Whales galore ~ Magnificent Orcas and Humpback Whales!
What a fantastic day we have had! On our morning tour we encountered a humpback whale in Blackfish Sound and as we made our way east, we sighted another at Flower Island, one at White Beach Passage and another in the near vicinity, crossing over towards White Beach Passage! Orcas were reported moving to the west and we carried on and met up with the I15's in Blackney Passage, they were making their way slowly against the current but keeping on a steady course to the west and so did we. It was fabulous viewing, the I15's were well spread out on both Vancouver and Hanson Island shorelines and we and our passengers enjoyed some beautiful family interactions with tail and pectoral slapping, spyhopping, resting and foraging behaviour, as well we listened to some wonderful G-Clan vocalizations of the I15's. On our afternoon tour, in Weynton Passage we met up with the two orca groups in the area, the I15's and the A42' s all of them having continued up from the east and in the heavy tidal currents of Weynton Passage our passengers enjoyed seeing some wonderful interactions between the family groups, observing the young as they porpoised, spyhopped and frolicked amongst each other in the bull kelp. Also seen, at least five humpback whales, Argonaut and Guardian among them, with one of them surfacing through a kelp forest. Also seen today: dall's porpoises, stellar sea lions, harbour seals, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, black turnstones, red-necked phalaropes, bald eagles++ fishing on herring balls and an eaglet in a nest. Homeward bound the glassy calm waters gave way to a beautiful rainbow arching across the Strait, a grand finale to a magnificent day! Penned comments of the day:
"A wonderful trip! So beautiful to see the Orca's nearby, seeing and hearing the sounds. Thank you Maureen for the delicious scones and tea. " Yvonne from the Netherlands
"Great to sail through a fairytale landscape and encounter the wildlife. Very pleasant guidance and delicious catering, and the sound of the Orcas was beautiful!" Andre, Helen, Styn and Steve from the Netherlands.
