Orca Families, Playful Porpoises & Humpbacks Everywhere!

Our seas were flat calm today, with little wind, and the MV Seasmoke took passengers from Alert Bay and Alder Bay Resort out into some pretty amazing adventures today both morning and afternoon.

Morning passengers reported numerous Humpback sightings in Blackfish Sound around the Plumper Islands. These magnificent creatures were everywhere, and numbered about eight - foraging for the small fish on which they like to dine, diving shallow and deep and showing off their enormous flukes.

We have been watching a juvenile Bald eagle testing out its wings in past weeks, and today, the youngster was observed out of the nest and in a neighbouring tree. How exciting to at last experience flight and freedom!

Lots of waterfowl were seen around Bold Point and the Stephanson Islands: the Red Necked Phalarope, the Common Murre, and Black Oystercatcher. Seagulls gathered hungrily over a large bait ball of tiny, delicate fish.

The afternoon guests were thrilled to observe Northern Resident families swimming together in tight formation, with calves in the middle of protective parents near Donegal Head off Malcolm Island. The ‘black & whites’ were spyhopping and being extremely active - such a joy to watch!

Dall’s porpoises were bobbing through the seas in Weynton Passage and in Blackfish Sound, Harbour seals and pups lolled in the kelp beds and Stellar sea lions swam amongst the pretty Plumper Islands. What a glorious day to be out on the water, when such diverse numbers of sea mammals and sea birds were everywhere people turned their heads.