Gray Whale, Southern Resident Orca & Humpback Whales
August 4, 2017
Today was one of those great west coast days where you are amazed by how much wildlife you can fit into 3 hour tours! Starting first thing this morning we headed out into calm seas only to come across a Gray Whale after only 15 minutes out of the harbour! It isn’t often we have the pleasure of seeing this species, but an unmistakable mottled grey back and distinctive lack of dorsal fin gave this whale away immediately. We spent some time with this whale, even seeing it bring it’s tail fluke up twice before heading towards Beechy Head along the west side of Vancouver Island. Here we encountered one of our Southern Resident Killer Whale pods – L pod – and watched as the large dorsal fin of L-92 Crewser went by. Later on at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve we watched Steller Sea Lions fighting, male Northern Elephant Seals sunning themselves, Harbour Seals watching us cautiously and even a Bald Eagle perched up high scanning for food.
This afternoon we didn’t have to go far as we ventured over to Trial Island outside Victoria. Here we came across two humpback whales, with 2 more in the distance! We could barely look around without seeing the blow of one of these behemoth animals exhaling and diving together. Over at Race Rocks this afternoon we got to see a California Sea Lion – these males are on their way back from breeding and this was one of the first ones we have seen come back this summer! Along with this California Sea Lion were Steller Sea Lions, Harbour Seals and our resident Sea Otter, Ollie. A great day out on the water!
