The day was overcast but the sea calm and the visibility was excellent for viewing. Just after leaving Alder Bay this afternoon we had a brilliant photo opportunity of a Bald Eagle feeding on a salmon on the beach. The mood was set and we were excited about what might follow next.

The orcas were reported to be rubbing at the beaches in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve and we initially went in that direction, hoping that they might begin travelling out of the Reserve and to the West but that was not the case. While they continued rubbing, we went looking for Humpback whales and found one travelling east along the Swanson Island shoreline towards Flower Island from Bold Head.

When it was reported that the orcas had moved out of the Reserve and had crossed over to Cracroft Point we headed in that direction. We were thrilled to see some 20+ orcas, the A23’, A25’s, and A30’s who were foraging extensively. We also observed some Pacific White-sided dolphins swimming with orcas mid Johnstone Strait. The highlight of the tour was sitting back and listening to the loud clear A-clan calls of the orcas via our hydrophone. They were spectacular sounds that left us all spell-bound.

When we headed out again on our second tour, we encountered the orcas a short time after leaving the dock. They were the same groups that we had seen earlier in the day and we were fortunate to see them at the entrance to Beaver Cove. They were milling about and while we watched, they made the turn and began travelling back to the East. It was quality time that we had viewing them and the water being quiet and calm, the sounds of their blows and movement through the water was made even more beautiful.

We enjoyed viewing two Humpback whales who were foraging at Stubbs Island, and just like on the earlier tour, we also saw numerous Dall’s porpoises, Stellar Sea Lions, Harbour Seals, Black Turnstones, Bald Eagles, Gull species and Rhinoceros Auklets.

It was a spectacular and visually awe-inspiring day!