April 13, 2025 - The T101s travelling with Spinnaker in Howe Sound
We were lucky to have another beautiful day on the water as we set off from Nanaimo aboard our semi-covered boat. The sun was shining, the sea was calm; perfect conditions for an adventure!
We began our search for whales in the waters around Nanaimo, heading north in hopes of spotting some activity. After a quiet start, we received word that a Vancouver-based vessel had found orcas across the Strait of Georgia. With that exciting update, we decided to make our way across to join the action.
As we crossed the Strait, we passed by the Halibut Bank ODAS (Ocean Data Acquisition System) buoy—a fascinating spot that collects real-time data like air and water temperature, wave height, and wind speed. But what caught our eye wasn’t the buoy itself—it was the wildlife using it!
A group of sea lions had taken up residence, including one particularly ambitious Steller Sea Lion who had claimed the top tier of the buoy, what we jokingly called the "penthouse suite." Watching it perched high above the water had us all wondering how it managed the climb. A suspicious smear on a nearby solar panel might hold the answer! While we watched the sea lions, we were also treated to a brief appearance by a small group of Harbour Porpoises gliding past. This area is rich in marine life thanks to the upwelling caused by the underwater bank, which brings nutrients to the surface and supports a thriving food chain, clearly a popular hangout for both porpoises and sea lions.
After spending some time at the buoy, we continued into the stunning scenery of Howe Sound, and it wasn’t long before those iconic tall black dorsal fins broke the surface. We had found the orcas!
Thanks to the six-foot-tall dorsal fins of the males, we quickly identified the whales as the T101s—a well-known family pod that usually consists of a mother and her two sons. But today, there was an extra dorsal fin in the mix.
After reviewing photos back at the office, we confirmed the visitor as T037A3 "Spinnaker": a transient male who occasionally travels solo or joins up with different pods for short stints. That meant today’s lineup included:
T037A3 Spinnaker ♂ (2013)
T101 Reef ♀ (≤1969)
T101A Rush ♂ (1993)
T101B Lagoon ♂ (1997)
The dynamics between the T101s were fascinating to watch. Typically, Reef is seen travelling with one of her sons while the other stays a bit farther off, possibly a hunting strategy, or maybe just personal preference. Before 2020, Reef often favoured her eldest son, T102 "Beardslee," who sadly passed away. Since then, it appears her attention is more evenly split between Rush and Lagoon, and they’re now often seen travelling close together.
Today was an interesting shift: Reef was with Lagoon, while Rush was buddying up with Spinnaker. It's always a treat to observe how these relationships evolve over time and in different situations. Spinnaker tends to bounce between groups, occasionally reconnecting with his mother T037A "Volker" and his siblings, or venturing out solo. He’s even known to travel now and then with his sister Crinkle, who shares his wandering spirit.
While we enjoyed watching the orcas in Howe Sound, the surrounding wildlife added to the moment. A large flock of Surf Scoters was nearby, striking black seabirds with bold, colourful beaks that stood out beautifully against the water.
As the day wrapped up, we turned our boat back toward Nanaimo, hearts full from another incredible experience on the Salish Sea. Our onboard marine naturalist, Desarae Poier, captured some wonderful photos from this special encounter, scroll down to enjoy them!
The Steller Sea Lion on top of the buoy.
Can you spot the smear we think shows how the sea lion got up here?
All these Steller Sea Lions seem pretty comfortable.
Doesn’t look too comfortable to me, but it seems good enough for a nap for this sea lion!
A Harbour Porpoise swimming by.
A great look at the sea lions in front of the mountains.
T037A3 Spinnaker surfacing in Howe Sound.
A female (left) and male (right) Surf Scooter.
A huge group of Surf Scooters floating by.
The T101s together. From left to right: T101A Rush, T101 Reef, and T101B Lagoon.
Surf Scooters in flight.
T037A3 Spinnaker in front of T101A Rush.
You can see all the scarring on T101A Rush’s saddle patch as he surfaces behind T037A3 Spinnaker.
T101A Rush has developed a slight lean in his dorsal fin, his brother T102 Beardslee also had a lean.
The scarring on T037A3 Spinnaker’s saddle patch in this photo is how we figured out it was him! The scars are all unique, like a whale fingerprint.
You can just see T101A Rush’s eye patch poking over the surface.
The Coastal Mountains framed this encounter beautifully.
T037A3 Spinnaker with a steep shoreline behind him.
T101A Rush creating a wave in the calm water.
T101A Rush followed by T037A3 Spinnaker.
T101B Lagoon travelling along the other side of the channel.
A final look at T037A3 Spinnaker.
A look at the scenery of Howe Sound.