Hundreds of sea lions gathered for the herring spawn on Vancouver Island this year. It attracted orcas, of course. Bald eagles, shorebirds, ducks and gulls enjoyed the feast as well.
All images and footage in this video were taken from the shore. I organize photo tours on land each year during the herring spawn if you're interested...
#photography #wildlife #HerringSpawn #VancouverIslandWildlife #BritishColumbia
A Bald eagle keeping an eye on the herring during a recent spawn on Vancouver Island.
#photography #birds #HerringSpawn #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada #VancouverIslandWildlife
Filing my income tax today (as a small business) has prevented me from processing photos taken during the herring spawn. So here's a photo from last year taken on the coast of Vancouver Island.
What you see in this image is a heavy active spawn in rough seas on a stormy day. Dozens of sea lions were either catching fish or just floating with their belly full of fish. Bald eagles were looking for herring.
#photography #HerringSpawn #wildlife #VancouverIslandWildlife #BritishColumbia
Two large Steller sea lions growling at each other during the herring spawn.
California and Steller sea lions do not sound the same. Steller have a much deeper growl, which is a good reminder to keep a safe distance from them.
Photo taken yesterday with my telephoto lens.
#photography #wildlife #nature #SeaLions #HerringSpawn #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada
Had a great day in the field today with a lovely couple of photographers from Wales. The herring spawn continues on the East coast of Vancouver lsland. Lots of wildlife activity.
This photo of a Bald eagle with a herring was taken last year.
#HerringSpawn #photography #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #wildlife
Herring spawn has started on the East coast of Vancouver Island and commercial fishing has open at noon.
I will be in the field for the next 2 weeks giving photo tours and documenting this amazing event. Won't spend much time online. Be good! 😉
#photography #HerringSpawn #wildlife #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia
A California sea lion surfing the waves during the herring spawn last year.
Do you know how to identify a California sea lion? They have a bump on their head.
#photography #wildlife #SeaLion #HerringSpawn #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia
Talking about the herring spawn, I took this photo last year. This juvenile bald eagle was about to catch a herring. The colour of the sea is due to the milt from the herring.
#HerringSpawn #photography #wildlife #birds #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #VancouverIslandWildlife #Canada
Learn more about the herring spawn and its importance for Indigenous communities: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7102127
The herring spawn appears to be underway around Vancouver Island. The small, oily fish are an important species for many communities along the South Coast. For many, the tell-tale milky blue-green waters off some parts of Vancouver Island are a sign of good things to come. The CBC's Maryse Zeidler reports.
Gulls hover over sea lions hoping to find herring scraps. The colour of the sea is due to a herring spawn. Photo taken last year.
Des mouettes volètent au-dessus de lions de mer dans l'espoir de trouver des restants de hareng. La couleur de la mer provient du frai des harengs. Photo prise l'année dernière.
#photography #photographie #HerringSpawn #wildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada #VancouverIslandWildlife
Catherine Babault