Orca and Humpbacks in the Shimmering Sun

Every day just keeps getting better as we move through the month of August, even the fog has stayed away with just a hint of it in the early mornings. As we look at the marine forecast it does show a low pressure system building. Perhaps rain and cool will be a nice change to give moisture back to our trees, soil, rivers and streams.

The Northern Resident Orca came into the vicinity this afternoon and so our guests were delighted to observe these magnificent animals. Three pods of A clan kept us company as they traveled west, then turning back to the east shortly before we left them. At one stage a pod went straight between two Humpback whales which foraged in the same area. It was absolutely awesome to see two completely different whale species together. The Humpback is 45 feet long, weighing approximately 30+ ton and have plates of baleen attached to their upper jaw, unlike the 27 foot, 8 ton toothed dolphin we call Orca. Humpbacks have the tiniest throat therefore can only eat small schooling fish or krill so they are no threat to the killer whales. And, our residents Orca are salmon eaters, they have no interest in other marine mammals like our Transient (Biggs) killer whales. All creatures great and small sharing in the same ocean space and eating different items on seafood menu.

Everything was shimmering today with the hot sun and calm sea conditions. The bull kelp bulb and stipe sparkled on the surface and the Harbour seals and Stellar sea lions that moved among these ocean forests also glistened.

There were a number of Humpbacks in the area today, more than we have seen in sometime. Two foraged at Flower Island, four were seen in front of the research station Orca Lab, and we spotted at least two on our way home through Wheyton Passage.

With our local Canadian visitors and fabulous whale and wildlife encounters, we at Seasmoke are grateful to be operating this season, despite the lack of foreign visitors and the extra Covid protocols we have had to put in place. People are thrilled to have the opportunity to be present, soaking in the beauty and feeling blessed to witness such magic.