August 13th 3:30 PM - Energetic T124A4's and T124A2's !
By the time our afternoon trip had started to head out of the harbour, the wind had gone flat and it was a lovely calm evening on the water.
This afternoon the T124A4’s and the T124A2’s paid us a visit over at the Sturgeon Banks west of the Vancouver Airport. The same pod were over in the same spot on July 20th hunting and celebrating. They sure like that spot, and so do we! While the planes were flying over us, the orca were tail lobbing, barrel rolling and likely hunting something in the area. It was quite the show!
This pod is led by the matriarch Elkugu (T124A2). Elkugu’s children Agafia (T124A2A) and Litton (T124A2B) are in tow. Agafia, the only male among the mix today is nine years old and is beginning to show some length to his dorsal fin. Adult male’s dorsal fins can reach up to 6 feet tall and can reach that height from the ages of 15-25 years old! Elkugu’s younger sister, Sabio (T124A4), has been hunting with the T124A2’s lately, along with her 2021 calf, who is a confirmed female.
Our Naturalists this evening were Vanessa Vereschahen, Rebeka Pirker and Carmen Murphy.
Matriarch Elkugu (T124A2). Photo by Rebeka Pirker
Elkugu (T124A2) on the left and Sabio (T124A4) front left and her calf (T124A4A). Photo by Rebeka Pirker.
Elkugu (T124A2). Photo by Rebeka Pirker
Agafia (124A2A)/ Photo by Rebeka Pirker
Sabio’s calf T124A4A. Photo by Rebeka Pirker
Litton (T124A2B), Elkugu (T124A2), and Sabio (T124A4) swimming together. Photo by Rebeka Pirker
Family photos can be hard when not everyone comes up at the same time! Photo by Carmen Murphy
Litton (T124A2B) and T124A4A). Photo by Carmen Murphy
Sabio (T124A4) and Litton (T124A2B). Photo by Carmen Murphy
Sabio (T124A4) and Litton (T124A2B). Photo by Carmen Murphy.
Litton (T124A2B). Photo by Carmen Murphy.
The ventral side of the tail. Photo by Carmen Murphy.
Sabio (T124A4). Photo by Carmen Murphy.
Sabio (T124A4). Photo by Carmen Murphy.
Sabio (T124A4). Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Elkugu (T124A2) and Litton (T124A2B). Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Most of the group surfacing. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
King of the hill. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Sleepy time. Photo by Rebeka Pirker.
You can see the claw holes on the front limb of this Stellar sea lion. Photo by Rebeka Pirker.
Double-crested cormorant drying out its wings. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A gulp of Double-crested cormorants. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A juvenile Pelagic cormorant. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Double-crested cormorants. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A River otter eating a Flounder. Photo by Carmen Murphy.
Our two open RIB boats Keta and Cascadia. Photo by Rebeka Pirker.
BC Ferry cruising along. Photo by Rebeka Pirker.