September 8, 2023 - The famous Chainsaw (with friends) makes an appearance + lots of humpbacks too!

It was a perfect day when we pushed off from the dock on September 8th in search of whales. We set off across the Strait of Georgia, keeping our eyes peeled in search of the telltale signs of whales being in the area: Blows, Flukes, and Dorsal Fins. After crossing the Strait, we approached Howe Sound, and that is when we spotted a large black dorsal fin cutting through the water with two smaller fins following closely behind. This trio of whales was ID’d as:

T065 Whidbey II ♀ (~1971)
T063 Chainsaw ♂ (~1978)
T046C2 Sam ♀ (2009)

While most of our Transient/Bigg’s orca travel in our area at random times throughout the year, T063 Chainsaw and his mother are usually ‘seasonal’. We usually see the pair in our area in the early spring, and we often don’t see them again until the fall. This year, like clockwork, the pair was seen again as the weather began to get colder. Their travelling companion today, T046C2 Sam, is a new addition - we are unsure why she has decided to start hanging out with them but it was a nice surprise to see another whale with the group!

We also found some additional Bigg’s orca deeper in Howe Sound during our morning tour:

T100 Hutchins ♀ (~1979)
T100C Laurel ♂ (2002)
T100F Estrella (2014)

T124D Field ♀ (1996)
T124D1 Salish II (2014)
T124D3 (2022)

The T100s and T124Ds were travelling together in a very close-knit group. They were cruising the shorelines of the islands within Howe Sound, likely looking for a snack. Transient orca diets are largely made up of Harbour porpoises as well as Harbour seals - the latter of which tend to snooze away the day on the island shorelines. It is common to see these stealthy hunters cruise along, likely looking for seals that they may be able to drag down into the water.

After departing our orca, we were able to locate humpbacks as well, making both of these tours Double Species trips! We spotted 8 different humpbacks, including:

Graze (BCY0523), her 2023 calf, Zig Zag (BCX1193), her 2023 calf, Crater (BCX1565), and 3 Unknowns!

Graze and her calf were located during our morning trip, and Zig Zag, her 2023 calf, Crater, and our 3 Unknowns were located during our evening trip.

Graze and Zig Zag are both well-documented mothers. They have each successfully raised 3 calves in 2019, 2021, and 2023. All 6 calves are (at this time) healthy, and all 6 calves have been documented in our area this year. Raising a humpback calf is no small feat - not only does the mother have to eat enough to keep her own weight up, she has to eat extra to be able to produce milk for her little one, and she also has to pack on the pounds for migration as humpbacks do not eat during their migration travels.

Once we left our humpbacks behind we cruised back across the Strait of Georgia. Back on our side of the waterway, we located a number of other neat species including California sea lions, Double-crested cormorants, Harbour seals, and a Great Blue Heron.

Unfortunately we had a couple of humpbacks spotted today that we have been unable to ID at this time. If we are able to confirm IDs for them, we will update this blog accordingly.

Photos taken by Marine Naturalists Des Poier, Val Watson, and Vanessa Vereschahen.

T065 Whidbey II with a chunk of seaweed on her dorsal. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

T063 Chainsaw sporting some new scratches on his dorsal. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

Camera-shy T046C2 Sam - she does not regularly travel with T063 and T065. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

T063 Chainsaw with Howe Sound in the background. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

T124D3 - their saddlepatch is heavily scarred, which helps in confirming their ID. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

Matriarch T124D Field. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

A tail flick from one of the T100s! Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

T124D Field with her youngest child T124D3 beside her. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

T100C Laurel - while he is usually easy to ID from his dorsal fin, his distinct saddlepatch scarring is also used to confirm ID. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

Matriarch T100 Hutchins. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

T100 Hutchins (back), T124D Field, T100C Laurel, and T100F Estrella. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

T124D3 travelling close to their mother T124D Field. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

The T124Ds and T100s travelling together. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

T063 Chainsaw beside his mother T065 Whidbey II. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Graze (BCY05230) - Graze regularly does not fluke during encounters, however, her dorsal fin is very distinct. Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

Graze (BCY0523)’s 2023 calf fluking! Photo by Des Poier, 10:30.

A waterfall off of Zig Zag (BCX1193)’s fluke. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Zig Zag (BCX1193)’s full fluke. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Zig Zag (BCX1193)’s 2023 calf fluking! Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Crater (BCX1565)’s unique dorsal. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Crater (BCX1565) going for a dive. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

A pair of snoozing Cormorants. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen, 3:30.

A trio of Harbour seals lit up by the setting sun. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen, 3:30.

A male California sea lion majestically posing. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen, 3:30.

An up close look at a male California sea lion’s face. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen, 3:30.

Getting ready for take off with a Great Blue Heron! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen, 3:30.

The Queen of Cowichan travelling at sunset. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.