It was another beautiful day out on the water and shortly after we got underway on tour this morning a small group of Dall’s Porpoises joined us riding briefly at our bow as we cruised along, it was a wonderful start to the tour! It was shortly after this that we received a report of two whales, thought to be orcas, were traveling in Pearse Channel near to Cormorant Island. Turning back we headed in that direction and soon sighted the whales that we had considered might be Transient Orcas however they were identified as a pair of Minke Whales traveling together. The sighting was exciting as it is not often in this area that we encounter two Minke Whales traveling together but as we cruised along slowly observing the whales it was apparent that one Minke Whale was traveling east along the Pearse Island shoreline while the other had turned back to the west. Leaving the Minke Whale behind us we made our way through the Stephenson Islands observing kelp forests, hauled out Harbour Seals and numerous bird species including 5 Black Oyster Catchers. In Weynton Passage a Humpback Whale was sighted, it was identified as ‘Freckles,’ a whale that is frequently seen in this area. It was feeding in wide circles and because the water was so calm without a ripple stirring, even from a distance away the whale’s flukes were easily visible on the water surface just prior to it diving. A Minke Whale was again sighted in the distance and was possibly the same whale that we had sighted earlier. Cruising through the scenic island waterways numerous Stellar Sea Lions were sighted in the water as were several Dall’s Porpoises, some of whom were ‘rooster-tailing’ as they raced along. Bald Eagles and their nests with newly fledged Eaglets sitting nearby were also observed. Other sightings today included: Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Black Turnstones, Belted Kingfishers, Red-necked Phalaropes, Bald Eagles, Mew and Herring Gulls.