It was a beautiful day for the 360 annual kayak race around Cormorant Island and also for whale watching with large patches of blue sky appearing as we headed out this morning and sunshine following. With a hydro/internet outage in Alert Bay this morning we had no record of the orcas movement overnight and so it was a surprise to see the orcas approaching quickly from the east along the Hanson Island shoreline as we neared Weynton Island and with our engine off and hydrophone deployed it was a joy to listen to their A-Clan calls clearly audible in the still calmness of the morning. While we were viewing the orcas, a large group of pacific white-sided dolphins traveling at a rapid rate came into view from the east and made their way towards Weynton Passage, they were also seen mobbing the orcas on their way through. A large male orca went by us who we believe was A37 and a female who we thought to be A12 and soon after several more females and their calves also went by and another large male was sighted passing through Weynton Passage as we drifted in the current. With the dolphins racing a group of orcas surfaced and taking their time they made their way slowly through one of the island passages of the Plumper Islands called Lulu Island passage, at this time we were able to positively identify the pod as the A34’s, with A34’s mother A12 traveling well ahead with the A36 brothers, A37 and A46. The lighting was beautiful as we passed out into Blackfish Sound and observed as the A34’s who had begun heading east in Blackfish Sound slowly drifted out into the Queen Charlotte Strait following A12 and the A36 boys. It was astonishing to then see before us the unmistakable dorsal fin of a humpback whale and to enjoy viewing in close proximity both the humpback whale (Freckles) and the orcas. We were viewing a bald eagle nest with two large Eaglets, both of whom were exercising their wings under the watchful eyes of their parents when more orcas were reported passing into the same Lulu Island Passage as the A34’s had done so an hour earlier. These orcas, the A23’s and A24’s slowly made their way through the narrow passage passing close in amongst kelp forests and then began making their way east down through Blackfish Sound. It was an amazing and busy day for cetaceans as numerous groups of dalls porpoises had also been sighted throughout the tour, one group of 10+ we observed feeding intensely in a small bay. Other sightings included: stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, herring, california and mew gulls, red-necked phalaropes,marbled murrelets, and bald eagles.

It was a fabulous day on the water and although it was raining while we were viewing the orcas, they were clearly visible and wonderful to see. We encountered the A24’s as they traveled close along the West Cracroft Island shoreline, they were westing, having turned back from the east just prior to our arrival making our viewing a timely one. The forested islands accentuated and nurtured by falling rain were glorious shades of green and beautiful to see alongside of the orcas. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises++feeding and ‘rooster-tailing’, rhinoceros auklets, herring, california and mew gulls, red-necked phalaropes, cassin’s auklets, and bald eagles. Photo's of the two bald eagles and river otters were taken this morning from Alert Bay.

What a beautiful day it turned out to be with a NW wind blowing that enabled us to hoist our mainsail once we were out in the Queen Charlotte Strait. Early in the tour the blow of a humpback whale was sighted and as we drew closer we observed that it was taking long dives and feeding near to Stubbs Island where a large group of rhinoceros auklets had gathered. We were cruising out into the Queen Charlotte Strait when two orcas were reported moving east towards the White Cliff Islands and then a puzzling discovery was made. The large male orca was identified as being A39 and the smaller orca was A30 matriline, the mother of A39. Both orcas appeared to be foraging, A30 was a distance behind A39 and she was taking long dives with only one breathe between the dives. What was perplexing to us and the other boats watching was that the rest of the family, nine other orcas: A30’s oldest living son (A38) and her two daughters (A50 and A54 ) each with three calves of their own, were not with them. We scanned and scanned for long periods of time but were unable to sight them and believed that they might have gone closer to the BC mainland inlets or further NW. Traveling back we encountered herring ball activity with gulls and eagles feeding intensely at the surface of the water where rhinoceros auklets were also feeding. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, herring, california and mew gulls, red-necked phalaropes, pelagic cormorants, white-winged scoters, cassin’s auklets, and bald eagles ++ including two large eaglets in a nest.

Heading east this morning with a report that orcas were westbound at Adams River we also headed towards clearing skies. The resident orcas, A12 and the A36 brothers who travel with her were wonderful to see. Their blows could be seen in the distance and it was exciting to see as they drew near. A12 looked strong at 7o years of age, she was foraging alongside of A46 while A37 who was in the lead was further out from the Vancouver Island shoreline; they were traveling at a steady pace, foraging along the way. As we watched, we could see as they made a heading directly towards the rubbing beaches of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, bald eagles, herring, california and mew gulls, red-necked phalaropes and belted kingfishers.

It was a glorious day out on the water with the sun shining throughout the tour. The A23 & A24 resident pods of orcas were reported late in the morning easting at Adams River while humpback whale sightings came from all directions. Crossing to Alder Bay this morning a humpback was sighted traveling west, a second one was reported traveling to the east near the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve and two more were traveling west in Johnstone Strait from the Boat Bay Light. It was in Blackfish Sound that we sighted a humpback whale, it was taking long dives and appeared to change its course frequently. It seemed smaller when compared to another humpback whale that we also sighted in Blackfish Sound, this one we identified as KC (9 years old) a whale seen frequently in the area. Several stellar sea lions were sighted swimming in small groups in close proximity to the humpbacks. Cruising through numerous island waterways the water was crystal clear and kelp forests glistened stretching out behind us as we passed by. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, harbour seals, a white-tailed deer (buck) black turnstones, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, common murres, bald eagles++ and three eaglets in two nests, harlequin ducks, herring gulls, belted kingfishers and red-necked phalaropes.

This morning we toured out through Weynton Passage where a stellar sea lion was sighted hauled out, another was later seen in the water swimming. At the top end of Blackfish Sound the blow of a humpback whale was sighted by one of our passengers, another was seen in the distance close to Parsens Light and as we watched two humpback whales surfaced near the bow of the boat taking us all by surprise. They were identified as KC (9 years old) and Moon Star (3 years old) they were actively feeding and we observed as they went their separate ways. A minke whale was sighted briefly and then suddenly another two large humpback whale blows were sighted, the whales were traveling in from the west off Donegal Head, they were identified as Horizen and Lefty. The viewing was superb and their diving and surfacing sequence was wonderful to watch. The presence of seabirds feeding intensely around us was mesmerizing and we watched spellbound as gulls and bald eagles fished for herring, the eagles taking turns to fly in with their talons ready to snatch at the herring gathered in a ball at the surface of the water; it was exciting indeed! Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, harbour seals, oyster catchers, black turnstones, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, bald eagles and three eaglets in two nests, surf and white-winged scoters and red-necked phalaropes.

It was an incredible day of viewing from the moment we left the dock at Alder Bay when a small group of pacific white-sided dolphins were sighted feeding nearby. When we were well underway they caught up to us and were swimming alongside and riding at the bow delighting all onboard. They left us briefly but were soon back and proceeded to accompany us alongside all the way past Blinkhorn when we were surprised by the sight of a humpback whale fluking, the whale surfaced again and carried on to the west, it was fabulous to see. With orcas just ahead of us we cut our engine and deployed the hydrophone and waited quietly our mainsail hoisted observing as some of them foraged close along the Vancouver Island shoreline. It was the A24’s, intent on feeding they moved quickly along, at times turning back but moving steadily west they went as far as Beaver Cove, their A-Clan vocals were wonderful and it was intriguing listening and then observing as they all turned and began traveling back to the east. Some pacific white-sided dolphins were seen swimming amongst them as well. We cruised back via the island waterways enjoying the scenery and viewing of bald eagles, a nest that today showed us for the first time two large young eaglets sitting high in the nest the parents of whom came flying towards the boat as we cruised by landing opposite the nest. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, harbour seals, oyster catchers, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, bald eagles, red-necked phalaropes and herring gulls.

It was a beautiful day with so much to see wherever one looked and with the sun shining bright everyone was happy! The orcas were well spread out in Johnstone Strait this morning, several pods were down east close to the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve (A23’s, A24’s, A36’s with A12) while the A30’s and B7 matriline who were nearing Cracroft Point turned back to the west. We observed the B’s resting and traveling very close to the Hanson Island shoreline while the A30’s were mid strait angling towards the Vancouver Island side, A39 was observed foraging well ahead while A38 was back with the rest of his family who were relaxed and resting while moving slowly westward as well. It was interesting to see a small group of pacific white-sided dolphins moving through and to observe the orcas taking long dives in their presence. Cruising through the island waterways was glorious to see in the sunshine with the kelp forests glistening and soon we were at the top end of Blackfish Sound where a humpback whale was sighted. The backdrop with the Coast Range snow capped mountains and the humpback whale nearby was a stunning sight; waiting in anticipation for the whale to fluke and then watch as it mysteriously disappeared was exciting. Other sightings included: dall's porpoises, harbour seals, oyster catchers, harlequin ducks, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, bald eagles, red-necked phalaropes, marbled murrelets and herring gulls.