Mirrored waters with breathtaking beauty!

September 5th

Our Sightings:

Orcas (A30's, A23's/A25's), Humpback whales, Harbour seals, Dall's porpoises, Stellar sea lions, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Gull species, Rhinoceros Auklets and Common Murres.

Today was an absolute stunner. There was warmth to this early fall day where the blue sky stretched as far as the mainland mountains to the East and out towards open ocean to the west. The sea was literally smoother than glass which offered breathtaking reflections particularly where Orcas were involved.

The local pods we encountered today were westbound and traveling. They glided effortlessly, their dorsal fins slicing though the water like a hot knife in butter. Seeing them gracefully swim on the calmest of seas, the sun's rays caressing their skin so delicately, created a black dorsal fin reflection that glittered and sparkled. Family members traveled side by side, mimicking a choreographed ballet performance as they surfaced in a subtly staggered line and in sync, creating the perfect picture.

Blows of Humpbacks remained suspended in midair, taking forever to dissolve due to the stillness of the air. Mirrored seas make Humpbacks seem even bigger, perhaps caused by being able to see their entire body through the transparent water if one happened to pass by close. Sunlit flukes that rose up from the sea looked like spotlights in the distance, and if we were in earshot of the blows  it seemed as though their volume doubled.

Two tours went out today and all faces came back smiling.

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