It was a truly amazing day, one reminiscent of typical fall weather; a blue calm sea and sky where the visibility is crisp and clear and one can see for miles, out behind Malcolm Island in the Queen Charlotte Strait. As always, the whale watching boats of the North Island whale watching community share information regarding sightings and so it was this morning, when orcas were first sighted off Donegal Head, we headed in that direction observing as we travelled, a Humpback Whale blow in the opposite direction in Blackfish Sound. The orcas, the A36 brothers and A12 were spread out foraging, A46 was over towards the Foster Islands in the company of a single Pacific White-sided Dolphin, A32 was foraging back and forth closest to Donegal Head but making his way towards Lizard Point where A12 was also making her way to while A37 was ahead of her. The viewings were wonderful and the backdrop of the coastal range mountains were superb. Other orcas were suddenly sighted close to the Foster Islands and as we drew closer they were identified as the A34’s travelling in three small groups, the Matriline A34 with A55 and A80 and her two daughters A62 & A67 with their off-spring. It was very exciting to see them when earlier there had been no sign of them at all. The bird life was fabulous to see today, there were still some Sooty Shearwaters present feeding near herring ball activity along with Murres and Auklets, as well, 9 Swans and 5 Sandhill Cranes flying south, 9 Surf Scoters flying with a single Red-breasted Merganser in its formation and later, on our return, another 16 Sandhill Cranes were sighted migrating south as well. There were four Humpback Whales sighted in Blackfish Sound, it was wonderful to see their blows and arching backs as they disappeared from sight and exciting to see them surfacing nearby. While Stellar Sea Lions were numerous+++hauled out, there were many sighted swimming a distance from land and on our way home, a Minke Whale was also sighted nearby. Other species seen: Harbour Seals, Dalls Porpoises, Bald Eagles, Red-necked Phalaropes++, Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres, Surf Scoters, Pelagic Cormorants, California, Mew, Glaucous-winged & Herring Gulls.