Trip Information

Date: October 2008

Duration: 5 days

Leaders: Richard Knapton

Limit: 18 people

Cost: TBA

From: Churchill, Manitoba

Featured birds & mammals:
• Polar bears
• Hoary Redpoll
• Rock Ptarmigan
• Willow Ptarmigan
• Gyrfalcon
• Snowy Owl
• Arctic Fox
• Ringed Seal

Trip Summary:
• Easy to moderate walking
• Cold winter weather
• Simple shared accommodation
• All meals included
• Lots of photographic opportunities
• Maximum of 18 people
• One or two leaders
• 15-passenger vans
• Tundra Buggies

As winter approaches, polar bears from mothers with cubs to massive adult males make their way to the shores of Hudson Bay. There they gather, and wait for the bay to freeze so that they can head out onto the ice to hunt for seals. It is at this time that polar bears occur in the Churchill area in numbers larger than anywhere else on earth! We view these superb mammals at close range from the safety and comfort of specially designed tundra buggies When we take a break from bear-watching, we look for Hoary Redpoll, Rock and Willow Ptarmigan, Gyrfalcon and Snowy Owl, and Arctic Fox and Ringed Seal.

See detailed itinerary below.

To download a registration form click here

2006 Polar Bear Tour bird and mammal list (112kb pdf)

2005 Polar Bear Tour bird and mammal list

Click here to download a list of birds and mammals from our 2004 Polar Bear Tour.

Ptarmigan photo by Bill Swan

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival and orientation
Our tour starts today as we gather in Churchill and settle into our comfortable accommodations for the next four nights.

Days 2 to 4 - Polar bears and other goodies
Our days here are organized around the times of departure of the specially-designed all-purpose Tundra Buggies. On two days, after breakfast, we board these specially equipped vehicles and head off along the shoreline east of Churchill in search of the great white bears. Polar Bears have small ears, and their hearing is not particularly sharp. They have, however, an acute sense of smell and very good eyesight (good vision is essential in the open habitat of the Arctic), and we should see Polar Bears standing up tall on their long hind legs as they scan the landscape, looking and watching everything that is going on around them. If ice has started forming close inshore, we may witness a bear hunting Ringed Seals (their most common prey) either by stalking them or waiting patiently beside a seal’s breathing hole. When a Polar Bear kills a seal, it usually only eats the skin and blubber, leaving the meat essentially untouched; such a windfall of food is not lost on other Arctic creatures, and Arctic Foxes and Common Ravens follow Polar Bears hoping for just such a meal after a kill. The bears themselves are either indifferent to the Tundra Buggies, or are curious and will come close to the vehicle to inspect it; either way, we get very close to bears and hence we are afforded excellent photographic opportunities.

We have the chance to see both species of ptarmigan from the buggies as well. Willow Ptarmigans are most likely in the shrub communities away from the shoreline, whereas Rock Ptarmigans frequent the more exposed rocky ridges and outcrops. The time of arrival of Rock Ptarmigan varies from year to year, but there should be a few which have migrated south to the Churchill area by early November. Snowy Owls are also migrants to the area, and they too are most often found on rocky ridges. When we are in town, we check the grain elevators and tall buildings in case a Gyrfalcon has taken up residence, and we take special note of redpolls should we encounter a flock, as most of the redpolls found here in winter are Hoary.
On one day, we explore the boreal forest just south of the town of Churchill, looking for such species as Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay, and maybe a Three-toed or Black-backed Woodpecker. Nights in Churchill.

Day 5 - Departure
After breakfast, time permitting, we may have a last look around the town of Churchill, before our tour ends and we depart Churchill and fly back to Winnipeg, arriving in the early afternoon.

What to Expect

We do not start particularly early, as sunrise at this latitude in early winter is quite late. On most days breakfast will be at about 7:30 a.m. and then we leave for the day with a packed lunch, returning about mid-afternoon to our accommodation. There will be plenty of opportunities for sight-seeing and, of course, to take lots of pictures.

The weather will be cold. We can have bright blue skies and sunshine, or windy days with snow. Please dress warmly; bring clothing that can be added or removed as circumstances dictate. Also plan on bringing warm headgear, scarves, gloves and footwear that is both warm and waterproof. We will not be on extended walks unless the weather is sunny and calm. The terrain of most trails and side roads will not be difficult. Accommodation and meals are at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, which is located outside of town, very near to where the Tundra Buggy tours begin. Rooms are usually shared with three other people of the same gender in bunk beds. Washrooms are also shared. Meals are also served at the Northern Studies Centre. Bring lots of film—photographic opportunities should be excellent. You will not need to bring insect repellent - there won’t be any! Each evening we will review the list of birds and other wildlife that we have seen and heard and we will discuss the plans for the next day.

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