We had reports of T’s (Bigg’s or Transient Killer Whales) south of Active Pass as we left the dock, but as we motored out of the harbour we received a report of inbound Orcas around Becher Bay. I was really hoping these were residents, but they were a large group of transients (Exciting either way!)

We stopped at Race Rocks first to spend some time observing other wildlife, including a neat interaction between an Eagle, Steller Sea Lion and some angry gulls, and then did a sweep south into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There is a humpback known as Split Fin in the area but no one has seen it for a few days. We doubled back and returned to the coastline where the large group of T’s was making its way along the shore, towards Victoria

We identified the T65’s with their young calf. It was born between January and April and is still quite orange! T51 was also with the group

Other orcas had split off from this group and when we went to rejoin them off Discovery Island they were paired with T91 as well. They also met up with the T49As, who had been seen the day before on the East side of San Juan Island.

We observed several behaviours from the orcas, including resting formation, predation (seal kill), porpoising/traveling and play (Tail lobs and rolls).-A great day!

-Marcie

This story was adapted from a blog post, read the original here