October 1, 2024 - A speedy trio of orca, and a slow and steady trio of humpbacks!
With just one boat out today, we headed out on Kula, our semi-covered vessel, and travelled south, where we found an Orca pod just east of Valdez Island. We were quick to ID this small group, with two big boys with very recognizable dorsals! The pod included:
T019 Nootka ♀ (~1965)
T019B Galiano ♂ (1995)
T019C Spouter ♂ (2001)
As we approached, we could see these magnificent whales were quite active, moving swiftly through the water and displaying impressive tail slaps, sending saltwater spray into the air. Transient Orcas, known for their adaptability and hunting prowess, often travel in smaller groups compared to their resident counterparts. Although they were initially spread out across the surface, we noticed them gradually coming back together, showcasing their strong social bonds. However, this little group is still without their long-standing matriarch, T018 Esperanza. Grandma Esperanza has been travelling away from her family recently and was last spotted by us on April 7th, but she was seen down in US waters at the end of August.
After enjoying the mesmerizing sight of the Orcas, we continued our journey toward Porlier Pass. As we navigated through the stunning coastal waters, we discovered three humpbacks associating together. This trio included:
Honu (BCX1856), Barge Boy (HW-MN0502814), and Kraken/Monarch/Pyramid (BCZ0180). These guys were feeding, giving us good flukes while travelling in circles. We always love seeing our humpbacks travelling together as we are still unsure how social structures function in this species. Are these three friends who are spending time together? Did they group up as an opportunistic hunting group? Who knows! Hopefully, further studies in the future will reveal how humpbacks interact with each other and their environment.
Besides our double species day of whales, we also had two stops to see our two different types of sea lions. Our Steller sea lions, the largest sea lions in the world, were busy bickering away with each other on Stinky Rocks. Our California sea lions, a smaller species of sea lion, were a bit calmer and were lounging away on the log booms outside Dodd Narrows. It was an amazing day with an amazing variety of wildlife!
Please enjoy these photos by Marine Naturalist Vanessa Vereschahen!
T019C Spouter with his eyepatch visible!
T019B Galiano crashing through the waves.
T019B Galiano.
T019C Spouter porpoising along.
T019B Galiano and his brother T019C Spouter.
T019B Galiano.
T019C Spouter with his brother T019B Galiano behind him.
T019 Nootka with T019B Galiano behind her.
Tail slap!
Honu diving.
Honu's fluke.
Barge Boy diving.
The top of Barge Boy's fluke.
Barge Boy's fluke.
Kraken's fluke.
Barge Boy's dorsal.
Fighting on the rocks.
Bickerings are quite common amongst the sea lions on haulouts.
An itchy California sea lion.
Sitting dignified and proud!