The Canadian Rockies with Lutra Wildlife and Wilderness
Lake Maligne in Jasper National Park
In June 2016 fellow Bird Photographer of the Year Director Andrew Cleave and I joined Lutra Wildlife and Wilderness, run by husband and wife team Lee Morgan and Lindsay Janes, for a tour of the Canadian Rockies. The trip was an experimental excursion and much of our packed itinerary now forms the basis of their ‘Wildlife of the Canadian Rockies’ tour.
Elk, an obliging photographic subject
Columbian Ground Squirrel, one of four species present.
Set in a landscape of spectacular mountains, sky-blue glacial lakes and thundering waterfalls, for the enthusiastic naturalist and wildlife photographer the Canadian Rockies offers a rich and diverse selection of photographic opportunities.
The two-week tour took us through the spectacular National Parks of Jasper, Banff and Yoho, and along the notoriously stunning Icefields Parkway. With long daylight hours and spring in full swing, we couldn’t have chosen a better time to experience the diversity this region has to offer. From the Montane and Alpine flowers and diverse range of bird species, through to the iconic mammals such as Black and Grizzly Bear, Elk and Mouse, we were never short of something to point a camera at. And if you love small mammals, there are plenty of those to photograph ranging from the gregarious ground squirrels (of which there are four species) to the endearing and rather timid Rocky Mountain Pika and the enigmatic Marmot.
Enjoy all this in the relaxed company of these two engaging and knowledgeable hosts who have a wealth of experience of the region and its wildlife. You will not fail to come away from the trip with a wealth of irreplaceable memories and two friends.
Black Bear cub.
Rocky Mountain Pika