It was an incredibly beautiful day beginning with dense fog and ending with the brightness of a calm fall day that made everyone on board feel alive and so appreciative of the abundance of marine life in the area and the natural beauty that our local waterways provide. Little by little the fog began to clear and suddenly our first humpback whale was sighted, and so began the sighting of several more whales as the fog cleared further and we began to see far out into the Queen Charlotte Strait and across to the BC Mainland and Coast Range Mountains; the view-scape was and is magnificent, but on a day such as today, it truly was breathtaking with blue calm waters stretching far off into the distance and upon it a myriad of bird species gathered to feed while humpback whales could be seen in every direction. At one time, three whales were sighted surfacing and feeding together, another whale breached nearby twice, pectoral fins could be seen raised high and sunlight glistening on bull kelp as a whale surfaced from underneath the kelp, all of it was phenomenal! Because the whales were constantly moving about in the strong ebb current it was difficult to keep track of and count them all, with more seen further down in Blackfish Sound and far off to the west in the Queen Charlotte Strait and even as we made our way home through the Plumper Islands, another was sighted, some 8++ whales were sighted today! Bird watching was fabulous with large numbers of sooty shearwaters arriving to feed, often landing and diving simultaneously, their wing beat and gliding movement of flight just inches above the water was spellbinding to watch, as were the common murres, watching them dive deep down and disappear through the crystal clear waters was magic in the making. It was a blissful day of astonishing beauty and brilliant sightings. Other sightings included: harbour seals, stellar sea lions, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, sooty shearwaters, red-necked phalaropes, pelagic cormorants, white-winged scoters, surf scoters and great blue herons.

It was an incredible day for viewing orcas despite the fog that lingered in Queen Charlotte Strait and Blackfish Sound while burning off rapidly in Johnstone Strait on our return. Soon after we departed from Alder Bay orcas had already been located in Blackfish Sound and travelling through Weynton Passage we encountered one just north of Stubbs Island. The sighting took us by surprise when one of our passengers pointed back, having glimpsed at first one orca, followed by more in the heavy fog. It was exciting, especially so when the engine was cut and we could listen to their blows and loud vocals (G & A-Clan calls) and ecolocations via our hydrophone. They were spread out in their small family groups: mothers and their calves foraging together in the ebb current while mature males and older orcas were foraging nearby but on their own. Because of the fog we could not scan far off in the distance to keep track of all of the orcas who were in the area today but even so, the viewing of those orcas nearby was brilliant! The orcas we sighted were a mix of the A30, A8 and I15 matrilines. For those passengers who carried on to Alert Bay a single dalls porpoise joined us riding at the bow of the boat, almost all the way into Alert Bay which was a wonderful way to end the tour on. Other sightings included: dall’s porpoises, stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, oyster catchers and pelagic cormorants.

What an extraordinary day it was, the sights and sounds were unbelievable and breathtaking! Leaving this morning our tour took us out through Weynton Passage and the scenic Island waterways of the Plumper Islands into the top end of Blackfish Sound where the fins and blows of orcas could be seen spread out across to Swanson Island. We made our way, part way across and with our main sail hoisted we cut the engine and sailed quietly along with our hydrophone trailing and listened to the wonderful G-Clan calls initially from the I15’s but mostly A-Clan calls from the A30’s and A8’s. The I15’s were travelling along the Swanson shoreline and further out off Bold Head, seemingly in the lead while the A30’s, although they were also well spread out, they too were foraging but more into the centre of Blackfish Sound with the flood current moving some of them across towards Donegal Head and then out into the Queen Charlotte Strait. On our arrival, the orcas had been taking long dives and it was not long before we realized the reason why when several pacific white-sided dolphins were seen surfacing and swimming in their midst, they were playful especially with the A50 and A54 calves, A72 in particular. We enjoyed observing the A50’s and A54’s foraging nearby and listening to their loud vocalizations and ecolocation as they foraged back and forth and then watched in amazement as the A8’s commenced foraging alongside the hull of the boat, circling back and forth of their own accord as they had done so yesterday, and several passengers watched in astonishment as two very large salmon swam by, followed by an orca who was chasing them. We continued listening to their calls even as they all moved further north and it was wonderful to sit in the sunshine on such a beautiful day listening to their calls, their blows and also the blows of numerous humpback whales who could be seen near and far away in all directions! Leaving the orcas we turned our attention towards the humpback whales and enjoyed viewing them as they worked back and forth, it was easy to lose count as they were circling around in the flood current, there were some 7 ++ whales sighted. Tail lobbing was seen a distance away but one whale breached twice very close to the boat which was exciting to see, as was some active lunge feeding with two whales in the midst of a herring ball. The sooty shearwaters were again sighted in large numbers, gathering further out in the Queen Charlotte Strait where other birds were also feeding on herring balls. Other sightings included: harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes, stellar sea lions, glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles and pelagic cormorants.

It was surprising to awaken to a beautiful clear morning in Alert Bay and discover later on, fog descending mid-way as we were crossing over to Alder Bay. At the dock in Alder Bay we enjoyed some wonderful viewing of a mother river otter and her two kits as they played along the dock and boardwalk. With their heads peeping out from behind a plank, and them looking at us as though they thought we could not see them, it was a comical moment for us before they went about their business, playing along the boardwalk. We travelled out through Pearse Passage into Cormorant Channel where we had our first sighting of a humpback whale foraging through what remained of a herring ball, the fog had cleared off and the visibility was good at the time of our viewing. As we neared Donegal Head the fog had closed in again and we cut the engine to listen for blows and possible vocalizations. As we listened, we could hear both orca and humpback whale blows and also G-Clan orca vocalizations via our hydrophone. Stopping frequently to listen and working together with other boats of the whale watching community we caught up to a large group of orcas who were well spread out and foraging in the flood current in the Queen Charlotte Strait passing a second humpback whale along the way. The fog had cleared and the viewing was fantastic, as were the A & G-Clan vocalizations that we listened to while drifting in the current. There was mixing of family groups with orcas being spread far across, foraging back and forth with A30, A8, A25 & I15 matrilines, and possibly A23’s were among them as well and as we observed, two more humpback whales were sighted travelling east close along the Malcolm Island shoreline, parallel to where we were viewing from. It was especially exciting having A30, A38 and A39 forage nearby and the A8’s foraging at the stern of the boat having chased salmon alongside the hull, the vocals at that time were phenomenal! It was exciting today to see once again the familiar flight and sight of the sooty shearwaters making their way from their Alaskan feeding grounds, passing through on their migration to Islands in the Pacific Ocean off New Zealand, Australia, Chile & the Falklands where they will breed and feed. Making our way back home, two more humpback whales were sighted! Also seen: harbour seals, stellar sea lions, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, red-necked phalaropes, glaucous-winged gulls & bald eagles & marbled murrelets.

The weather today was gorgeous and the scenery stunning with the Coast Range Mountains forming a beautiful backdrop for the calm blue waters of Blackfish Sound and Queen Charlotte Strait and while the I15’s were reported being inside the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve at the time of our departure this morning, two groups of Bigg’s (Transient) orcas were reported down off Blackney Passage. We made our way through the Plumper Islands into Blackfish Sound, passing a humpback whale en route and sighting both orca and humpback whale blows down near Parsons Light. The orcas were made up of two different groups and had already been identified as the T55’s (a matriarch T55 & her three off-spring: T55A, T55B & T55 C) and the T59’s ( a matriarch T59 and her daughter T59A and her two calves T59A1 & T59A2). At our arrival, the groups were, and seemed to stay separate from one another moving constantly in the strong flood current in Blackney Passage and eventually they all made their way into Johnstone Strait travelling slowly east in the flood current. Meanwhile, the two humpback whales who had also been sighted in Blackney Passage at the same time as the transient orcas, they travelled in the opposite direction into Blackfish Sound. With a light SE wind blowing we hoisted our main sail and spent time sailing while we were with the orcas in Blackfish Sound and Blackney Passage. At our leaving at Cracroft Point we made our way west into Johnstone Strait and then into Weynton Passage. While viewing hauled out stellar sea lions a humpback whale was sighted breaching a distance away and we caught up to it in Cormorant Channel and enjoyed watching its dive sequence immensely. Other sightings included: harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, red-necked phalaropes, glaucous-winged gulls and bald eagles.

This morning we began our tour cruising first through Pearse Passage and then Cormorant Channel sighting several humpback whales en route as we made our way towards Blackfish Sound where transient orcas were reported travelling slowly west along the Hanson Island shoreline. The three orcas had already been identified as the T10’s, they were moving steadily, taking long dives as is usual for transient orcas but as they went by us at one point, we observed several stellar sea lions swimming in the water and waited until the orcas surfaced a distance away, they were not interested in hunting and carried on. With a light NW wind blowing we enjoyed time sailing in Weynton Passage with the orcas and as they moved on to the west we continued sailing in Weynton Passage where four or more humpback whales continued to feed, circling back and forth as we sailed along. The viewing was fabulous and with the sun shinning bright, it was an incredibly beautiful and relaxing day for all on board. Other sightings included: harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes++, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, belted kingfishers and great blue herons.

Shortly after departing from Alder Bay this morning a friend called to report that a humpback whale was nearby and foraging close along the Pearse Islands in Johnstone Strait. That sighting was the beginning of what was to become an amazing day of viewing with so many cetaceans being in close proximity of the top end of Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Sound. It was a day of close encounters with sights and sounds of numerous orca blows and also of humpback whales, an incredible viewing, acoustically wonderful and so good to simply sit back and observe beauty as it unfolded around us, moment by precious moment; especially when we were under sail in the light SE wind that was blowing at the time and while trailing our hydrophone when sailing quietly along, listening to both A & G-Clan vocalizations! When we arrived at Blackney Passage, the A30 matriline had already made their way into Blackfish Sound while other orcas (I15’s) were milling around the entrance to the Sound, making their way slowly against the flooding current, some taking the back eddie route along “the wall” and eventually along the Swanson Island shoreline, others continued into the Sound mid-way (A8’s and I15’s), very slowly, they were well spread out. The orcas we observed were taking long dives and we soon realized the reason why when numerous pacific white-sided dolphins were observed foraging amongst them and mobbing them when they came to the surface to breathe. As we ourselves left Blackney Passage, looking back into Johnstone Strait two large dorsal fins could still be seen travelling slowly east, they were later reported as being the A36 brothers (A37 & A46) who had arrived in the area overnight. The A30’s had stopped to forage midway in Blackfish Sound ahead of the other orcas and we observed as they foraged back and forth, observing while the A8’s and some of the I15’s caught them up, the viewing was fantastic and made all the more special because of the silence that surrounded all of us. With no boat noise or traffic, blow by blow the orcas could be heard, the sound of which punctuated the silence, it is hard to explain but was utterly profound to our listening ears. Leaving the orcas behind we made our way into Weynton Passage and while partaking of our Devonshire teas, all on board enjoyed the brilliance of five humpback whales foraging steadily, working the area, they circled back and forth. The lighting was superb and the humpback whales filled any gaps still needing to be filled in our fabulous day of viewing. What more could we ask for? Yet still, a single whale, continuing on further to the west, making its way towards the Pearse Island shoreline from Weynton Passage, the lasting image of a humpback whale; arriving back at our starting point this morning, just as we had begun with our first sighting of the day. Other sightings included: stellar sea lions, dall’s porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, red-necked phalaropes, california, mew & glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, great blue herons & belted kingfishers.

What an amazing day with the fog bank clearing within minutes of our departure from Alder Bay revealing a beautiful calm, clear and sunny Johnstone Strait! We encountered the A30 matriline as they headed to the west near the Baron Reefs and close to Cracroft Point. It was a surprise to see them as we had thought they were headed east as were the I15’s who were parrallel to them but across on the Vancouver Island shoreline, making their way towards the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. There were numerous pacific white-sided dolphins with the I15’s, a possible reason for the A30’s to move to the west and away from the pesky dolphins! The A30’s were strikingly beautiful today, perhaps because of the brightness of the day and the way in which they organized themselves, effortlessly it seemed with A30 and A38 close together with A39 well in the lead foraging up towards Hanson Island, A50 and A54 not far behind with their off-spring and then their orchestrated turn into Blakney Passage towards the end of the flood current and making way, far across Blackfish Sound A50 & A54 and calves on the Swanson Island shoreline with A30 travelling mid-Strait between her sons A38 & A39, a profound and beautiful image they formed, the three of them together. At this point we left the A30’s and began heading for home via several humpback whale sightings ahead of us, three of them nearby and one a distance away, followed by some wonderful viewing of hauled out stellar sea lions and kelp forests glistening in the sunlight, harbour seals and bald eagles; all of it amazing and unforgettable. Other sightings included: dall’s porpoises, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes++, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, great blue herons and belted kingfishers.

Heading out this morning the fog was clearing just ahead of us providing good visibility as we travelled in Johnstone Strait. The orcas (I15’s & A30’s) who were reported in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve earlier this morning were reported heading east at Adams River/ Broken Islands and still easting on the last of the flood current. We turned into Blackfish Sound and were soon in sight of two humpback whales, both of them were circling near Parsons Light before they began making their way west along the Swanson Island shoreline. Crossing the Sound we made our way to Double Bay where three more humpback whales were sighted in the near vicinity, another was sighted near Stubbs Island prior to our entering Weynton Passage. At Lewis Point on our way home, some 200+ pacific white-sided dolphins were sighted and it was fabulous watching as they passed us by heading to the east, some could be seen leaping clear out of the water and young calves were observed being close beside their mothers; it was exciting viewing and a memorable finale to a beautiful day on the water. Other sightings included: dall’s porpoises (and one bow-riding), stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes++, glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles and a newly fledged eaglet, white-winged scoters, great blue herons and pelagic cormorants.

We were underway a short time only this morning when we sighted our first humpback whale, followed by two more, it was an incredible beginning to a spectacular day! The blows of humpback whales could be seen in every direction and the lighting was sharp and bright making it easy to detect their blows when dall’s porpoises were suddenly riding at the bow of our boat, exciting all on board. While orcas were reported spread out and travelling to the west in Blackfish Sound on the ebb current others were reported being in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve and we continued on our way through Weynton Passage out into Blackfish Sound. The first orca we sighted was A38 followed by A30 his mother and the A54’s ( of the A30 matriline). A39 was over in the distance foraging off Bold Head and the A50’s were also in the direction of A39 having made their way west along the Swanson Island shoreline. Pacific white-sided dolphins were everywhere, travelling in off Bold Head they made their way over and were soon amongst the A30’s who were silent and taking long dives in their presence; the dolphins were alongside our boat some leaping clear out of the water, it was an amazing spectacle to watch. Leaving the A30’s off Donegal Head we made our way back towards Weynton Passage passing several humpback whales along the way while scanning for orcas who had been making their way west in Johnston Strait. Seeing small groups of fins and blows first across on the Vancouver Island shoreline we soon sighted some orcas off Weynton Island who were making their way towards us and as they passed nearby in Weynton Passage we identified them as the I27’s from the I15 matriline, other I15’s followed in the fast flowing ebb current, some going far across towards the Pearse Islands before being swept further out into Weynton Passage. As we drifted in the Passage while serving devonshire tea and celebrating a passengers birthday, the last group of orcas surfaced off the stern of our boat surprising everyone. It was a wonderful finale to a remarkable close encounter with so many cetaceans all in a relatively small body of water. Other sightings included: harbour seals, stellar sea lions, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes++, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, fork-tailed storm petrels, bald eagles and a recently fledged eaglet sitting high on a treetop.

It was a fabulous day to be out on the water and while there was a fall nip in the air, the day was warm and sunny on the water. We began our tour this morning, uncertain of the whereabouts of the A30 matriline who had been sighted heading west of Kaikash Beach around 7:45 a.m.. With there being no blows in sight when scanning down Johnstone Strait we made our way out through Weynton Passage and continued scanning with our binoculars out into the Queen Charlotte Strait and Blackfish Sound passing five humpback whales en route when suddenly the blows of orcas were in our sights! It was an exciting discovery and we made our way towards Swanson Island where we could see the blows and dorsal fins of several orcas moving west along the shoreline in the fast flowing ebb current. The first orca(s) we sighted was A38 followed by his mother A30 (A30 matriline) and suddenly while we were watching the other orcas making their way along the Swanson Island shoreline, a small group of possibly four orcas came from behind taking us by surprise followed by another two orcas whose fins at a glance resembled the A25’s. These groups were spread out and might well have been the A23’s and the A25’s but we cannot confirm this. It all happened so quickly when suddenly the fin of A66 appeared beside A79 and A42 was also sighted confirming the A8’s travelling close beside the A54’s and the A50’s (daughters of A30 and their calves) a small distance separated. The viewing was brilliant and close with the orcas swimming nearby, them having moved well out from the shoreline at the top end of Blackfish Sound while we sat drifting in the current, our engine cut listening to their beautiful A-Clan calls via our hydrophone. It was a special and moving experience for everyone onboard, especially for those who had never seen an orca or whale before. With so many humpback whales in the near vicinity, we changed course, moving away from the orcas (who continued on to the west passing Donegal Head), over towards Bold Head enjoying the viewing of several of them, some were tail-lobbing, others were breaching, the viewing was phenomenal! Making our way home crossing Blackfish Sound, Weynton Passage and finally Cormorant Channel there were several humpback whales breaching and one very close to the boat that nobody managed to photograph. It was amazing to see so much activity including bubble netting, which we all watched in excited amazement, spellbound! Other sightings included: dall’s porpoises, harbour seals, stellar sea lions, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, red-necked phalaropes++, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls and bald eagles.

It was a gorgeous day spent out in the Queen Charlotte Strait on the north side of Malcolm Island, a beautiful place to find ourselves on the first day of September! The water was calm and blue and the sky also with a crisp feel to the day and the orcas had a head start and a fast flowing ebb current enabling them to be well ahead. En route we sighted two humpback whales and rounding Donegal Head we could see orcas off in the distance, they were moving steadily to the west and were spread from Lizard Point to the Foster Islands in small groups and some could be seen porpoising ahead. They were foraging as they made way and we caught up to some of the I15’s, two of whom turned back to the east as did some of the others momentarily, at this point a humpback whale surfaced nearby and we enjoyed some wonderful viewing before it continued on its way east and we to the west. It was a beautiful sight seeing so many orcas spread out across to the mainland with the Coast Range Mountains looming behind as a majestic backdrop! Turning back we sighted several humpback whales off Bold Head and down into Blackfish Sound and making our way back around Donegal Head we sighted one across at the Plumper Islands and another off the north east end of the Pearse Islands. It was in Cormorant Channel that one, followed by another, surfaced suddenly nearby. Watching closely as they surfaced and dived, it was a grand finale to a beautiful day of viewing. Other sightings included: dall’s porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes++, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, fork-tailed storm-petrals and double-crested cormorants.

In the words of several of our passengers today, “it was a magical trip,” made so by the ever present fog that was never far away. The fog began to clear as we headed out this morning returning then clearing off intermittently bringing our attention to focus more often on smaller species, beautiful images that are often overlooked on a clear day such as gulls resting on logs, the flight of a fork-tailed storm petrel passing by and rhinoceros auklets disappearing from sight when diving under the water. The orcas (A23’s & A25’s) we encountered at Izumi Rock as they emerged from the fog, A61 was on his own and in the lead while behind him A86 could be seen closer to the Vancouver Island shore with A60 nearby. They appeared to be taking long dives and when several pacific white-sided dolphins were sighted swimming amongst them it explained the reason why. With dolphins interacting and mobbing them at the surface, the orcas usually dive and stay under the water longer than is usual; A86 in particular could be seen flanked by several dolphins who were rolling around and interacting alongside of A86, the dolphins then porpoising to catch up. The rest of the A23’s were ahead and close to the shoreline and with the hydrophone deployed A-Clan calls could be heard, all of the orcas were moving at a steady pace intent on foraging. The fog closed in and then abated allowing us to glimpse a black bear foraging along one of the beaches near Little Kaikash, it was observed rolling boulders about in search of food, at the same time a humpback whale was sighted behind us, angling across towards Hanson Island it too was headed west. Other orcas: the A30's, and I15's were in the area but further east. The tour was a magical one with the sun beaming down and piercing through the fog brightly at times, it added greatly to the atmosphere and beauty of the day. Other sightings included: dall’s porpoises, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, black turnstones and fork-tailed storm-petrals.

The day started off as a foggy one that began clearing as we made our way towards Weynton Passage and Weynton Island where orcas had been reported and suddenly in a moment, Johnstone Strait was clear revealing a beautiful day and orcas surfacing nearby! We encountered the I15’s resting and taking their time, some were foraging but mostly they were resting and drifting in the current slowly making their way out through Weynton Passage. It was thrilling to sit and drift ourselves with the engine off and the hydrophone deployed, listening to their G-Clan calls and watching the playful antics of the calves resting alongside their mothers but playful as well and also to observe pacific white-sided dolphins amongst them, playful also, at times they could be seen leaping clear out of the water. Making our way into Weynton Passage the fog closed in again obscuring the orcas and we carried on in the hope of seeing a humpback whale and within minutes one was sighted close-by, a second humpback whale was sighted near Stubbs Island on the edge of the fog line. Crossing over towards Donegal Head on our way home, we encountered the I15’s once again as they stalled before making the turn back to the east, meanwhile we made our way through light fog conditions in Cormorant Channel where we had the good fortune to sight four more humpback whales. There were numerous sea birds gathered and a herring ball and it was absolutely wonderful sighting the whales with sunlight beaming in through the fog! Other sightings today included: stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre++, red-necked phalaropes++, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles and pigeon guillemots.

The orcas were nearing the Sophia Islands when we encountered them and numerous dolphins this morning: the A30 matriline with A30, A50, A54 and calves together in a resting line while A38 & A39 were spread apart foraging. All of them were taking long dives because of the pacific white-sided dolphins who were interacting with and swimming amongst them and passengers also enjoyed viewing the dolphins as they travelled alongside and rode at the bow of the boat. We observed as A38 raced towards his mother and two sisters and calves and catching up with them, joined them as they made their way slowly further east, mid Strait, angling over in the direction of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. Leaving the area we made our way west and nearing Weynton Passage the blows of several humpback whales could be seen; spread apart the whales were intent on feeding in the fast flowing flood current. We countered six whales feeding in the relatively small area of Weynton Passage including one nearing Cormorant Channel and another westing mid Strait in Johnstone Strait; it was wonderful watching them in the fast flowing waters. We carried on our way home, crossing the Strait making our way over to Alder Bay and enjoying the viewing of a humpback whale when suddenly a minke whale was beside us, it was also making its way to the west and it was breathtaking to watch both of them surfacing and diving simultaneously nearby, a fabulous ending to an exciting day! Other sightings today included: dall’s porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles and a newly fledged eaglet, oyster catchers, harlequin ducks, black turnstones and pigeon guillemots.

An incredibly exciting day beginning with our crossing over to Alder Bay this morning when our passengers onboard smelt the breathe of a minke whale which we did not sight until we were nearing the dock in Alder Bay, it was foraging close along the shoreline of Cormorant Island and watching its movement it continued on out through Pearse Passage. Meanwhile on departing from Alder Bay we sighted the blow of a humpback whale and following along slowly behind, we observed as it also made its way into Pearse Passage realizing as we watched that there were two whales and not one, a mother and her calf! It was wonderful watching the pair as they made their way slowly along and into Cormorant Channel, the calf travelling close beside its mother, meanwhile the minke whale was sighted travelling west along the Cormorant Island shoreline nearing Sandyville. As we scanned the area we could see several more humpback whale blows and were soon up to a count of eight and counting! It was amazing to find so many whales in the confined area of Cormorant Channel and as the day progressed, we encountered three more, plus other humpback whales could be sighted off into the far distance of Bold Head. Throughout the tour we were never out of sight of a whale as just when we thought we were, another one or two would appear. We encountered whales lunge feeding, a stellar sea lion and humpback whale interacting together, at one point one of the whales breached, it was phenomenal viewing. Increasing numbers of common murres and large flocks of phalaropes were observed in the area, as well, there were numerous ‘ribbons’ of migrating birds sighted flying high in the sky on their way south. Nearing Alder Bay a minke whale was again sighted and when crossing back over to Alert Bay, the strong smelling breathe of a minke whale was again in the air. Of added interest, transient orcas, T11 and T11A were sighted passing by Alert Bay/Alder Bay at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. Other sightings today included: stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre++, red-necked phalaropes++, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, fork-tailed storm-petrals and pigeon guillemots.

The current was flooding when we set out this morning and the orcas who had been reported at Blinkhorn, spread out across Johnstone Strait, had turned back to the east. We began sighting blows near Cracroft Point, the sun was shinning bright and we found it difficult looking into the glare on the Vancouver Island side of the Strait. We found the A30’s spread out in the vicinity of Cracroft Point and observed the A54’s foraging back and forth wth pacific white-sided dolphins interacting with the younger calves. The rest of the family: A30, A39 and A38 were further to the west mid strait while the A50’s were resting further east, just past the Baron Reefs. The A25’s were also nearby and we enjoyed close viewing of them while sailing. A light wind was blowing at the time enabling us to sail along quietly with our hydrophone trailing while listening to their wonderful A-Clan calls. Leaving the orcas we made our way into Blackfish Sound and soon encountered a large group of several hundred dolphins, they were on a mission and continued swimming past us at a rapid rate, the viewing was amazing and enjoyed immensely by all! The final gifts as we neared Weynton Passage was a humpback whale sighting and soon after, numerous stellar sea lions who were hauled out with several swimming nearby. It was such a beautiful day with so much to see and enjoy! Other sightings today included: dall’s porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles and fork-tailed storm-petrals.

We were hearing and seeing whales well ahead of our tour even beginning this morning, with loud blows initially being heard from deep inside the Alert Bay breakwater main dock and then the sighting of two humpback whales, a mother and calf were sighted, matching the blows heard moments earlier, from our kitchen window. The two whales were making their way east in Broughton Strait passing the Nimpkish River but by the time we were departing from Alder Bay the humpbacks had disappeared but a minke whale was sighted, it had been passing by close to the dock prior to our loading of passengers. We made our way over to Weynton Passage where we sighted the first of many humpback whale sightings, with 10 or more being sighted (there were 13 reported in the area) but because there were so many whales moving about in all directions and in various distances away, it was not an easy task to keep track of the number we encountered. The day was an engrossing one as it unfolded, we passed several hundred dolphins intent on feeding as we made our way over to Bold Head, the dolphins while interacting around the boat continued to feed as we went by. The whales were active with several of them tail lobbing simultaneously nearby the boat and waving about their pectoral fins, breaching was also observed by numerous passengers looking in the right direction at the right time! It truly was an amazing day being surrounded by so many whales throughout the tour that even when we headed home we encountered and enjoyed some close viewing of three more whales! Other sightings today included: stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles and fork-tailed storm-petrals.

We got off to a good start this morning when soon after leaving the dock in Alder Bay a black bear was sighted foraging along a beach searching under boulders for food, it was a great sighting for those who had never seen a bear in the wild before. Continuing on we came upon two humpback whales, a mother and her calf who were lunge feeding close along the shoreline near to Lewis Point. It may have been Chunky and her calf but as the mother did not fluke we were unable to accurately identify the whales. The viewing was absolutely spell bounding and as passengers and crew watched the two whales working the shoreline, small shiny fish could be seen jumping at the surface of the water. It was interesting watching not only the mother lunge feed but also observing the calf doing so alongside of its mother. We continued on, travelling east in Johnstone Strait where we encountered orcas (I15’s) moving towards us from the Sophia Islets, they were well spread out and via our hydrophone we were able to listen to some G-Clan calls of the I15 matriline. Some blows could be seen across on the Vancouver Island shoreline but most of the orcas continued close to and along Cracroft Island side. We enjoyed observing as a juvenile stopped to forage around the Baron Reefs near Cracroft Point while the rest of the family were parallel along the shoreline. There were numerous pacific white-sided dolphins swimming among the orcas who in turn were at times taking long dives as though attempting to get away from the playful antics of the dolphins. We observed a mature bald eagle sitting on a log that it shared with a crow, both of whom were looking down at the orcas below them. We also observed the I27’s swimming near Cracroft Point and along Hanson Island shoreline, at one point I77 crossed by our vessel coming alongside then moving further out to forage and it was a wonderful opportunity to see him in such a manner and for many it was the highlight of the tour. Nearing the top end of Hanson Island several orcas could be seen resting, some were drifting out with the ebb current and were well into Weynton Passage and it was here that we left them as we headed for home. As we were nearing Alder Bay it was a final treat to see once again two humpback whales, a mother and her calf, passing by close to the shore, this time they were making their way slowly east and towards a gathering of auklets and gulls who were feeding on a herring ball; they were likely the same mother and calf that we had seen earlier on in our tour. It was a day of brilliant viewing and awe-inspiring beauty leaving all of us more appreciative of the natural world in which we live in. Other sightings today included: dall’s porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, black turnstones and fork-tailed storm-petrals.

It was another incredible day of viewing cetaceans, the sightings of which continued to amaze us throughout the tour. Shortly after leaving the dock this morning we were in the midst of hundreds of Pacific white-sided dolphins (300+) as they made their way slowly to the west, moving back and forth. The sound of them swimming above the water and via the hydrophone below the water was phenomenal! Watching some leaping clear out of the water, observing mothers with their calves close beside them and watching them all swimming tightly gathered, it was an amazing sighting and one not often seen. Finally, leaving the dolphins behind we made our way into Weynton Passage where we sighted our first humpback whale of the day, it was feeding in the fast flowing ebb current and we identified it as ‘Argonaut’. Making our way over to Bold Head we caught sight of another humpback whale working an area near the Wedge Island Light at the mouth of Knight Inlet and soon we were surrounded by three whales working the area, one of whom caught our attention by tail lobbing extensively and waving about its pectoral fin which was incredible to watch. Following this, two other humpback whales passed back and forth where seabirds had gathered and were lunge feeding simultaneously which was extremely exciting and fabulous to watch. Because the whales were moving about so much (you could see them off in the far distance as well as close by) it was difficult to count the number of whales in the area today, there were at least seven not including the mother and calf that we encountered on our way home. It truly was an incredible day of viewing! Other sightings today included: dall’s porpoises, stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, red-necked phalaropes, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagles, belted kingfishers, fork-tailed storm-petrals and pigeon guillemots.