Tag: captain Tom Camsell
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The Black Bellied Plover
As winter’s steel-blue sky loosens and sunlight begins to warm, avian life emerges along the shores of Vancouver Island’s Hardy Bay. In a gentle and magical transformation coastal ecosystems are awakening in a riot of shorebird activity. As Salmon and Thimble berries blossom and spawning herring flood shoals and bays, large flocks of opportunistic seals,…
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Whispers in the Forest
On any given day, the winding nature trails and secret hideaways of the Pacific Northwest unfold like living storybooks. Stepping on the forest floor of brown peat covered with soft moss and fir needles, every footfall brings both a sense of peace and anticipation. Christine, Rosie and I crave our outdoor experiences.
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A Wilderness Sanctuary
It is amazing how much tranquility can be discovered along secluded, untouched waterways, where the scenery is nothing short of breathtaking and the palette of the natural world captures the soul. The all-encompassing beauty of Mother Nature instills a deep sense of well-being, nurturing an appreciation for life’s elegant simplicity. For those seeking respite from…
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The Belted Kingfisher
As we walked a particularly shaded bend, a sudden, metallic rattle fractured the quiet, drawing our attention upward. There, poised atop a slender alder branch jutting over the water, sat a Belted Kingfisher, her silhouette sharply defined against a whitish backdrop of mist-filtered light.
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Barred Owl a Pacific Newcomer
The Barred Owl is a wonderful presence in North America’s forests, its distinctive echoing call and striking plumage marking it as both a biological force and a subject of human wonder. They are most vocal during the breeding season, which typically occurs from late winter through early spring.
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The Return of the Sea Otter
To see a Pacific Northwest Sea Otter in natural surroundings is a thrill to many, and sightings are becoming increasingly common along the green shallow shores of British Columbia and North Vancouver Island. Even in Hardy Bay. With thick, velvet-like fur glistening in the sunlight, these lively mammals are a frolicking sight, gracefully drifting on…
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Reflection on Community and Culture
Recently Chris and I had the privilege of touring the newly built “Big House”… a significant and meaningful milestone in Port Hardy for two Nations, Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw people of Northern Vancouver Island.
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Nimpkish Valley Cave Exploration
Later I was to learn the names Michael and Linda Henwood are intricately woven not only into Island history, but also in the fabric of wild caving and karst conservation internationally. The combined efforts of Michael and other North Island cavers are the catalyst responsible for international attention transforming Port McNeill and the Nimpkish Valley’s…
