Orcas and Humpback Whales ~ Amazing!

Our sightings: Northern Resident Orcas, Humpback Whales, Steller Sea Lions, a Mink, Bald Eagles, Rhinoceros and Cassin's Auklets, Common Murres, a Common Loon, an Arctic Turn, an American Wigeon and Gulls.

It was an incredible tour that found us venturing out into the Queen Charlotte Strait looking for orcas who had been reported travelling west early in the morning. We caught up to the I15's and identified I27+ new baby and I107 swimming together, they were being harassed by Pacific White-sided Dolphins and taking long dives. I77 who is the son of I27 was swimming with I128 who belongs to the I16 Matriline. Several more orcas were seen in the distance but as I128 was identified, it was likely the rest of the I16's. We left the orcas who carried on travelling very slowly west.

There were many Humpback Whales in the area today. Guardian and the new whale Fern was identified but in total, there were about 15 HB's in Blackfish Sound today! We observed some nice flukes and a breach far in the distance.

It was a fabulous day beginning first thing this morning when we saw a Mink running along the beach in Alder Bay and ending with some brilliant viewing of Stellar Sea Lions swimming nearby!

Photo credits: Muriel Halle. All photo's have been cropped and taken with a telephoto lens.