September 29, 2025 - New orca interactions and many happy humpbacks

Today’s journey took us east across the waters of the Strait of Georgia, venturing toward the mainland of British Columbia in search of whales. Our destination: the shallow, silty waters of Sturgeon Bank near Richmond - an area teeming with marine life and sometimes visited by our whales. We were in for a real treat today, as we caught word of a Transient (Bigg’s) orca sighting over here!

We crossed and started searching the shores. Before long, we found what we were looking for: eight orca travelling spread out across the bank. Photos confirmed some familiar fins were present - it was the T036s, travelling alongside with the T060 brothers, T060D Onca and T060E Lynx:

T036 Flapjack ♀ (≤1970)
T036B Tattertip ♀ (1998)
T036B1 Bhotia ♀ (2009)
T036B1A Maple ♀ (2025)
T036B2 Greenfelder ♀ (2013)
T036B4 Auk ♂ (2024)

T060D Onca ♂ (2004)
T060E Lynx ♂ (2008)

As we observed them, two fascinating behaviours caught our attention. The matriarch T036 Flapjack was seen travelling alone near shore, a somewhat unusual sight for such a family-oriented species. Meanwhile, T060E Lynx appeared to be spending time with T036B1 Bhotia and her young calf, T036B1A Maple. These interpod interactions are a wonderful reminder of how dynamic Bigg’s killer whale social structures can be - while they typically travel in tight-knit family groups, they often mix and mingle with other matrilines for short periods, forming larger hunting alliances and creating ideal breeding opportunities.

Besides travelling, the orca were also observed hunting, using the shallow channels and sandbars of Sturgeon Bank to their advantage. Bigg’s killer whales are specialized marine mammal hunters, and their cooperative strategies are a marvel to witness - silent communication, sudden bursts of speed, and well-timed teamwork make them some of the most efficient predators in the ocean.

As the encounter wrapped up, our boats departed to continue the day's adventure. Not long after, our semi-covered vessel Kula came across a familiar humpback fluking – it was Fishbone (BCY1474), the 2021 calf of Sherwina (BCY0961). Fishbone was travelling along, possibly feeding in our nutrient-rich waters. Humpback season is quickly coming to a close, so it is vital that they feed as much as they can before they depart for the breeding grounds.

Not long after, Kula and the crew spotted another pair of humpbacks travelling along nearby. These two were identified as Ghost (BCX1333) and her 2025 calf (BCX1333 calf 2025). The pair were travelling calmly through the fog before living up to their namesake - vanishing ghost-like into the mist as the rain began to fall. We said our goodbyes and once again, continued onwards.

Meanwhile, our vessel Cascadia encountered yet another mother-calf pair: this time, it was Europa (BCX0854) and her calf (BCX0854 calf 2025). The young calf was being very energetic, pectoral slapping and tail lobbing beside its mother, showcasing the playful energy that humpback calves are so well known for. These surface-active behaviours not only look spectacular, but may also serve as a form of communication or as a means of parasite removal.

Before heading home, we made a quick stop at Stinky Rocks, a favourite local haul-out for Harbour Seals and Steller Sea Lions. While there, one of the seals was seen “banana posing,” an endearing resting position where they lift their heads and tails out of the water to help regulate their body temperature. The others were sleepily lounging in the shallows. The towering Steller Sea Lions, on the other hand, were piled together in a cuddle puddle - snoring, belching, and occasionally grumbling away to assert their dominance.

A Great Blue Heron was also spotted nearby, perched on the rocks, peering into the murky waters below in search of a snack. We also had a quick stop at the Harmac pulp mill, where our other sea lion species, the California Sea Lion, could be seen barking and snoozing away.

From the graceful Transient orca navigating the waters to the playful humpbacks cruising through the fog, today reminded us just how magical and alive the Salish Sea is. Adventures like these are why we do what we do - witnessing these incredible creatures in their natural habitat inspires awe, sparks curiosity, and deepens our love and respect for the wild waters we are so fortunate to call home.

Please enjoy these photos taken by Marine Naturalists Val Watson and Vanessa Vereschahen.

T060E Lynx. Photo by Val Watson.

T036B1 Bhotia. Photo by Val Watson.

T036B Tattertip and T036B4 Auk. Photo by Val Watson.

T036B Tattertip. Photo by Val Watson.

T060E Lynx. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T036B1 Bhotia and her little calf T036B1A Maple. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T060E Lynx close behind T036B1 Bhotia and T036B1A Maple. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T036B1A Maple with her eyepatch above the water, following her mother T036B1 Bhotia. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T036B2 Greenfelder. by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Fishbone’s fluke. Photo by Val Watson.

Fishbone’s dorsal fin. Photo by Val Watson.

Fishbone diving. Photo by Val Watson.

The tip of Ghost’s dorsal fin as she travels into the fog. Photo by Val Watson.

Ghost’s calf has a very unique dorsal fin, just barely visible here as it spookily travels by. Photo by Val Watson.

Ghost fluking. Photo by Val Watson.

Europa with her calf exhaling beside her. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Europa and her calf. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Going for a dive. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A beautiful top fluke. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Europa’s 2025 calf’s dorsal fin. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Europa’s 2025 calf (left) and Europa (right). Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Europa fluking in the distance. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Banana posing on the rocks. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A cuddle puddle of Steller Sea Lions. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

They love using eachother as pillows. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A California Sea Lion sleepily watching us from the log booms. Photo by Val Watson.

A trio of female Harlequin Ducks. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Cormorants and Gulls on the rocks. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A stoic Great Blue Heron watching the waters. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A Great Blue Heron soaring by. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A Gull in flight. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A Bald Eagle catching lunch. Photo by Val Watson.

Our semi-covered vessel, Kula, in comparision to a freighter! Note: Lens compression makes these vessels appear closer together than they actually are. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

The Vancouver skyline. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.