Resident Orcas: A34's and B7's with fantastic viewing + a Humpback Whale!
We enjoyed an amazing afternoon with much exhilaration and excitement generated by the surprise viewing of orcas emerging suddenly out of the fog leaving us all speechless and very, very happy! With fog lingering in places at the top end of Blackfish Sound and the I15's and A36's being east in Johnstone Strait, we decided to look initially for humpback whales and having seen a blow off Bold Head we carried on in that direction off the top end of Blackfish Sound scanning back and forth as we went and so it took us all completely by surprise when orcas suddenly appeared and rapidly too, emerging from behind the curtain of fog. We initially saw a group of seven orcas in a travelling line with four behind them in a travelling line as well, both groups were moving rapidly making it difficult to get a good view at them for identification purposes but we finally decided they were the A34's! How fabulous to see them, the first time that we ourselves have seen them this summer. It was exciting, the speed at which they travelled, intent on where they were headed, favouring the Hanson Island side of Blackfish Sound yet a distance out, they sped on, making for the middle of Blackney Passage where at Cracroft Point in Johnstone Strait they lingered briefly, some to rest and some to forage and then they carried on with the flooding current propelling them toward the rubbing beaches at the Ecological Reserve. Ahead of this, we also had a fabulous sighting of herring balls and then a humpback whale as well the sighting of a large wavy dorsal fin belonging to B10. The B7 matriline were also inbound in Blackfish Sound behind the A34's, and B10 was the leading orca of the B7's well ahead of the rest of his family! Also seen: dalls porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, bald eagles and gull species. Today's penned comments: "Thank you for this wonderful trip, we didn't hope to see so much! Thanks for sharing your tea, your muffins and your enthusiasm with us "~Lea & Jordi, France/Spain
"A fantastic trip with Killer Whales, we come along way to see them. A very good moment. Thank you very much~ Florence & Louise, France
"What a unique and amazing experience! Definitely not your typical whale watching tour. Maureen and Dave are so kind and personable. You can tell they really love what they do. I would recommend this trip to everyone." ~ Alanna, Vancouver, BC
