Today’s wildlife tour departed from Nanaimo, and unlike the usual mystery and spontaneity of such trips, we had a plan! Our destination was the far side of the Strait of Georgia, where a reported sighting of whales had us hopeful. But as any seasoned wildlife tour guide will tell you, plans are always fluid when it comes to observing nature. And today was no exception.

As we set out on our journey, scanning the horizon for any sign of life, we were in for a pleasant surprise. A different pod of whales, closer than our original destination, popped up in the waters ahead. Our onboard naturalist wasted no time identifying these newcomers as the T101s, a small family pod of transient orcas led by a matriarch traveling with her two adult sons.

T101 Reef ♀ (≤1969)
T101A Rush ♂ (1993)
T101B Lagoon ♂ (1997)

The moment we arrived on the scene, it became apparent that the T101s were engaged in a hunt. Orca hunts can be challenging to confirm, but there are several telltale signs: swift movement at the surface, rapid changes in direction, and occasionally, the sudden appearance of gulls eager to scavenge leftovers from a kill. Sure enough, the signs were all there.

The excitement heightened when one of the orcas performed a spy hop—a behaviour where the whale rises vertically out of the water, head first, to get a better view of its surroundings. It was an incredible moment, watching this magnificent predator in action, surrounded by the backdrop of British Columbia’s stunning coastline.

Once the hunt concluded, the T101s continued their journey, as transient orcas do, covering vast distances each day to keep their prey from learning their patterns. After spending some time admiring them, we bid the pod farewell and set course toward Valdes Island, home to a sea lion and seal haul-out.

Nature, however, had other plans for us yet again. Before we could reach Valdes Island, we encountered not one, not two, but three different groups of humpback whales! Each sighting was a new chapter in our already unforgettable day.

The first encounter was with a solitary humpback whale named Harpy (BCZ0503). We watched as she gracefully moved through the water, diving deep to feed. Humpbacks are baleen whales, using plates in their mouths to filter vast amounts of water for krill and small fish. Harpy treated us to a magnificent display of high flukes, a sight that never fails to take your breath away.

Next up was a trio of humpbacks: Zig Zag (BCX1193), Manta (BCZ0155), and Sage (BCX2073). Unlike Harpy, these whales were resting, indicated by their slow, gentle movements and lack of dramatic tail lifts. It’s common for whales to enter rest periods during the day, floating near the surface as they recharge.

Our final humpback sighting of the day featured Zephyr (BCZ0414) and her 2024 calf. Much like the previous group, these two appeared to be resting as they drifted near the surface. Watching a mother and her calf was a touching reminder of the natural cycles unfolding all around us.

After our encounters with the humpbacks, we approached Gabriola Island, just north of our original destination. Here we stopped at a Harbour Seal haulout that we have nicknamed Seal Rock thanks to the small pinnipeds that dotted the coastline. The Harbour Seals were lazing under the autumn sun, blending into the rocks with their colourful mottled coats. These pinnipeds are a common sight along the coast, often seen lounging in large groups on rocky outcrops.

As our tour neared its end, we made one last stop in the Nanaimo Harbour itself. Something had caught our eye as we were travelling back towards the dock. There was a commotion on some of the log booms that line Protection Island, it seemed a bald eagle had caught something. We headed over for a closer look, and quickly realized it was a young gull in the grasp of this eagle’s talon. The fight struggled on between these two birds, until eventually the gull escaped with its life. Nearby, another gull wasn’t so lucky, as we saw a different eagle had been successful in their hunt and was reaping the benefits. Watching these majestic birds of prey, symbols of power and freedom, hunt and feast was a thrilling way to conclude the day.

The onboard Marine Naturalist Desarae Poier captured some amazing photos during these encounters which are available below!