July 26th

Thanks to Jackie Hildering for this excellent photo of SV Tuan and the Orcas!

Today was full of surprises. This morning as we cruised north we meet up with a small family of resident orcas known as the A24's, consisting of the matriarch (aged 40) and her three surviving offspring. We traveled alongside this group observing them sleeping as they made their way towards Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. The afternoon trip was just as exciting as we sat and watched a mother humpback feeding while her calf breached and frolicked next to her. The highlight of the day for many was the unexpected arrival of a Horned Puffin, a very rare bird in this part of the coast. The MV Cetacea spent the afternoon in Johnstone Strait with the A24's. Passengers observed them as they entered Robson Bight, known for the rubbing beaches that are frequented by resident orcas during the summer. Other wildlife sighted throughout the day included a wandering tattler, harbour seals, Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, bald eagles, rhinoceros auklets and common murres.