River otters are quite abundant in and around Vancouver Island. Unlike sea otters they do come ashore when it is time to eat and sleep. Although it sounds like a river otter would spend all its time in a river you will find them in both marine and fresh water enviroments. You can quite often spot these otters around dusk as this is when they like to come out to feed.
River otters at Cattle Point in Victoria.
Otters can quite often collide with humans as they like to make their dens under decks or lounge around on rafts. This river otter in Lantzville on Vancouver Island is enjoying a meal on a raft on a calm summer night.
This romp (group) of otters is taking a short break from fishing to look around at French beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Tags: parks, river otters, vancouver island, wildlife
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I have realized that I have quite a few pictures of waterfalls from Vancouver Island so I thought I would combine them into one post. These pictures are in no way even being close to a complete list but these are a very of the waterfalls I have seen and have pictures of. Although I have not been to it or have pictures of it I have to mention Della falls which is the tallest waterfall in Canada at 440 meters and is located near Port Alberni, I really hope to be able to make it out to see it sometime.
We will start with Niagra falls which is in Goldstream park just outside of Victoria.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Next we will goto Little Qualicum falls.
And the last stop for now is in Strathcona park.
Lower Myra falls.
Lady Falls.
Tags: goldstream park, strathcona park, vancouver island, water falls
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On the morning of the second day I woke up early to another beautiful sunny day. Today I decided to hike out to Sombrio beach. On the way out to the trail head I was very lucky to see a black bear. I was able to get within 20 feet and get some decent pictures, was really hoping to see a bear so I was really happy about this find. After finally finding a place where to park but I was greeted with and amazing beach. Sombrio is know as a great surf beach but I did not get any surf pictures unfortunately. After Sombrio I took another trip to China beach and then after dinner decided to hike down to Mystic beach to catch the sunset there. I left on the 3rd day and did not take a huge amount of photos so thats why they are combined.
Sombrio Beach.
Mystic Beach.
Day 3
Tags: black bear, camping, china beach, mystic beach, sombrio beach, vancouver island
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Over the week I went out to the Sooke Potholes. The weather was cold but it did not really rain so it was acceptable. I didnt find any natural scenes to make the picture I would have liked but I was able to explore the abandoned resort. The resort began as a luxury getaway for the rich and film studio that provided a stunning location and view. Perched on the side of the cliff over looking the Sooke Potholes I can see why this would have been an amazing location. Due to financial difficulties the developer halted construction. Today all that is left is the elaborate stone work that leaves what the resort would have looked like. Last I time I was there for a family camping trip the post and beam construction was still in place. In 2005 the land was donated to become a park and the resort was stripped of all the rotting lumber and sits in the state it is today. A truly remarkable place and I would have loved to see what it would have been like if it was completed.
Look out over the resort.
The resort as seen from below and how it was built onto the cliff.
Typical graffiti for a place like this, surprisingly there was not much.
Tags: abandoned, Deertrail Resort, sooke, UE, urban exploration, vancouver island
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