What appears to be one or two at first will often turn out to be ten to twenty. As fast as they appear they disappear as they look for their next unfortunate unsuspecting prey. Look out for mom close to the pod of babies and dad with his gigantic bent fin.
Last but not least are the Minke whales. These whales can be tough to find, however with such bountiful feeding grounds they too make their way to Rivers Inlet and are a real treat to see in person.
Bear watching
Rives Inlet has one of largest bear populations in North America. The reasons for this are the luscious feeding grounds provided by our bountiful pacific salmon returns. In addition, bears are always found at low tide snacking on mussels and other exposed marine animals. At Duncanby you can expect to see Black Bear and Grizzly Bear. The best time to see these unbelievable creatures is August when they are fattening up on salmon in the river before heading to their den for the long winter hibernation. With that being said, Grizzly and black bear roam the shorelines all summer long and are often spotted from some of our favorite sport fishing grounds. Bear are also seen swimming, yes swimming, across the narrows within the inlet.
Bird watching
There are far too many bird species that control the airways of rivers inlet to mention them all. If you are a bird watching enthusiast, you’d better bring your species identification book.
The first mentionable species is the Bald Eagle, the national bird of the United States. There is almost never a time during the day when you cannot spot a bald eagle perched nobly upon a cedar branch. Flocks are seen regularly soaring in the misty air. Rivers inlet has a bountiful population of Golden Eagles as well. These elegant creatures have breathtaking wingspans that are needed to support their massive golden bodies. Golden eagles are of the largest birds in the area. Golden eagles are generally more of an inland bird species however the population in Rivers Inlet is just as bountiful as anywhere else in North America. Blue Herons are regularly sighted on the beach in front of our guest cabins. These noble birds are truly spectacular, especially from a close distance. Other mentionable species that nest outside your window at Duncanby are Blue Jays, Hummingbirds and the Canadian goose.
Canoe and Kayaking
What better way to experience the outdoors then to cruise the Pacific Ocean shoreline from a canoe or kayak. Glide through the Goose island group just off the Duncanby dock, stopping at one of the many sandy beaches for an afternoon of solitude and tranquility. Or, silently float over a kelp bed and catch Mother Nature off guard. At Duncanby you can also bring your jigging rod and fill the canoe with a multitude of cod species, the way it was once done. Canoeing and Kayaking is just one of the many activities available for you once you have limited out on salmon and halibut. |