a picture with eyes focused on you.
Let them be and let them do “their thing” and when they don’t acknowledge you then everybody is happy and the impact through bear viewing / photography is absolutely minimal, if at all.
It is all about the experiences and when we get amazing pictures as well then thats really a big bonus.
Ethics, experience, knowledge and time is the secret to good wildlife watching
@rolfhickerphototours @rolfhickerphotography
Stellar sea lions, clowns of the sea.
Sea lions are highly social, gregarious and very curious animals and we see them on almost every tour off Northern Vancouver Island, the Broughten Archipelago and Knight Inlet.
These guys came over from their haul out while we were drifting with the tide through Weynton Passage, just outside of Telegraph Cove, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw People, in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.
📸 Rolf Hicker Photography
Amazing. Found a grizzly bear early in the morning in the forest till she walked down a creek bed and back into the forest.
We anchored, turned the engine off and waited, almost 20 min. Then she came out if the forest, to the water and decided to swim right by us, all options considered. ??&(;)🤔🙃🥰🥰😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️
Foraging grizzly bear along the low tide line in beautiful Knight Inlet, First Nations Territory, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.
I wish I would find more time to share some of the amazing experiences we are having. I will hopefully be able to do another post tomorrow with a little bit of an update.
For tonight one quick video I would love to share with you.
Dall’s porpoises decided that they are not shy anymore but playful.
It doesn’t happen often but when it it happening, it is very impressive, so much energy and totally their choice. They come from nowhere, and suddenly, you have them around the boat.
Exciting but also scary because I don’t really want them that close to the boat. Well, again, it is their choice and all I can do in this moment is to keep a steady course and speed and don’t change anything.
It only lasted a minute but it sure was magic. Never expect anything like that, but sometimes it just happens.
When? Well, that’s always up to the wildlife.
I never chase wildlife but simply spend a lot of time with it, that is the main reason why my tours are lasting all day, often 10 hours, sometimes even 12 and sometimes 8 or 9, whatever is given to us that day.
It’s the experience and sometimes quite often comes with amazing pictures and photography.
And then there are these crazy moments when the Dall’s porpoises come out of nowhere and just surf with you, simply because they can and want.
These are the moments I tell my guests to take their cameras down and enjoy the moment because it doesn’t get any better than that.
First Nations Territory, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.
And one of my favourite clips for #WorldOceanDay2023
A pod of resident orca whales (killer whales) travelling with a small pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins off northern Vancouver Island. ~Rolf
First Nations Territory, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka'wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.
📸 Rolf Hicker Photography
Feeling a little lazy after that big meal. Almost time for a nap 😊
Grizzly bear in Knight Inlet, Traditional Territories of the Kwakwaka'wakw People, British Columbia, Canada.
📸 Rolf Hicker Photography
I bet you wished you could be there 😁
Well you can!
Cross whale watching off your bucket list.
We live one life, so what are you waiting for?!
#booknow ➡️➡️🤗
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📸 Rolf Hicker Photography
Slo-mo humpback whale trap feeding in the Broughton Archipelago, Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations Territory, BC.
📸 Rolf Hicker Photography
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Bears are great fishers! Wish it was that easy for us 🐻🐟😁
Knight Inlet, Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations Territory, British Columbia, Canada.
© Rolf Hicker Photography
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Beautiful sunset viewed from my bed & breakfast on northern Vancouver Island, Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations Territory, British Columbia, Canada
Hope you can tour and stay with me at my bed and breakfast The Artists Point Bed, Breakfast and Phototours 😊❤
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