ULTIMATE LOONS Birds and Wildlife of the British Columbia Interior

Each year, as winter eases its icy grip on the interior plateau of British Columbia, the vibrancy of spring overwhelms the landscape. Foliage begins to reappear, and with it, the return of the area's many songbirds; their arrival marked by a familiar cadence of notes which fill the warming air. Ice shifts and cracks, eventually freeing itself from the shores of the many lakes which dot the landscape.

In these cold, nutrient rich waters, one of the world's most regal birds makes its home each breeding season. A bird that for many people fortunate enough to spend time in this part of the world, is the true harbinger of spring. An icon of boreal wilderness and a national symbol of Canada: the Loon.

Evening light catches the "necklace", eye, and commanding bill of an adult Common Loon.

Here in British Columbia, Loons travel eastward from their estuarine wintering grounds along the Pacific Coast, navigating through the tall peaks of the Coast Mountains, arriving at their breeding grounds in late April. Staging on large lakes where ice-off takes place earliest, they make reconnaissance flights over their territories on smaller lakes, waiting patiently for open water. Unlike many other species of water birds, Loons need large expanses of water from which to take flight. Heavy, with a physiology far more adept for a life spent swimming beneath the surface than flying high above it, proper runways are of utmost important. The sooner they touch down, the sooner pairs can begin staking claim on their preferred territories. Though known for their calm and graceful demeanour, fierce battles arise between neighbouring pairs, with some savage disputes even ending fatally. This fervor isn't without due cause, for the health of their forthcoming young relies heavily on availability of food and protection from the many hazards they face.

What occurs during the subsequent weeks is why we continue to travel to these special places year after year - to observe and photograph these beautiful birds nesting and raising their adorable chicks.

A few day old Common Loon chick hitching a ride.

Generally quite a timid species, in many cases, photographing Loons can be challenging. However, through several seasons spending time with the same pairs, we've established a trust that allows for truly tremendous photographic opportunities.

An adult Common Loon brings its chick a damsel fly larvae.

About the Area

Located in the interior of British Columbia, the lake and surrounding area teem with wildlife. The region's plentiful intact wilderness includes a variety of habits; including innumerable lakes, marshes, meadows, and mature woodland. This diversity provides opportunities for a whole host of charismatic wildlife to flourish. Of particular interest to us, of course, are the many breeding pairs of Common Loons. Other highlight species are Great Grey Owls, Red Foxes, Mountain Bluebirds, Ruddy Ducks, Eared, Horned and Red-necked Grebes, Red-naped Sapsuckers - the list goes on...

Keeping the well-being of the wildlife in mind, to ensure these locations become unspoilt, the exact location of the workshop will only be provided to those registered for our trip. Those that wish to attend are required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Cruising the backroads during the height of spring.

The Boats

Having the proper tool for the job is important - for both capturing images and getting into just the right position. Having employed various methods of approaching waterbirds in the past, we've determined our flat bottom jon boats to be the best combination of stability, comfort and mobility. When using the powerful gas motors, these crafts allow us to move quickly from various locations on the lake, maximizing our light and diversity of photo opportunities. As our intended subjects grow near, we shut down and employ the use of silent electric trolling motors. These allow for smooth movement through the water, minimal ripples, and most important of all, no disturbance to the wildlife. As our group will be using two separate crafts, you'll be shooting alongside only one or two other photographers.

The Accommodations

A beautiful and spacious lakeside cabin will be your home for the duration of the workshop. Accommodations are shared amongst our participants and we maximize privacy through thoughtful room assignment. Open the backdoors to a scenic view, and our boats are just steps away. It can be tough to leave the property at times, as Loons, Minks and Grebes routinely cruise past the dock!

Daily Schedule & Meals

As photographers, the old adage "Early bird gets the worm!" couldn't be more applicable. Keeping that in mind, if the weather is clear, we'll meet each morning on the dock at 4:30am. Before you enjoy our morning shoots, you can help yourself to a morning snack from our well-stocked kitchen - tea, coffee, yogurt, pastries, fruit, etc.

Our morning photography sessions generally wrap up by about 9:00am, when the light may become harsh and wildlife activity decreases. Proceeding this, you'll be served a delicious, hearty breakfast while checking out your latest images. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated.

Our midday activities are largely weather dependant. If we're fortunate enough to have some clouds to filter the bright, overhead sun, we'll spend as much time as we can exploring other photo opportunities in the surrounding areas. Between shoots, presentations will be given to supplement our in-field instruction. These will include participant image reviews, post processing demonstrations in Photoshop and Lightroom, and discussions about compositional theory, camera techniques, etc.

At around 4:00 - 4:30pm, we'll break for an early dinner at a local restaurant. Refueled, we'll head back out for another few hours of photography as the evening light improves.

Great Grey Owl photography in a grove of aspens.

By approximately 9:30pm, we'll return to our accommodations on the lake for some well-deserved rest. Spacious common areas will allow you to review and process your photos, or to just chill out and have a snack.

Rather than sticking to a strict itinerary, we approach each day differently. Our plans will be determined by weather conditions and wildlife behaviour. Our goal is to put you in the right place at the right time to come away with the best possible images. Willingness to work with a potentially changeable daily schedule will enhance your successes.

Should you wish to enjoy a slower pace, or simply need to sleep in, or take an afternoon to relax, you're of course more than welcome to do so.

Instruction

One particular aspect of our workshops that we take great pride in and that sets us apart from many other outfits, is the high level and amount of photographic instruction that we provide. You are not here to pay for our photo holiday. You are here to learn and experience tremendous wildlife encounters. As such, our time belongs to you for the duration of the workshop. In fact, it is rare that we take our own images, other than to demonstrate angles or check exposure settings.

Naturally, level of experience and learning objectives differ from person to person. Through email dialogue prior to the workshop, and in-field discussions, we aim to establish areas where each participant may hope to improve. Our low participant to instructor ratio allows us ample time for one-on-one teaching.

The variety of subjects and scenarios lends well to teaching a broad encompassment of lessons and techniques. One morning we may wish to focus on achieving perfectly exposed highlights while out with the Loons, and that evening, we may cover low light techniques while watching a Great Grey Owl hunt for voles. The spontaneity of wildlife photography is all part of the fun!

Other Photographic Subjects

Several weeks of scouting each year ensure that Loons won't be the only species in front of your lens. We would be remiss to overlook the many other charismatic species that can be found in the immediate area. Though Loons will be our primary focus, here are some other highlights to expect...

The Owls

The true ghost of the northern forest: the Great Grey Owl. We look forward to introducing you to these breathtaking birds.

Great Grey Owl fledging season coincides with our trips, leading to some fantastic photo opportunities.

With eggs tucked safely beneath her, a female Great Grey Owl peers over the edge of her nest.

Seeing these majestic birds on the hunt is not to be missed.

Songbirds & Woodpeckers

A male Mountain Bluebird with a caterpillar destined for several hungry mouths.

As "secondary cavity nesters" Mountain Bluebirds take up residence in the vacated holes of woodpeckers.

Energetic Ruby-crowned Kinglets fill stands of spruce with their melodious songs.

A male American Redstart sings from a spruce bough.

Tree Swallows can also be found nesting in vacant woodpecker cavities along the forest edge, and feed on flying insects, such as these caddisflies.

A White-throated Sparrow sings his sweet song.

Eastern Kingbirds are an attractive species found along the periphery of marshes and meadows.

Western Tanagers are a common denizen of the coniferous forest.

Red-naped Sapsuckers - a western speciality - can be found nesting in stands of trembling aspen.

Hairy Woodpecker - another cavity nester.

Foxes

A Red Fox pup peers out of a 120-year-old barn that served as its den, along with four other siblings.

Portrait of a ten week old pup.

Wetland Birds

An elegant Eared Grebe, bathed in evening light.

We'll spend time with the incredibly beautiful Horned Grebe.

Red-necked Grebes nest along the marshy perimeters of the area's many lakes.

A cartoonish male Ruddy Duck performs his bubbly courtship display.

The display call of a Pied-billed Grebe has to be one of the strangest birds sounds in North America!

Bonaparte's Gulls are a common sight during our trips on the lake. The only gull to readily nest in trees.

What participants are saying...

"Jess and Connor provided a great time for all, and were attentive to any particular needs that individuals might have had. They are articulate, knowledgeable on the area, the various species, and photography in general. But what made it extra enjoyable is that they are genuinely just really good, likeable guys, and have a positive energy which makes everyone feel at ease. Highly recommended!"

Below you'll find a small sampling of the incredible images taken during this workshop by some of our participants. Believe us - it was hard to choose which shots to include!