July 24th - Orcas AND Humpback Whales Near Nanaimo!

What an incredible day, absolutely packed to the gills with wildlife! We saw humpback whales (mother BCX1193 “Zig Zag” and her calf “Scuba”), a family of Bigg’s killer whales, harbour seals, Steller sea lions, cormorants, great blue herons, and bald eagles! Check out some of the amazing photos we were able to snap:

Breaching humpback whale BCX1193 AKA “Zig Zag” . Series by Natalie Reichenbacher

BCX1193 “Zig Zag” getting some serious air! Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Baby humpback whale “Scuba” showing some fluke. Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Baby “Scuba” going for a dive. Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

BCX1193 “Zig Zag”. Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

“Scuba” getting ready for a pectoral slap! Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

BCX1193 “Zig Zag” heading down for a deep dive. Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

“Scuba” giving a wave. Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Baby breach! Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

T124C “Cooper”. Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Steller sea lion swimming up to the buoy. Photo by Rebeka Pirker

Locking eyes with a Steller, the largest species of sea lion on the planet! Photo by Rebeka Pirker

Scanning the shoreline. Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Half breach! Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Seagull photobomb! Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Big tail slap infront of the Gabriola bluffs. Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Cormorants on the bluffs. Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

Parents and their chicks! Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

A family fin portrait! Photo by Natalie Reichenbacher

T124C “Cooper” coming toward us. Photo by Rebeka Pirker

How many Great Blue herons can you see? Photo by Rebeka Pirker

A bald eagle scanning the skies and the seas. Photo by Rebeka Pirker