Canada: some other animals

It wasn't all about the birds... well, it was, but here are some pictures of some of the other wildlife we encountered during our 7 weeks in Canada. 

Black Squirrel:

Eastern Chipmunk:

American Red Squirrel:

Common Garter Snake:

Black-tailed Deer:

Otter (and Salmon):

Harbour Seal:

Steller's Sealion, male, surrounded by females. Now that is what I call a gender difference:

Stellar's Sealions, females. Quite sensibly, in the water.

Purple Starfish, man:

Sea Otter:

Gray Whale:

Vancouver Island Black Bear:

Columbian Ground Squirrel:

Golden-naped Ground Squirrel:

Least Chipmunk:

Coyote:

Stag Elk. Can I state the obvious? "Look at the antlers on that!":

Black Bear:

 Big-horned Sheep:

There is enormous variation in the Black Bear population. From cool-looking Black Bear...

... to dopey-looking Black Bear:

Striped Skunk:

Orca:

And Humpback Whale, a three stage experience. First, the blow (allowing me to achieve a lifetime ambition of shouting "There she blows!" from a boat at a whale):

Secondly, the hump that gives this species it's name:

Finally, and most spectacularly, the tail:

Just to ensure this is not an entirely birdless post (I have the rest of my time in Cuddesdon for those), here is a self-portrait with a Clarke's Nutcracker in the Rockies. Quite rightly, Parks Canada forbid the feeding of wildlife in the National Parks. But those of you who know me well, will recall my daily habit of sitting with a nut placed on my outstretched hand at around 1pm. "How was I to know a Nutcracker would land there, officer?":