March 30, 2024 - The T-party continues with Chainsaw and tons of friends!

Today turned out to be a fin-tastic day to go whale watching! As we pushed off from the dock we got word of a T-party (gathering of multiple Transient/Bigg’s orca pods together) in the northern part of our range. We started our journey travelling along Vancouver Island’s coastline, zipping between the smaller islands until we approached Lambert Channel (the waterway between Denman Island and Hornby Island).

These whales appeared to be on a mission as they were travelling VERY fast when we found them. At first, they were sticking close to shore, but suddenly they veered to the east and started travelling in a Northeasterly direction in open waters. Our onboard Naturalists quickly snapped some shots and then took on the daunting task of ID’ing this giant pile of whales. They were able to identify the following whales, all intermingling and socializing with each other:

T036A Leland ♀ (1990)
T036A1 Tierna ♀ (2005)
T036A1A (2022)
T036A2 Kailas ♀ (2012)
T036A3 Storm/Mike III ♂ (2015)
T036A5 ♂ (2021)

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

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

T123 Sidney ♀ (~1985)
T123A Stanley ♂ (2000)
T123C Lucky ♀ (2012)
T123D Darcy ♀ (2018)

T124A Kittiwake ♀ (1984)
T124A6 Kasuun ♂ (2016)
T124A7 ♀ (2021)

T124A1 Bonapartes ♀ (1996)
T124A1A (2024 calf)

T124A4 ♀ Sabio (2010)
T124A4A ♀ (2021 calf)

This party never really slowed down the entire time we were with them. The calves kept popping out of the water like popcorn as they porpoised to keep up with their family and friends. Chainsaw and Laurel, two of the large males present today, were sticking very close together today. Are they buddies? Were they flexing on each other? We may never know, but seeing a pair of 6-foot-tall fins travelling so close together is always amazing!

As we said our goodbyes to the T-party, one member spy hopped (brought the front half of their body up and out of the water) in the distance.

After departing, we had a quick stop to see some snoozing Sea lions and seals on a nearby island before we began our trip back home. One of our vessels was extra lucky - they spotted a huge convocation of Bald Eagles fishing close together! These birds were divebombing the surface of the water - sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much! A couple of birds were seen flying off with their talons full of fish, while others ended up going for a swim.

It was a bit of a journey to find our whales today, but in the end, it was worth it! It’s not every day you can say you saw 22 Bigg’s orca together in one trip!

Taken by Marine Naturalists Cheyenne Brewster, Aly Kohlman, and Lucy Willis.

T123A Stanley travelling with 2 others, some seals nervously watching them swim by. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T036A1 Tierna racing through the surf. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T124A1 Kittiiwake with her youngest calf, T124A7, right behind her. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T124A1A Bonapartes showing off her “Hershey Kiss”-shaped dorsal fin. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T124A Kittiwake. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T065 Whidbey II, T100F Estrella, T100 Hutchins (back), T100C Laurel (middle), and T063 Chainsaw (front, tip of dorsal). Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T036A Leland, T124A Kittiwake (back), T124A7, and T124A4A. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T124A1 Bonapartes. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T124A4 Sabio, followed closely by T124A1A, as well as her calf T124A4A. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T123D Darcy travelling with her brother T123A Stanley and another. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Iconic T063 Chainsaw. Photo by Lucy Willis.

T063 Chainsaw beside T100C Laurel and T100 Hutchins. Photo by Lucy Willis.

T124A Kittiwake, T036A1 Tierna, and T124A1 Bonapartes. Photo by Cheyenne Brewster.

T036A2 Kailas with her distinctly notched dorsal. Photo by Cheyenne Brewster.

T124A Kittiwake, T036A Leland, T124A7 (middle), with one other in the back. Photo by Cheyenne Brewster.

T036A Leland. Photo by Cheyenne Brewster.

A Common Murre swimming by. Photo by Cheyenne Brewster.

A big group of Harbour seals checking us out! Photo by Cheyenne Brewster.

Sleepy sea lions snoozing in the sun. Photo by Cheyenne Brewster.

Sea lions don’t really understand the concept of personal space! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Some of the yapping sea lions were fighting! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

It’s not every day that you get to see Eagles swimming! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Admiring the catch! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Coming in for the catch. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

This young one managed to sink its talons into two fish at once! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A majestic Bald Eagle soaring overhead. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

An immature Bald Eagle eyeing up the waters below. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A convocation of Bald Eagles after the fish feast! Photo by Aly Kohlman.

A pair of tagged Canada Geese. These neck collars can be used to track migration routes. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Our Open Vessel Cascadia. Photo by Aly Kohlman.