Alaskan Killer Whales

T93 was with two females and a calf. They were observed eating seals and harbour porpoise heading southeast a couple miles south of Becher Bay. T93 was seen draping intestine across his dorsal fin.

T41 Group

Today was the most incredible day aboard the Ocean Magic II. On the noon trip we headed a couple miles south of Becher Bay, Vancouver Island, and met up with the T41 Group of transient, meat eating, killer whales bearing west. The whales were going on long-deep dives in search of marine mammal prey. There was a baby harbour seal seen swimming at the surface and another newborn hauled out on a floating kelp bed. Then a first for many onboard was witnessing the whales in hot pursuit of a baby harbour porpoise! The water boiled and churned with their underwater activity. We then headed over to Race Rocks to view the sea lions, another prey source for these killer whales.

T100 Group

Today onboard the noon Ocean Magic II trip we headed south of Trial Island and met up with the T100 group of transient killer whales. They were taking long dives and moving in a southerly direction. Sea gulls flew overhead in search of scraps left behind from foraging behaviour. The whales were observed with kelp along their backs as they surface to breath. T100’s new calf T100D was seen and the 22-year-old male T102 was identified.

T100 Group

Today onboard the Ocean Magic II we headed east across Haro Strait. We spotted a few harbour porpoise off Battleship Island then stopped at Spieden Island to look at the deer, sheep, and turkey vultures. Reports of meat eating, transient, killer whales lead us further east into the southern end of Georgia Strait where we found the T100 group speed porpoising in a westerly direction. The new calf was seen and the animals were breaching repeatedly in synchronicity as they headed off toward East Point, Saturna Island.

Race Rocks

Today on the Ocean Magic II we headed over to Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. There were lots of male Steller and California Sea Lions hauled out on the rocks. We also saw Harbour Seals on the lower rocky edges with some pups. We saw another pup further west in Juan de Fuca Strait near some Harbour Porpoises. On the way home along the coast of East Sooke Park, Vancouver Island, there was another Harbour Seal pup hauled out on the blades of some bull kelp. Outside the fog off Victoria Harbour we witnessed a Canadian Navy helicopter practicing smoke-bomb training.

J pod

On the noon Ocean Magic II trip we headed out west in pursuit of reported transients, meat-eating killer whales. Along the way we spotted a couple harbour porpoises near the Fisgard Lighthouse, one of the main coastal prey species for these transient orcas. As the fog rolled in near Race Rocks reports of resident, fish-eating killer whales, near Point-No-Point lead us out toward the eastern end of Juan de Fuca Strait. There we found J pod porpoising west through the swells of the flood tide. We spotted Sahchi and her calf Eclipse who was breaching repeatedly. The sea gulls flew overhead as the whales foraged along the way.

J pod

The noon trip on the Ocean Magic II led us near the coal docks off Vancouver, BC. There we found J pod in Georgia Strait heading west and breaching out of the fog. The heat of the midday sun soon burned off the remaining low-lying cloud and the calm-blue waters made a beautiful backdrop against the slow moving whales. The air was still and the mists of their blows remained and hung in the air. Ruffels’ / J1 wavy fin was enhanced in the back lighting and heavy mist. He lobbed his tail and revealed how male killer whales have much more curved flukes than females. The stillness of the water enhanced the percussive sounds of their activities and underwater vocalizations.

RIP - Steve Irwin 1962 - 2006

Rest in peace Steve Irwin,
you will be missed.



photo - David Ireland with Giant Bull Stingray

K & L pods

Today was an amazing day with the southern resident killer whales. The Ocean Magic II's noon trip lead us toward Henry Island where we found members of L pod speed porpoise south. Wavewalker / L88 and Flash / L73 were identified among the group. We then headed west across Haro Strait and met up the K4 matriline playing with their calves. On the 3:15 trip we viewed L pod off San Juan Island traveling in the same general direction. Mega / L41 was identified and Gaia / L78 was seen traveling with his mother Grace / L2.