What a wonderful day it has been for viewing orcas in the area! Shortly after leaving the dock at Alder Bay this morning orcas were sighted ahead of us off the Pearse Islands in Johnstone Strait and some had just entered into Pearse Channel, the timing could not have been better! Our first sightings were of the C6’s and passengers had a nice viewing of C18 traveling with his mother C6 while C16 and the rest of the pod were spread out foraging nearby. Behind them following the same route were the C10’s who were traveling with some of the I11’s (I13 and calf I108) the rest of the I11’s followed along behind. It was fabulous to see them moving slowly but steadily along in a relaxed manner to the west in Cormorant Channel. At the same time passengers were also able to view the juvenile Gray Whale who has been in the area for the past several weeks and it was a special treat to observe Orcas on one side of the boat and the Gray Whale on the other side feeding along the shoreline. And yet there was still more to come as more orcas were sighted traveling through Weynton Passage heading towards Donegal Head. It was beautiful, the lighting was superb with orcas moving in amongst the bull kelp off Donegal Head. Around the corner of Donegal Head in the Queen Charlotte Strait the orcas appeared to stall and passengers observed some wonderful interactions including spy-hopping and tail slapping among the A30’s and A5’s as well they listened to their A-Clan calls via the hydrophone. These orcas were the trailing groups well behind the A34’s, A12, A36’s, G17’s, G29’s, G12’s, I15’s and G31’s traveling west in Queen Charlotte Strait. On the way back to Alert Bay a small group of Pacific White-sided Dolphins joined us briefly at the bow of the boat. It was a fantastic day with over 100 orcas in the area and absolutely one of the very best tours of the season! Other sightings today included: Stellar Sea Lions, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Dalls Porpoises, Harbour Seals, Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres++, Red-necked Phalaropes, Bald Eagles++, Mew and Herring Gulls.