March 25, 2025 - Visit with the Alaskan Boys and a brief encounter with the T049As
In classic West Coast fashion, we experienced an interesting weather phenomenon in Nanaimo on the morning of the 25th: a fog bank settled over the harbour. Knowing that the pocket of fog was very localized, we headed out into the Salish Sea, ready for the search ahead of us.
Fog is actually a good indicator of calm seas since wind would work to push the low cover away. We passed effortlessly over the calm waters of Northumberland Channel as we began our adventure. We continued south to Dodd Narrows, an area teeming with life. Swirling currents, created by changing tides, make this region unique along the coast. The high oxygen levels introduced here by water mixing allow species to thrive—species that are typically only found on the west side of the island, where wave action increases oxygen levels. At low tide, these species speckle the rocky shore, including Surf Anemones, California Mussel beds, and Giant Acorn Barnacles. Taking the Cable Bay trail provides a great opportunity to view these special critters, but today, we simply admired the colours as we cruised by.
Continuing south from Dodd, we passed through the Southern Gulf Islands, where we spotted our first wildlife of the day—Harbour Seals—lazily basking on the rocks. These 300-pound pinnipeds are among the most abundant marine mammals seen during our tours, and they are also very predictable. Haul-out sites like the one we visited today are used by seals year-round unless some disturbance interrupts their routine.
Near this haul-out, we also spotted a pair of Bald Eagles perched atop a tree. At first glance, one of these massive birds appeared to have lost its head, but it soon popped up as they finished preening. Both birds looked as if they were drying off, with moisture from the fog settling on their feathers. Eagles like this pair mate for life, returning to the same nesting area year after year to repair their nest and typically raise one chick annually—though the average clutch size is closer to two. Over a lifetime, an eagle may lay as many as 40 eggs!
After spending some time with the eagles, we continued south through Trincomali Channel until we reached Active Pass. This passage is a popular transit area for both boats and whales, as it provides one of the few routes between the protection of the Southern Gulf Islands (Galiano Island to the north and Mayne Island to the south) and the open waters of the Strait of Georgia.
It was here, as we left Active Pass, that we saw two towering dorsal fins break the surface of the water—we had found a pair of male orcas travelling together! It wasn’t long before the naturalist onboard snapped some photos and confirmed their identities: it was the Alaskan Boys!
T128 Flotsam ♂ (1988)
T125A Jetsam ♂ (1998)
These two brothers are a rare sight in the Salish Sea, as they typically spend most of their time up north in Alaska. However, it’s not uncommon to see whales that are "a long way from home," since their range is much larger than their typical territory. Bigg’s, or Transient, orcas are found along the western coast of North America, from Alaska to California, and throughout all the channels in between. These two often make a yearly appearance in BC waters, staying anywhere from a few days to a few months before heading back north. We’ve been lucky to see them over the past week, likely as they socialize with whales outside their usual circles.
While in our waters, these brothers often partake in "T-parties" with other pods. This could be one way the genetic diversity in the Bigg’s population remains high, as visitors like Flotsam and Jetsam may introduce slight regional variations from the northern population of West Coast Transients.
However, there was no party in the books for the brothers today. We watched them peacefully travelling through the calm waters of the Strait, perhaps on their way to meet their next group.
After our time with the brothers, we started the trip back to Nanaimo. The seas remained calm as we headed north, stopping at another popular spot for pinnipeds. This time, we found Steller Sea Lions lounging on the rocks. Like Harbour Seals, sea lions have preferred haul-out sites, but unlike the seals, Steller Sea Lions are only found here seasonally. They leave BC in the summer to breed and pup at their rookeries, returning in the fall once the breeding season is over. While they’re here, they are always a favourite stop on our tours due to their playful nature—although their smell leaves something to be desired!
As we passed through Porlier Pass on our journey home, we noticed splashing in the distance—more orcas! This time, they were in the middle of a hunt, with lots of surface activity and gulls hovering above, hoping to steal scraps from the feeding whales. Despite the action, the naturalist was able to confirm the ID of this group: it was the T049As!
T049A Nan ♀ (1986)
T049A3 Nat ♂ (2011)
T049A4 Neptune ♂ (2014)
T049A5 Nebula ♀ (2017)
T049A6 Charlie II ♂ (2022)
We have been seeing this pod frequently this time of year, and they are considered some of our “regulars” at VIWW. They are an exciting pod to encounter, as they represent a diverse range of orca—a powerful matriarch, a sprouting male with a tall dorsal fin, and a cute baby (though little Charlie II won’t be little for much longer!).
After our southern adventure with the Alaskan Boys, we were short on time and could only spend a few fantastic minutes with the T049As before continuing our return to Nanaimo.
Upon arriving at the dock, we reflected on the spectacular wildlife we had been lucky enough to see: the pair of Bald Eagles drying off in the fog, the orcas both travelling and hunting, and the wide range of pinniped activity along the rocks. Throughout the trip, Marine Naturalist Aly Kohlman captured incredible photos of these unique moments, which you can view below!
Is that a bald eagle without a head?
Nope! Just cleaning their feathers.
Harbour Seals with eroded sandstone behind them.
Harbour Seals have a huge variation in colour.
Some happy looking Harbour Seals in the water.
T128 Flotsam surfacing in the calm waters.
The fog was sticking around closer to Vancouver, as seen behind T128 Flotsam.
T128 Flotsam has two notches in his dorsal fin, can you spot them?
This lean to T125A Jetsam’s dorsal fin is quite normal in the Biggs Population!
You can see T125A Jetsam’s notch very clearly here!
T125A Jetsam breaking the calm surface.
A great look at T125A Jetsam.
A lazy looking Steller Sea Lion on the haul out.
This is a very itchy adult male Steller Sea Lion in the middle.
A snotty Steller Sea lion on the sandstone rocks, with a double crested cormorant beside it.
Can you see the head feathers on each side of these cormorants heads? That’s where their name “double crested cormorant” comes from!
T049A5 Nebula and T049A3 Nat surfacing togeter.
T049A3 Nat with his large dorsal fin breaking the water.
T049A3 Nat lifting his tail flukes out of the water.
T049A3 Nat doing a head stand during the feeding.
A tail slap from T049A3 Nat during the hunt.
T049A3 Nat with his tail in the air.
T049A4 Neptune Spy Hopping during the hunt.
A closer look at T049A4 Neptune during his spy hop.
A very excited tail lob from T049A6 Charlie II.