Plethora of Wildlife - Made for a Special Day
Today just kept on giving. Moment after moment our encounters with wildlife just got bigger and better.
We were blessed with calm seas for most of the day apart from a short lived wind that roughed up the seas out in Blackfish Sound. Dark storm clouds threatened rain however it seemed we were always in the right place where the rain hardly touched us.
We were thoroughly spoiled by the presence of two A clan family groups of Orca - A30’s and A54’s which spent the entire day in the vicinity of Johnstone Strait, Hanson Island and Blackfish Sound. At first they were vocal which gave us the opportunity to hear their song-like A clan calls which was broadcasted from a small speaker connected to our underwater microphone. They mostly traveled tightly together, at times looking as though they were resting. How elegant they appear when they all surface to breath at the same time as though it was choreographed. A times playful behaviour was enjoyed by our guests as the younger whales syphopped and splashed their tails. We were thrilled to watch one fully breach, the entire body leaving the water creating a lively splash when they landed. As we drifted silently in the current, listening to their synchronized breath, as they swam close together displaying their complex social system. In that moment our entire boat of guests were silent, touched by this natural wonder.
A curious Stellar sea lion visited us as we drifted in a riptide and watched a vigorous feeding frenzy. Thousands of birds actively congregated both on top and above the water as a huge baitball formed. Bald Eagles joined the Gulls, Auklets and Murres and we witnessed success as the Eagles flew away with silver fish tucked tightly in their talons. Two to three Humpbacks lunged forward with wide open mouths to scoop the same schooling fish. How curious nature works when a bird as small as a Rhinoceros Auklet is eating the exact same food source as a whale which weighs over 30 ton.
We were thoroughly spoiled today by the gloriously rich and fascinating wildlife that thrives in this region at this time of year. How exciting to know that tomorrow is another day and more adventures will be experienced by our guests.
