Killer whales and humpback whales are often seen during our wildlife tours. There are resident whales and transient whales that can be seen feeding and playing in our waters.
This is a very close up view of a Humpback Whale fluke (tail). This particular whale is known as “Domino”. You can identify the whale by the unique shape and colorations on the backside of the fluke. Domino has been coming back to our area for several years and we look forward to seeing his return next spring.
On the coast the weather can at times be unpredictable. That being said in the summer and fall we are often very lucky with our weather and often do not get a lot of rain until October. Our waters are protected from the open ocean, so although it can get a bit choppy at times we do not receive the big swells that trigger seasickness. This is a beautiful evening in October (after the end of the season) watching a number of resident Orca move through Blackfish Sound, into Johnstone Strait.
When first noticing the white water created by a pod of pacific white-sided dolphins guest have a hard time wondering why we are changing directions suddenly. As we approach closer as in the above photo the cameras suddenly become very active. As with killer whales the “Whale Watching Guidelines” request that we do not approach closer than 100 meters (yards) but the dolphins seem to have their own ideas as will be shown in tomorrows post….
If this was a picture from the spring there would not be much more than the bear’s head out of the water. As the season progresses and the bears put on more fat more of their back appears. Our viewing area is comprised of many islands so it is not unusual to find bears moving between islands.
This humpback is close when you consider that in the corner of the photo is a guest’s tablet. This post has the excitement of a whale close to the boat but yesterday’s post is hard to beat. As a guide the plan is to make sure you get both.
A scenic picture of three humpbacks provided by Australia’s Gary Wilson is hard to beat unless you want a close up. Yes there are three. Look closely to the right of the second humpback you can just make out the hump of the calf as it surfaces beside it’s mother thus the “thicker” breath. Close up in tomorrow’s post….
Transient orcas generally form smaller and more variable social groupings than residents, roam over a larger area of the coastal waters, and their appearance in particular places is not so predictable. They feed primarily on sea mammals such as seals and sea lions. The name “killer whale” probably stems from observations of transient orcas hunting. Transients are characterized by more triangular and pointed dorsal fins than those of Residents (because they have a broader base), and their saddle patch is generally solid.
Based on differences in their lifestyles and food preferences, orcas are characterised as “resident” and “transient”. The majority of orcas that visit our area area are called “residents” because their appearance in the area each summer and fall is relatively predictable. They feed on salmon, live in close and extended family groups (matrilines and pods) and are highly social. Families can be distinguished from one another by their dialects.
And later in the day after a stop at Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island to use a “civilized” bathroom we were visited by some humpback whales. I try and eat our picnic lunch is an area where the humpbacks are feeding and wait to see what “pops up”.
Yes we did find the killer whales and spent an hour or so with them as they moved through Blackfish Sound. The guest photos from the day were much better than mine. I know this because it is part of the day that photographs are compared once all guest return to the lodge. In my defence I am more interested in getting photo that make for a good blog posting than the ideal photo to show friends (I have enough of those).
Bald Eagles are frequently sighted in our area. At times they can be seen in large numbers. This is usually where food supplies are high. For example this could be in areas with high concentrations of baitfish or along the rivers in the fall when the salmon are spawning. They are not migratory, but do move around with the food supply. As mentioned earlier when the salmon are spawning we often see many along the rivers, while there will be fewer along the coastline. With little need for camouflage their white head and tail feathers can be spotted easily. The female is slightly larger and her white head extends down a bit farther onto the body, but it is subtle. It takes these birds 4.5 – 5 years to acquire this unique plumage. As juveniles they are a brown colour. With exceptional eyesight and the ability to view 270 degrees they are understandably often seen in high perches and in trees near points and passageways.
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