April 22nd - Another double T-party Day

Kula and Cascadia departed the harbour on Friday morning with high hopes as we had an early morning report of whales down south. The boats traveled south, eyes scanning for the whales when we heard that another boat found the whales. That’s always nice to hear as we know for sure that there are whales, and someone has eyes on them. We arrived on scene to find our favourite never-ending T-party in full swing. The T018’s and the T023D’s were circling and traveling around Mayne island, likely looking for some tastey pinnipeds as there is a known Sea Lion and Seal haul out site near by. After going through photos in the office we were able to ID the T37’s and the T34’s in the mix on this day as well. These pods are led by Matriarch Rocky III and Grace respectively. Grace is actually believed to be Rocky’s mom as well. When there’s lots of action its easy to miscount whales and often we don’t know the whole picture until we go through the trip later on.

As we watched Esperanza, Axel, Rocky and Grace leading their families around we got word that a second group of whales was spotted not far away, and they were on our route home. We left our T-party and headed for the second sighting in Active Pass where we found T065B Chunk leading her family and some friends through the pass. These whales were hunting and traveling, likely following behind the T018/T023D T-party that was just south of them.
Chunk is a whale we’ve seen a few times this season already. She travels with her sons Birdsall, born in 2011, and youngest son Nettle born in 2019. This pod was traveling with a second pod, but because they were so spread out we weren’t able to ID the friends they were with.
After watching these guys for a little while we had to get going and head back to Nanaimo. We stopped briefly to look at Harbour Seals and Sea lions as we made our way back to harbour after an exciting double T-party day.

Below are photos taken during the trip by Marine Naturalists Rebecca Stirling, Keagan Sjolie, Janine Van Der Linden..

Steller sea lion cuddle puddle. Photo by Keagan Sjolie.

Picture perfect BC coast. Photo by Keagan Sjolie.

T019C Spouter. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

T034 Grace (behind) and friend. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

T019C Spouter. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

T019B Galiano and T037 Rocky IIl/Pizzafin. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

T037 Rocky III (centre) and 2 friends Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

T019C Spouter. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

T037 Rocky III/Pizzafin. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

T037 Rocky III/Pizzafin. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

T019B Galiano and friends Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

He’s gonna feel that in the morning! large Steller male sleeping on entrance island. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Female steller sea lion resting on Entrance Island. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Give us a kiss. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

The rocks hurt my feet! Dad is more comfortable. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

“Is this water sanitary?” Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Warming up their vocal cords is very important when you spend the whole day singing. Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Surprise! Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Flying leap! Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Nan time! Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Stretch! Photo by Rebecca Stirling.

Just lounging in the seaweeds. Photo by Janine Van Der Linden.

Bald eagle with fresh lunch. Photo by Janine Van Der Linden.

Last years sea lion pups practicing their climbing Photo by Janine Van Der Linden.

Cormorants Photo by Janine Van Der Linden.

Photo by Janine Van Der Linden.

Pelagic cormorant mid flight Photo by Janine Van Der Linden.