A Trifecta of Whales

It was a trifecta of whale sightings today which included a Minke whale encounter towards the very end of our tour as we cruised through one of the narrow passageways in the Pearse Islands.

We set off in the mist and rain which felt like a blessing after so many weeks of scorching sun where streams, soil, roots of plants and trees were dried up from the lack of water. The rain was refreshing and only teased us throughout the first half of our tour. By the second half it had stopped all together and only a calm sea with a low ceiling of cloud and mystic fog remained.

We spent most of the day in and around Hanson Island since that’s where the action seemed to be.

We enjoyed four foraging Humpbacks that searched for food in and amongst the current and kelp off Parson’s Light, directly across from Orcalab, the local whale research facility.

The Orca’s, our loyal and local I11’s and I15’s also foraged but unlike the Humpbacks that hunted for juvenile Herring, the killer whales were after their favourite food – Chinook Salmon. From Weynton Passage and across Johnstone Strait towards Vancouver Island, the 12 to 15 individuals made use of the current and their agile bodies and dove vigorously for food. Their black and white bodies, which were a picturesque contrast to the grey of the day, arched as they dove deep in hope of catching a slippery salmon with their cone shaped teeth.

As we meandered slowly amongst the smaller islands of the Plumpers and Stephensons we observed the typical lounging Harbour seals. One particular individual stood out to us as it lay belly down on the exposed rocks with a small pup beside it. The mum looked well fed as we compared her small head to her barrel shaped torso. The pup was so camouflaged within the basalt grey of the rocks nearly missed it.

It’s always a pleasure to enjoy the birds in these calm conditions. The Rhinoceros Auklets and Red Necked Phalaropes also feeding on the same small fish as the Humpbacks, were seen frequently and as usual our guardian-like Bald Eagles kept watch as we enjoyed the peaceful, wild wilderness of this Northern Vancouver Island region.