First Grizzly of the year

[ChrisW]

With friends over for a few days we took them to our favourite place, Upper Kananaskis Lake. After enjoying some beachcombing we set off back to the car park and were flanked by a large grizzly who walked along adjacent to us for 1km. Never getting close or threatening, just making his way toward the picnic area and bins, for an early spring bear he was a damn good size.

The 'closer' pictures are of dubious quality owing to the huge distance involved and the cropping needed to get it close enough to warrant posting. For those interested in such things all shots were made with a canon 5d and a 28-300mm image stabilized lens, handheld.

This was our first bear sighting this year and it was every bit as exciting as all our previous sightings, it seems the exhilaration never wears off. We stopped on the way out and reported to the conservation officer as always.

I've added a couple of other shots from the day too, hope you enjoy them

[trekker53]

Fantastic photos there Chris. Your so called poorer quality pics is better than most others. I'd imagine your visitors were very happy to witness this.
The landscape is beautiful as ever.

[StevenF]

[CharlesT]

He's a big lad isn't he! Great photos and wonderful scenery. The butterfly looks like a Comma, do you have an id for it?

[Steve B]

And there was me pleased with seeing a pair of Cuckoo in Glen Sheil a couple of weeks ago!

[gammy leg walker]

If you don't mind Chris I will stick with the midges.

[ChrisW]

Thanks all, it was a real treat.

Sorry Charles, my knowledge of butterflies over here is worse than my knowledge of Stoats....er....weasels

There was a large number of them around, all the same and all looking very battered, they must have been out for a while and on their last legs I think.

[CharlesT]

Ever the nerd, Chris, it's a Green Comma (Polygonia faunus) widely distributed and locally common in North America. Adults hibernate over winter and mate the following spring. They are tatty looking anyway and over-wintering probably doesn't help.

[ChrisW]

Ever the nerd, Chris, it's a Green Comma (Polygonia faunus) widely distributed and locally common in North America. Adults hibernate over winter and mate the following spring. They are tatty looking anyway and over-wintering probably doesn't help.

Great info Charles thanks

[Paul Webster]

That's just amazing Chris

[wildcat43]

Oooh, scary stuff
Doesn't it put you off walking out there? Would me, especially after seeing the film The Edge with Ant Hopkins/Alec Baldwin.
Stunning scenery though.

[ChrisW]

That's just amazing Chris

Thanks Paul, to see these things in real life is just incredible and something I never get used to.

Oooh, scary stuff
Doesn't it put you off walking out there? Would me, especially after seeing the film The Edge with Ant Hopkins/Alec Baldwin.
Stunning scenery though.

There's no need to be put off Wildcat (even after viewing that movie which I've seen twice and each time thought, that's just ridiculous ) Bears don't really like to eat us so if we just make noise and stay out of their way they will happily go about their day without confrontation.......most times ..

[Mountainlove]

Oh they are fantastic pictures. Must be so great to see a Grizzly!!
Love the picture of the Inuksuk!