Although clouds loomed overhead as our boats departed Nanaimo today, we didn’t let that dampen our spirits. We've been incredibly lucky in the Strait of Georgia lately, so we decided to begin our search there once again. It didn’t take long before we spotted something, blows in the distance!

As we approached, we confirmed they were humpback whales. One of the easiest ways to distinguish humpbacks from orcas is by the shape of their blows: humpback blows are much larger and bushier, not just due to their sheer size, but also because they have two blowholes, whereas orcas only have one.

These two humpbacks were particularly easy to identify, as they were being very generous with their tail displays, not just diving, but flicking their flukes across the surface and even throwing them through the air in dramatic cartwheels! The more active of the two appeared to be Squirrel (BCX2183), with Fader (BCY0195) travelling right alongside. Both are easy to recognize thanks to distinctive scarring on the underside of their tails.

Squirrel, who is also nicknamed Smoke, has a prominent scar on the left side of their fluke, caused by an injury sustained in our waters back in 2022. The shape of the scar reminded researchers of a flying squirrel mid-leap—hence the nickname! Fader, on the other hand, has a noticeable scar on the right side. A curved line appears to divide the lighter and darker halves of the tail, with the white markings seemingly fading into the dark, making their name a perfect fit.

When it comes to naming humpbacks, we try to choose something based on a unique feature on the underside of their tail. It helps spark recognition and makes it easier to identify individuals without having to search the entire growing catalogue. New whales are added every year! Our conservation partner, Keta Coastal Conservation, offers a free catalogue of our local humpbacks that you can download if you'd like to try matching whales you spot yourself!

We watched as these graceful giants glided through the water, and occasionally launched out of it, until we received a report of orca not far away. So, we said goodbye to the humpbacks and went off in search of more cetaceans. Once again, it wasn’t long before we found our next sighting: a pod of four Bigg’s (transient) orca: the T065Bs!

T065B Chunk ♀ (1993)
T065B1 Birdsall ♂ (2011)
T065B2 Nettle ♂ (2019)
T065B3 Rook ♂ (2023)

This family was peacefully travelling just off the shore of Gabriola Island, occasionally getting quite close to land. For Bigg’s orca, this isn’t unusual; mammal-eaters like them often hunt nearshore, where their prey is most abundant. Seals and sea lions (also known as pinnipeds) tend to stay near their rocky haul-out sites and don’t usually venture far. Harbour seals, in particular, are year-round residents of the Salish Sea and rarely stray more than five miles from home.

At high tide, many haul-out rocks become submerged, leaving fewer safe spots for resting pinnipeds. The orca, being incredibly intelligent, remember where these sites are and often check them for hunting opportunities. We think that's why this pod made such a close pass; they were likely scouting for a snack. While they didn’t make a successful hunt during our viewing, it was still fascinating to witness their behaviour.

After spending some time with the T065Bs, we left them to continue their journey and began heading back toward Nanaimo. One of our vessels made a brief stop at Snake Island, where some Harbour Seals were lounging on the rocks, seemingly relaxed and unaware that orca might be headed their way. It was a lovely moment to observe them in such a peaceful state, adorably calm and totally unbothered.

Both boats also had the pleasure of spotting Bald Eagles along the way. One was perched regally along the shoreline of Snake Island, while others were seen sparring in the treetops near the harbour. It was a perfect way to end the trip. Bald Eagles are true icons of the West Coast.

Naturalists Aly Kohlman and Desarae Poier captured some incredible photos throughout the tour, check them out below!

June 24, 2025, 10:30 AM - Double species day nice and close to home