Lots of Playful Porpoises!

What a beautiful start to the day! Just as the MV Seasmoke was getting ready to leave the Alert Bay dock, a magnificent rainbow appeared over the water towards the west. Conditions were flat, calm with a warm, light breeze blowing from the southeast and a sky filled with fluffy clouds, interspersed with clear blue patches.

This was a special day for interaction with the Dall’s porpoise, at least 20 of them that swam playfully with the boat both in the wake and at the bow. So much fun for our passengers, who had never experienced this kind of closeness with our local sea life. These swift-swimming creatures are identified by their black colouring with distinctive white patches, and are difficult to catch on film as they make a quick visit to the surface, but don’t bring their bodies right out the water, and will travel to a speed of up to 55 kilometres an hour.

Recognizably different from the porpoises are the Pacific White-Sided dolphins who also appear in our waters. A lone dolphin was seen swimming in Blackfish Sound near Hanson Island on today’s tour. Also considered to be a playful animal, their appearance differs from that of the Dall’s porpoise as they sport a white strip down the side of their bodies, that contrasts with the gray to black of the rest of their coat.

In the same vicinity as the dolphin, six to eight Stellar sea lions were sighted, and four Humpback’s were counted around Donegal Head at Malcolm Island, foraging for the little fish and krill that constitute their diet.

And let’s not forget the birds! A large number of Red Necked Phalarope were swimming off the east side of Hanson Island, as were the Rhinoceros Auklet. In the Plumper group of islands, a large Bald eagle’s next was spotted too.

What a great day for our passengers, some who were back for a second trip within a week, to experience the natural wonders of this very special part of the world, where sea life abounds and where we don’t have to go far to watch dolphins, porpoises, whales and sea lions in their natural habitat.