Spectular Superpod!

What an amazing tour today! Our skipper left the dock at Alert Bay mid afternoon with a breeze blowing from the northwest and plenty of sunshine. After picking up more passengers at Alder Bay Resort, he headed towards Telegraph Cove and within a few minutes, there were literally huge numbers of those black triangular dorsal fins everywhere in sight, signifying Orca! Our Northern Residents that had been spotted the previous day were back in large numbers - well over 50, both the A and the I pods: I4s, I27s, I65s, A23s, A25s, A42s, A50s, A54s and A94s. There was a big spread from Telegraph Cove to the Stephanson Islands, with others in Blackfish Sound and at Stubbs Island… our boat caught up with them all. And to top it off, when our skipper lowered the Hydrophone, the A pod were chattering away and making all kinds of wonderful noise beneath the waves. What a good sign and so reassuring to know our ocean is healthy and supporting so many of these wonderful ‘black and whites’.

Not only were the Residents observed, but off Mitchell Bay on Malcolm Island, three Biggs Orca otherwise commonly known as Transient, were spotted heading west down Cormorant Channel. Once again the Humpback were foraging nearby - another trifecta!

Numerous golden brown Stellar sea lions were lounging at Sea Lion Rock and Harbour seals rested on the rocky islets of the Stephanson Islands. Two Bald eagles were seen high up with their nest, and the Red Necked Phalarope and Rhinocerous Auklet were swimming in Blackfish Sound and Weynton Passage.

Altogether a spectacle of wild marine life in this fantastic area where they feed and make their home, and where we are lucky enough to visit them in their natural habitat.