It was a busy day for viewing orcas as they traveled back and forth in Johnstone Strait. This morning we encountered the orcas at the Sophia Islands, they were traveling to the west and moving steadily along, A11’s with A73 and A28, as well there were orcas on the Vancouver Island shore traveling parallel, they were the rest of the A8’s and the A36’s with A12. Just past Cracroft Point at Blakney Passage some of the VI shore orcas began crossing over towards Hanson Island, all of them continuing to the west. On the afternoon tour, all of the orcas had turned near to Weynton Passage and were heading back to the east. They continued as far as the Robson Bight Ecological Bight, some of them foraging at the estuary of the Tsitika River.
As we watched the orcas move through the Ecological Reserve, a large Black Bear was sighted feeding at the estuary. Other species also seen today: Harbour Seals, Dall’s Porpoises, Harbour Porpoises, Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres, Black Oyster Catchers, Black Turnstones, Belted Kingfishers and Bald Eagles.