Sailing with the A30's ~ phenomenal viewing of foraging orcas especially A93

What a wonderful time we shared with the A30's today, our entire time with them was spent sailing and it was so lovely as well, being able to listen to their A-Clan calls and echolocation via our hydrophone trailing behind us as we sailed along. The morning was a gorgeous one with a red sky reflecting across the waters here in Alert Bay while in Alder Bay when we arrived, the lighting had changed to blues and greens with golden glints and it was beautiful listening to the cries of gulls who had gathered in large numbers, a familiar sound as summer begins to wane. Today it was at the bottom end of Hanson Island where we encountered the A30's this morning, they were foraging in Blackney Passage, spread out, A39 was in the lead this time, foraging close to the Hanson Island shoreline when they began travelling to the west; the A50's came behind with the A54's following and A38 lingered awhile in Blackney Passage before he too made his way west but a distance out from the shoreline. With our mainsail up and a light southeasterly wind blowing it was perfect for moving us along, quietly at the same pace as the orcas. What an incredible experience we all shared in when the A54's turned back to forage nearby us, and unbelievably A93 commenced to forage intensely around our boat. Back and forth, lunge feeding at the stern with giant lunging splashes and swimming alongside the hull and then back and forth at the bow, it was phenomenal viewing to say the least! Looking through the photographs taken for identification, it was easy to ascertain from the open saddle patch that the orca was none other than four year old A93. Leaving the orcas to continue on their way foraging west, we made our way in through Weynton Island (small passage) viewing numerous hauled out Harbour Seals and Pigeon Guillemots while in the distance the blow of a Humpback Whale was sighted. En route to viewing the whale we enjoyed observing the leisurely pace of several Stellar Sea-Lions, lying in shallow waters, they were unperturbed at our watching them! The Humpback Whale was moving about considerably in Weynton Passage in the flooding current, there were herring balls++ with gulls++ feeding on them as well. Also seen today: Dall's Porpoises, Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres, Black Oyster Catchers, a Double Crested Cormorant, Bald Eagles and an Eaglet sitting high in branches, Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Ruddy Turnstones, Gulls of numerous species++.