May 18, 2023 - T065B's and T124A2's socializing by the Ballenas Islands
Today was an extra exciting trip. Our fleet pushed off the docks in search of a report of orca to the north of Nanaimo. It didn’t take us long to locate one large group of Bigg’s orca that turned out to be two separate matrilines socializing together.
Today, the orca were staying close to the Ballenas Islands’ shorelines. These matrilines included the T065B’s and T124A2’s, consisting of a total of 7 whales.
T065B and T124A2 Matrilines:
T065B Chunk ♀ (1993)
T065B1 Birdsall ♂ (2011)
T065B2 Nettle ♂ (2019)
T065B3 (2023)
T124A2 Elkugu ♀ (2001)
T124A2A Agafia ♂ (2013)
T124A2B Nettle ♀ (2016)
Today we witnessed something incredible - a full-grown orca breaching out of the water! There was lot’s of other activity happening with these whales as the two matrilines socialized and celebrating, with us being able to see spy hopping, chin slaps, breaches, back dives, and one of the younger members of the pod was caught sitting with their mouth wide open at the surface, something we haven’t caught on camera very often before! This leads us to believe that they were likely celebrating a successful hunt and feast since all of this surface activity takes a huge amount of energy.
Slowly the group of orca moved towards Ballenus Island and did a loop, and we left them once again heading north while we started the journey to find other wildlife on the way back to Nanaimo. We were lucky and got to see a ton of different animals including Harbour Seals, California and Steller Sea Lions, Cormorants, and even one curious Turkey Vulture that we caught giving us the side eye!
It’s not often we get so much action out of our whales and both our staff and guests enjoyed every moment of it. Our onboard Naturalists Vanessa Vereschahen, Aly Kohlman, and Des Poier captured some amazing moments from the day, which can be viewed below!
A breaching orca next to T065B1 Birdsall. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
T124A2 Elkugu travelling through the waves. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Our other matriarch, T065B Chunk. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
T124A2A Algafia throwing their tail out of the water next to T065B2 Nettle! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A big tail slap from someone! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
T124A2 Elkugu tail slapping. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A bit of upside-down action from the party! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A back dive from one of the older whales, along with a partial chin slap in front. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Another back dive! What’s the difference between this and a breach? A breach they land on their front, a back dive they land on their back! This is T124A2 Elkugu again. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
T065B1 Birdsall surfacing near the Ballenus Island shoreline. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
T065B1 Birdsall going for a dive. Look at all those scars! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
T124A2 Elkugu. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Another mini back dive! Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Photo by Aly Kohlman.
The youngest orca in the party, T065B3 was just born this year! Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Another shot of the calf, likely travelling beside its mom, T065B Chunk. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Photo by Aly Kohlman.
T065B3 with it’s mouth wide open! T065B1 Birdsall to the right. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Now that is a breach! Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Re-entry! Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Another breach! Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Photo by Aly Kohlman.
T124A2A Agafia with his fluke out of the water again. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Harbour Seals on Snake Island. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A Turkey Vulture soaring overhead. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Look at that close up! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A Gull taking advantage of the Gabriola Bluffs. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A juveniledouble-crestedd cormorant. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
A pelagic cormorant. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Nests are indicated by the waterfalls of poop! Photo by Aly Kohlman.
A lazy California Sea Lion. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Friendly neighborhood river otter on the dock! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Kula Watching whales. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
Keta watching whales. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.
The lighthouse on Ballenus Island. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.