Orcas and Humpback whales were found amongst the waves today!
Sightings: Resident Orcas, Humpback whales, Dall's porpoises, Harbour seals and some pups, Stellar sea lions, 3 Black-tailed deer (2 fawns and their mother), Bald Eagles and one Eaglet in a nest, Belted Kingfishers, Red-necked Phalaropes, Rhinoceros Auklets, Cassin's Auklets, Common Murres, Black Oyster Catchers, Gull species and a Lion's Mane Jellyfish.
It was a wild and windy day on a blue ocean and with the sun shinning bright, it was a gorgeous day to be out and about experiencing all that we did! The Humpback whales were well dispersed with Conger and Ripple identified and in amongst the churning waves and current we could see their blows drift far and wide! Adding to the sights and sounds that accompanied us in the mix of wind and waves was herring ball activity and seabirds galore riding on the waves.
On the afternoon tour we were fortunate to find the two groups of Resident Orcas, the A30's and I15's (I4's and I65's) who had travelled in quickly through Weynton Passage and went east in Johnston Strait late in the morning but lingered in Blackney Passage where we observed them foraging. We also had a beautiful encounter with Ripple the Humpback whale as we made our way back home via Blackfish Sound.
The island waterways that we travelled through wore exquisite shades of green and golds and the water was the colour of emerald-green! Black-tailed deer were a special find for us today when we observed two small fawns still wearing their white spots and their mother we also glimpsed, camouflaged among the trees!
Photo's have been taken by Robin Quirk using telephoto lens.