It was a beautiful day to be cruising the Salish Sea, searching for the incredible wildlife that calls these waters home! With two boats heading out of Nanaimo this morning, we spread out to cover more ground on our wildlife adventure.

Both vessels started their journey heading south through the Northumberland Channel. After passing through Dodd Narrows (the narrow gateway between Mudge Island and Vancouver Island), the boats took different routes. Our semi-covered vessel Kula continued south, weaving through the stunning Gulf Islands and popping out of Porlier Pass into the Strait for a quick peek beyond the shelter of the islands. While finding whales is always our top priority, we never pass up exciting wildlife encounters along the way! Just outside the islands, we were treated to an impressive display from one of the coast’s most iconic species: Bald Eagles! Guests looked skyward as a large group of eagles feasted on small fish brought to the surface by the rushing tidal currents. We even snapped a great shot of an eagle mid-meal with its catch!

The wildlife never fails to disappoint in these areas. Guests watched overhead as a large group of Eagles feasted on the small fish brought to the surface by the intense currents of the changing tide. We even managed to snap a photo of one unlucky fish who became lunch for an Eagle!

From there, Kula headed to the Canoe Islets, where a haul-out of noisy, Steller Sea Lions was basking in the sun. These loud, often territorial mammals are usually a fan favourite on tours. They are so entertaining, whether snoozing in the sun or splashing in the surf. While Kula was busy with the sea lions, the open boat was also getting their share of cuddly viewing, with the much smaller, quieter Harbour Seals. While both are pinnipeds, there are some very obvious differences between them.

Harbour Seals are classified as ‘true seals’ due to their lack of an external ear flap. Sea Lions are known as ‘eared seals’ because they do possess a visible ear flap, although tiny! While both species belong to the pinniped family, they have different evolutionary origins with separate, convergent evolutions that have resulted in these traits. Beyond this tiny difference, these ear-isistable cuties are also less adapted to moving on land compared to their sea lion cousins. Sea Lions are able to move around easily on land by propping themselves up on their flippers, allowing them to move quickly and with great agility on rocky surfaces. Harbour Seals have a fused pelvis that doesn't allow for rotation of their rear flippers, so they must scoot on their bellies to move around. This motion is known as ‘galumphing’ and is a lot of fun to watch!

After some quality pinniped time, both vessels resumed the search. Kula took the more adventurous outer route along Galiano Island’s east side, while the open boat explored the inner waters of Trincomali Channel. Although no whales had been spotted yet, we continued to see a variety of impressive birds out there! Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets, and Bonaparte’s Gulls all made an appearance - a bird lover’s dream! We were also lucky enough to spot an Osprey with lunch in their clutch. These birds are incredibly distinct, with their white bodies and brown masked faces. These large hawks’ primary diet is fish, and they are often seen in open water areas. Their unique talons are specially adapted to capture fish efficiently, with toes that can rotate to allow them to grasp fish with two toes in front and behind. They also have barbed pads on the bottom of their feet to help them grip slippery fish as they hunt. Check out the pictures below to see a great example!

Before heading home, we made a few more stops at Harmac and the Gabriola Bluffs to see the California Sea Lions and Cormorant nesting sites. Having two fantastic wildlife spots just outside the harbour is such a treat! And while we didn’t have any luck finding whales today, we still had a fantastic, wildlife-packed tour! All photos taken by Marine Naturalists Aly Kohlman and Val Watson.

April 25, 2025 - An Adventure Through the Southern Gulf Islands with Plenty of Wildlife