It was a beautiful day for touring, beginning with fog and ending with brilliant sunshine. As we made our way through Weynton Passage this morning the fog hung low in places allowing ones imagination to wander amongst the islands as they were slowly revealed to us, the beauty unfolding around us was breathtaking. We encountered orcas as they made their way quickly west in the heavy ebb current near Stubbs Island, they were well spread out, some making their way very close along the shoreline at Donegal Head. We were able to identify the A35’s and we also saw A60 and A85 there were other orcas with them but we could not be sure who. We left the orcas as they continued moving west and headed to Bold Head where we had sighted blows of a humpback whale, it was fabulous watching as it surfaced and dived and exciting to see two more humpback whales, a mother and her young calf. As we waited for them to surface after a long dive we were suddenly surprised to see the calf breaching once, it was an amazing sight! Other sightings included: steller sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, herring, california, bonaparte and mew gulls, common murres, black oyster catchers, red-necked phalaropes, pelagic cormorants, belted kingfishers, bald eagles and two eaglets in a nest.

As we headed out this morning we were unsure which direction to take, the I11’s had been reported traveling to the west in the Queen Charlotte Strait off Lizard Point while numerous other orcas were easting in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. We decided to head to the west but without any further reports of the I15’s, we traveled east into Blackfish Sound passing two humpback whales and a minke whale en route, we also had a small group of dall’s porpoises riding briefly at the bow of the boat which was exciting to see. A third humpback whale was sighted at the bottom end of Blackfish Sound near a herring ball where a large number of gulls and rhinoceros auklets had gathered and were feeding. Entering Blackney Passage blows could be seen on Vancouver Island shoreline and as we drew closer we could see some of the orcas emerging through the fishing boats and nets working the shoreline. When we stopped and listened, it was wonderful hearing the A-Clan calls via our hydrophone. The A23’s traveled close against the shoreline with A60 and A85 in the lead with the A30’s following but angling towards Cracroft Point with A38 in the lead foraging ahead. Further behind came the A35’s with A73, they too were making for Cracroft Point as were the A8’s and A61 behind them. The orcas moving in their family groups were moving slowly against the flood current. It was a wonderful day for viewing, glassy calm and sunny. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, herring, california, bonaparte and mew gulls, common murres, red-necked phalaropes and bald eagles.

There were numerous pods of orcas in Johnstone Strait today. Early in our tour this morning blows could be seen in the distance along the Hanson Island shoreline in Johnstone Strait and we encountered them moving slowly west near Turn Point, they were the A30’s who were spread out with A38 passing us by, he was in the lead foraging. A50 and her three calves were nearby and we observed them resting, spy-hopping and playing together, rolling over one another especially A72 and her two sibblings and then chasing after A50 as she commenced to forage. With our hydrophone deployed their A-Clan calls were constant and wonderful to listen to and were clearly audible above the water as well. The A24’s were also resting nearby and we observed them interacting together, spy-hopping and tail slapping. Other orcas further east in Johnstone Strait this morning were the A11’s, A23’s, A36’s and A12. Leaving the A24’s we made our way into Blackfish Sound via the Plumper Islands where we sighted the blow of a humpback whale that was feeding at the top end of Blackfish Sound. It was fabulous to watch as the whale surfaced and dived and while we were observing it, more orcas could be seen traveling in off Donegal Head. It was exciting indeed to watch as more and more orcas became visible passing in close to the kelp forests as they rounded Donegal Head. The orcas were traveling in their matriline groups and we identified them as the I15’s and although the matrilines (I16, I27’s, I4’s, I65’s) were swimming separate from each other by a short distance, because they still travel together they have retained the matriline name of their mother I15 who died 5-6 years ago. We listened briefly to their G-Clan calls which sounded very different to those of the A-Clan orcas we had heard earlier. As we were leaving the orcas as they made their way towards Weynton Passage a second humpback whale was sighted. It was a superb day for viewing. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, herring, california, bonaparte, glaucous-winged and mew gulls, pigeon guillemots, common murres, bald eagles and belted kingfishers.

A fabulous day of viewing! Instead of looking at resident orcas, passengers had a close encounter with 5 Transient orcas but prior to this there were humpback whales to view. As we entered Blackfish Sound this morning we sighted the blow of a humpback whale and as we drew closer passengers enjoyed watching as it foraged. Shortly after a large herring ball was sighted in the distance with two humpback whales feeding amid a myriad of seabirds and then a third one was sighted further away bringing the count to four humpback whales in a short space of time and close proximity to each other. The 5 Transient orcas (T18’s & T19’s) were sighted traveling towards the entrance of Knight Inlet, they were intent and moving stealthily along, it was remarkable watching their movement. Again and again we watched as they surfaced and dived, disappearing for minutes, threading their way amongst the Surge Islets at the mouth of Knight Inlet. It was an amazing experience to observe them and to anticipate where they would surface next. Leaving the area, we sighted two more humpback whales further down in Blackfish Sound. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, herring, california, bonaparte, glaucous-winged and mew gulls, common murres, harlequin ducks, marbled murrelets and bald eagles.

We headed out this morning with little news of the orcas, the last report from overnight had them traveling to the east and so we headed in that direction. With faint calls being reported in the direction of the east end of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve and getting louder we continued to scan and finally could see blows nearing the east end of the reserve and as we watched we could see orcas moving rapidly along the Vancouver Island shoreline inside the reserve and passing the rubbing beaches. Looking across Johnstone Strait to the West Cracroft shoreline two orcas were sighted, they were swimming side by side, also moving to the west. As they came closer we were able to identify them as A60 and A85. They turned back to the east briefly before continuing on to the west, other A23 orcas were also seen close into the shore. It was a beautiful day the sun was shining brightly in the afternoon on our way home. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, rhinoceros auklets, herring, california, bonaparte and mew gulls, common murres, bald eagles and red-necked phalaropes.

Each day on the water our experience is different to any other previous experience, we never know one day to the next where the orcas will be, what pods we might see and what other marine mammals will be in the area. When we left the dock this morning we could never have imagined the brilliant viewing that lay ahead for us. We encountered the orcas traveling west along the Hanson Island shore and with our engine off and our hydrophone deployed we drifted east on the flood current listening to their beautiful A-Clan calls. The A24’s surprised us when they stopped and rested nearby with two of them spy-hopping beside the boat thrilling everyone on board. As we watched they turned back to the east at ‘Turn Point’, crossing over and making their way in a resting line towards Vancouver Island where the A23’s were also sighted heading back to the east. Other orcas had been sighted at the top end of Blackfish Sound and we headed in that direction being very fortunate to watch as a group of Transient orcas made their way steadily east in Blackfish Sound, they surfaced nearby but it was difficult to identify this transient group from the Transient ID book.; we noticed that a very young calf was amongst them. At the top end of Blackfish Sound a humpback whale was sighted briefly and then a second one, we watched as it surfaced and dived and when it fluked we were able to identify it as ‘Chunky.’ Traveling back via the scenic waterways it was fabulous to see two eaglets sitting up high in two separate nests, two of them we could see were flapping and exercising their wings. It was a remarkable day with so much to see wherever we looked. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, steller sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, herring, california, bonaparte and mew gulls, common murres, bald eagles, harlequin ducks and belted kingfishers. Today we made the mistake of leaving behind our camera battery that had been charging overnight and are unable to post any photo's ourselves. These photo's were sent by one of our passengers: Eline Breems. Thank you Eline!

The orcas were reported heading east and nearing Izumi Rock when we set off on tour this morning, traveling east. We sighted a humpback whale in Weynton Passage as we passed by the entrance and small groups of dalls porpoises were also sighted nearby. We sighted the two pods of orcas, the A23’s and A24’s as they were moving steadily to the east passing through the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve where they had stopped to rub on the beaches before carrying on past the east end of the Reserve boundary where we were able to view them at a closer range. It was a gorgeous day, the water was a glorious shade of blue that was dotted in white where large flocks of gulls had gathered to feed in the tide line at Blackney and Weynton Passages. On our way home dalls porpoises joined us riding at the bow of the boat for a considerable distance delighting everyone on board. Other sightings included: rhinoceros auklets, herring, california and mew gulls, red-necked phalaropes, a great blue heron, surf and white-winged scoters, common murres and marbled murrelets.

Traveling into the Queen Charlotte Strait this morning large gatherings of gulls could be seen spread over a wide area with other seabirds gathering with herring ball activity. A humpback whale was sighted traveling west while we were en route to view the orcas that we lost track of while viewing the orcas. We sighted the orcas at Black Bluff, they were well spread out, some close in towards the shore while others were further out. As we were viewing A60 as he foraged a distance away suddenly a young orca appeared just off the bow of the boat surprising everyone. The vessel stopped and while drifting we watched in astonishment as it swam the length of the boat and then around the boat three times, it was chasing salmon and surfaced the last time with a salmon in its mouth. It was an amazing experience, the memory of which will last a long time for everyone on board. The orcas who had headed west this morning had been the A24’s and we believe that the A23’s were also with them with our viewing of A60. We left the orcas at Bere Point, watching as they cleared the beach, they were still traveling west. Other sightings included: rhinoceros auklets, common murres, pigeon guillemots, herring, california and mew gulls.

Soon after leaving the dock in Alder Bay this morning orcas were sighted nearby, they were the same groups as yesterday but this time the A23’s were the lead group with the A24’s following behind somewhat playfully as our passengers observed much interaction between family members and as they rubbed in along the kelp strewn shoreline, some tail slapping and spy-hopping was observed and lingering moments in amongst the kelp forests as we sailed along with the help of a light NW breeze. After leaving the orcas we traveled into Blackfish Sound where we encountered some heavy fog patches however the humpback whale ‘Freckles’ was clearly visible as it moved about in circles feeding in the Sound. The highlight of the tour was some fabulous viewing of a large group of exuberant dalls porpoises who leaped and darted around the sides and bow of the boat, they were clearly enjoying themselves as were all of us on board! Traveling home through various island waterways and back into sunshine it was good to see an eaglet in one nest and at another nest, where two eaglets had previously shared, one of them was sighted in branches just above its nest while the other was high on a bough of a different tree with the parents sitting nearby. Other sightings included: hauled out harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, belted kingfishers, herring, california and mew gulls, red-necked phalaropes, common murres and marbled murrelets,

The morning found the orcas in Johnstone Strait resting, they were the A24’s, A23’s and A85 they were close along the Vancouver Island shoreline where the fog lay low on the water before disappearing completely and we could see their dorsal fins and blows in the distance, a striking contrast against the treed shoreline and whiteness of the fog. As they made their way further east they picked up speed, the A24’s were in the lead, the others following a distance behind as they made their way closer to the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve and their rubbing beaches. Watching their synchronized surfacing with breathes taken prior to their dive was mesmerizing and beautiful to watch. Leaving them to enter the Reserve, we left the area and made our way back via Blackfish Sound and the Plumper Islands where the scenery today was spectacular and where kelp forests and tree foliage sparkled in the sunshine. Other sightings included: stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, belted kingfishers, herring, california and mew gulls, red-necked phalaropes, common murres, black turnstones, marbled murrelets, a fork-tailed storm petrel and bald eagles with two eaglets, one in a nest and one sitting high in the branches of a tree near its parents.

It was a truly amazing day of viewing cetaceans in the area. En route to viewing orcas we initially sighted a humpback whale that was moving towards Weynton Passage. Meanwhile, we encountered the orcas, A12 with the A36 boys (A37 & A46), they were spread out foraging near to the White Cliff Islands and as we watched they joined together in a traveling mode beginning to move in the direction of Blackfish Sound but separating again when A37 began to forage, leaving A12 & A46 side by side moving slowly east. Suddenly a large group of pacific white-sided dolphins appeared out of Retreat Passage and soon, 200-300 of them were all around us, some moving further east in the direction of the orcas who suddenly disappeared from our sight. Watching a feeding frenzy of dolphins nearby we sighted pink salmon swimming around the boat, hiding from the dolphins they were directly alongside the hull, it was incredible to watch as the dolphins hunted back and forth around us! The dolphins continued to feed on the salmon while the orcas appeared a distance away, moving west toward the Penfold Its. On our way home passengers enjoyed viewing two eaglets, one was still in the nest while the other was sitting beside a parent on another tree adjacent to the nest. Dall’s porpoises appeared alongside and suddenly they were darting back and forth at the bow of the boat exciting everyone on board. It was a remarkable day indeed! Other sightings included: harbour seals, and a multitude of seabirds: rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, common murres, herring, california and mew gulls, red-necked phalaropes,marbled murrelets, and bald eagles.