A 'Mystical' Day

The MV Seasmoke set off from Alder Bay Resort today in an atmospheric mist over flat, calm and reflective seas. Little did skipper and passengers know what awaited them on this tour - an opportunity to see the iconic and playful sea otter that appear from time to time off the east coast of Vancouver Island, but are most usually seen off the northwest coast. These cute furry creatures were hunted to extinction in the early 1800s and we are so pleased to see them back and thriving!

Our skipper said that despite the foggy conditions, viewing was excellent, and it certainly didn’t keep the whales from having a good time in their ocean playground. Just off Donegal Head and Stubbs Island in Blackfish Sound, a Humpback entertained everyone on the boat with a lot of tail and pectoral fin slapping, making great splashes in the water! At the same time, an A42 pod of Northern Resident Orca swam amongst the other Humpback seen in the area, and all these great mammals were foraging for food: salmon for the Orca and small krill and fish for the Humpback. To top it off, a myriad of birds including the Common Murre, Red Necked Phalarope and Rhinoceros Auklet comfortably fished for food in with all the whales.

Passengers were delighted when the quick swimming Dall’s porpoise came to play with beside the boat, catching its wake and bow waves. It is so much fun to watch them dip and dive, and swim under the boat! Both the spotted grey Harbour seals and the larger golden brown Stellar sea lions were in the Stephanson Islands, with the huge sea lions swimming around and fishing just about everywhere our guests looked.

Many Bald eagles were spotted in all the lovely small islands - the Pearse group, the Plumpers and the Stephansons, and the Great Grey heron was seen too. How special it is to see coastal wildlife in one small pocket that make what could have been a dreary day bright and mystical instead!