Tuesday, May 13

The rainy skies could not stop the excited guest and crew aboard the Orca Spirit today. Before we even left Victoria’s harbour, our Captain Brad, had word the J-Pod (consisting of 24 members) were heading south down the Rosario Strait. The Orca Spirit made a direct path east, and after an hour, met up with a spread out foraging group.

While on scene, for both the 1pm and 5 pm tours, we were able to get great looks at such whales as two young teenagers, Mike (J26, 17 yrs) and Blackberry (J27, 17yrs), who were traveling with Mike’s family. Mike’s mom Slick (J16, 38 yrs) was there, along with his brother Keet (J33, 12 yrs), and two sisters (Alki –J36 9 years, and J42, J-Pod’s newest, and yet to be named member. She is one year old) We also got a great look at Riptide (J30, a sprouting male) as he tail lobbed passed us. To top off the sighting, we dropped the hydrophone and enjoyed the calls and echolocation of a tight family unit.

On our way back, we also saw many Dall’s porpoise, cormorants, pigeon Guillemots, gulls and a lone bald eagle at the northern tip of Trial Island.