Thursday, July 20

Victoria's weather made for another interesting day on the water. Although this morning's tour started in heavy fog, we were still able to get a great look at the Race Rocks Light House (lit in 1860) and the marine animals it is home to. We enjoyed many harbour and elephant seals and a bald eagle perched on the rocky shore line waiting for the best opportunity to grab an unsuspecting fish.

We then received word that J-pod, one of our 3 southern resident pods, had been spotted on the west shore of the American San Juan Island. For the rest of the morning and the whole of the afternoon tour, we were able to watch a foraging (feeding on Salmon) J-Pod. We travelled from False Bay to Lime Kiln Lighthouse as J-pod's many members went after the abundant salmon. Ruffles (J1), a 56 year old male, Blackberry (J27) and Mike (J26), both 16 year old sprouting males, were seen rapidly changing directions after fish. We even got a look at Granny (J2), the 96 year old matriarch, Mako (J39), a 4 year old male calf, and Slick (J16), 35 year old mother of 4 (including Mike) and her newest female calf unnamed J42, who is only 2 1/2 months old.

We finished the day with a beautiful sun filled ride back to the Victoria harbour with enough time to spend checking our many of the other amazing site Victoria has to offer.