Orca's once more!

Seasmoke Whale Watching photo's have been cropped and taken with a telephoto lens.

Our sightings today: Orcas, Humpback whales, Harbour seals, Dall's porpoises, Bald Eagles, Belted Kingfishers, Black Oystercatchers, Cassin's and Rhinoceros Auklets, Red-Necked Phalaropes and Glaucous -winged gulls.

It was an overcast but calm day and a strong ebb tide stirred the tranquil sea, turning some passage-ways into a turbulent river, as large volumes of water were forced out through narrow channels. As we cruised close along the shore we could hear Oystercatchers squawking, competing with the also vocal Kingfishers which swooped from tree to tree in search for food.

It was an Orca day today. How exciting it was to see our resident Killer whales who we have come to know as family. Those skippers and whale researchers who have watched and studied these whales for over three decades, can identify them by their distinctive notches and scars on their dorsal fin, the shape of their saddle patch and the number of family members they are traveling with. Once the hydrophone goes down their vocalisations can also tell us which pod we are so fortunate to be observing. The A30's and I 15's were the pods we saw today.  Their stunning black and white streamlined bodies built for speed and agility rose up to the glassy surface of the sea, releasing their breath in sync with other family members.  At times we observed them travelling so close to shore and while the underwater microphone was down, we could hear A-Clan vocals loud and excitable, like kids in a playground. This made us wonder whether they could be rubbing on the smooth pebbled beaches that exist along these shores.

During our tour today, three magnificent Humpbacks surfaced in our vicinity and among them were large groups of Red Necked Phalaropes, utilizing the same area of water to forage. How impressive it is to see these creatures side by side, one as small as a field mouse and the other the size of a school bus.

It was a stunning day where once again we were gifted by such precious encounters with some of the earths most magnificent creatures.