Another amazing day of marine mammal viewing!
September 15th
Today's Sightings:
Humpback whales, Orcas, Stellar sea lions, Harbour seals, Harbour porpoise, Pacific White-sided dolphins, Black-tailed deer, Bald Eagles, Red-necked Phalaropes, Cassin's Auklets, Gull species, Belted Kingfishers, Black Oystercatchers, Blue Herons and Common Murres.
Our backyard was a medley of activity and wonderful sightings of resident and transient animals that utilize the rich and abundant nutrients provided by the sea.
On a calm and sunny afternoon we meandered amongst the islands, through scenic passageways where the trees stood like guardians on either side of where we cruised. Bald Eagles kept their eyes upon us as we cruised by and Kingfishers swooped along the shore line, vocalizing to their mate that was only a few wing beats away.
The Sea Lions now dominate some areas of coastline as they have taken occupancy and are well moved in for the winter. Their grunts and groans will now be the constant companion for those who live remotely and nearby, away from the hustle and bustle of town.
During the afternoon, many Humpback whales friskily foraged, lunging within bait balls and filtering out the trapped water through their baleen plates. These curious sights of Humpback jaws, limbs and fins are such a delight for our visiting passengers to observe and attempt to photograph.
We had an unexpected visit by a resident pod of Orcas we don't often encounter in these parts; the B's. They were accompanied by the A34's who travelled in the same vicinity. We know that as we move into the second half of September and particularly into October, the sightings of Orca will be less frequent. We are making the most of these magical moments because it will come a time when our resident Orcas will move on. July is a long time to wait for these magnificent animals to return.
How blessed and grateful we are to witness such rich delights and have the perfect weather to keep us warm, dry and comfortable.
Seasmoke Whale Watching photo's have been taken with a telephoto lens and have been cropped.