The weather on the North Island today was exceptional and timely! Today has to be one of the warmest days that we have had all summer and the water was glassy calm, the day was perfect in every way and seeing the orcas as they approached us from the east was awesome, their blows lingered long in the calm still morning light, it was a beautiful sight. As the boat sat drifting and with our hydrophone deployed we were suddenly aware of orcas foraging nearby and while they had been foraging close along the shoreline a distance from us, suddenly A54 and her calves could be seen foraging around the boat, alongside of us and watching them swim underwater was breathtaking; A38 also foraged nearby and it was a treat to listen to their A-Clan calls via the hydrophone. As well as the A30 matriline, the A5 ‘s were also in the area today and what has been the case this summer, A85 could be seen traveling alongside of and foraging close to A60. When the orcas turned back to the east, the A5’s traveled back along the Vancouver Island shore while the A30’s choose to forage off Cracroft Point, turning back to the east briefly, they were soon back foraging off Cracroft Point and we had some exceptional viewing of A50 and her calves at this time. Near a kelp patch at Cracroft Point we had an interesting encounter with two Stellar Sea Lions, one of them was swimming right alongside of and under the hull of the boat several times. It was a fabulous days outing and the viewing of orcas superb. Other sightings included: dalls porpoises, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murres+++, herring, california and mew gulls, belted kingfishers and bald eagles.