Today was a wet and wild one, to say the least! We pushed off the dock and headed south through Dodd Narrows, where we began our search in the beautiful Southern Gulf Islands. The tides were changing as we passed through the narrow passage—about as wide as it is deep, roughly 70 feet! Guests were treated to spinning whirlpools and even got to experience the boat being moved by the current. Good thing we’ve got some big engines back there! This narrow passage can reach speeds of up to 9 knots at times.

From there, we continued south, searching the Trincomali Channel to Polier Pass and then out into the Strait of Georgia to try our luck on the outside. Strange noises caught our attention—growling and barking echoing across the water. The sounds led us to a popular haul-out site where sea lions had taken over! We spotted both species here: the massive, growling Steller Sea Lions and their smaller, barking cousins, the California Sea Lions. Alongside them, cormorants were everywhere, many already displaying their breeding plumage—spring is in the air!

Next, we headed east toward the mainland with eyes wide open. Still no telltale signs of whales, but we did spot another marine mammal—the Harbour Seals! These little guys can be tricky to see with their spotted colouring blending into the rocky shoreline. The more we looked, the more we found. Unlike the noisy sea lions, harbour seals are fairly quiet.

With no whales in sight, we turned our bow north and continued scanning the waves. We eventually made our way through the Strait, with the towering mountains of Texada Island drawing our eyes. We scanned the shores of both Texada and Lasqueti Island, as well as the open waters of the Strait, but still no blows. However, we were treated to incredible bird activity, with flocks flying in front of the Coastal Mountains—a stunning sight!

Our next move was to head south again. The wind was no longer at our backs, and we quickly learned why those anti-exposure suits are essential—as waves came crashing over the bow, soaking us temporarily. Thankfully, we move fast, so we dried off like our cormorants in the wind, and the sun peeked out again to warm us up—a welcome feeling after that cold ocean christening!

As we cruised along the coast of North Nanaimo, still fighting some spray, we finally saw it—a blow! At first, we weren’t sure, so we waited. Then, another puff appeared at the surface. We knew we had a whale, though it took nearly 20 minutes before we saw a dorsal fin through the waves—it was a humpback, right around the corner from home! We couldn’t help but laugh—sometimes the treasure is in your own backyard.

After all that searching, the humpback was clearly on a mission—likely engaging in long feeding dives with short surface intervals, making it hard to track. This young whale had likely just arrived from Mexico, Hawaii, or Central America after fasting for up to six months and was now focused on refuelling—eating up to 5,000 pounds of food per day!

We decided to give the whale some space and gifted our guests free vouchers for another tour. After all that searching, a brief sighting didn’t quite feel like enough. We still love you, little whale—hope you're out there feasting!

With the sun warming us up and home close by, we made one last stop. We'd seen a few Bald Eagles from a distance and wanted a closer look. Off to the Gabriola Bluffs we went—a popular nesting area. The cormorants were out in full force, tucked into every nook and cranny. It was an exciting day for us bird nerds—we saw all three species: Pelagic, Double-crested, and Brandt’s Cormorants.

The Pelagic Cormorant is a sleek coastal seabird often seen along rocky shorelines and cliffs. It has a slender body, long neck, and thin bill. During the breeding season, adults are striking with glossy black plumage that shimmers green and purple, white flanks, and red facial skin near the bill. Smaller and more delicate than other cormorants, it forages alone and flies fast and low over water.

The Double-crested Cormorant is a large, dark waterbird found near lakes, rivers, and coastlines. It’s recognized by its long neck, hooked bill, and bright orange-yellow facial skin. During breeding, it sports bushy white plumes above each eye—hence the name. It flies with a kinked neck and often perches with wings spread to dry.

Brandt’s Cormorant, another sleek black seabird of the Pacific Coast, is known for its vivid blue throat patch and white head plumes during breeding. Outside of breeding, it can be harder to identify, but its heavier build, long body, and hooked bill set it apart from Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants.

As we prepared to head back, our onboard naturalist spotted a flash of white among the green trees—a Bald Eagle! It was tucked into the lush forest and tricky to see at first, but just as we pulled away from the Bluffs, it soared right above our heads, giving us a breathtaking finale to an adventurous day on the water.

Enjoy the photos taken below by Naturalist Vanessa Vereschahen.

April 9, 2025 - A Scenic Exploration of the Salish Sea, and a Shy Humpback