July 28, 2025, 3:30 PM - The humpbacks continue to gather in the Strait!
We had incredibly calm seas as we pushed off the dock this afternoon with the whole fleet loaded up and ready to search for whales. We were lucky this afternoon as the humpbacks were making our job look too easy, popping up all around us. A good problem to have when you’re not sure where to look. This time of year, our humpbacks are plenty as they are here to bulk back up from their migration to the tropics to breed.
Today we had a total of 8 different humpbacks in the Strait: we had Nike (BCX1377), Vanta (BCX1730), Bullet (BCX1658), Professor X (BCX1965), Dalmatian (BCY0994), BCZ0410 calf 2022, and Valiant (BCX1773) with her calf BCX1773 calf 2025.
Every year, thousands of humpback whales make one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom, a round trip of up to 8,000 kilometres. They travel from their warm, tropical breeding grounds in places like Hawaii and Mexico, all the way to the cold, food-rich waters of the North Pacific, including our very own Salish Sea. It’s a journey of both beauty and danger, and not every whale makes it.
The migration path is fraught with risks. From tangled fishing gear to ship strikes and the increasing noise pollution that can disrupt navigation, the challenges are many. But perhaps one of the most primal threats these whales face, especially calves, comes from the ocean’s apex predator: Transient orca/Bigg’s killer whales.
While humpbacks and orca don’t always cross paths, when they do, it can be intense. Transient orca are mammal-hunters, and a young humpback calf presents a tempting, yet risky, target. That brings us to one of the most remarkable humpbacks we know: Valiant.
Valiant is no ordinary whale. As a calf, she survived a brutal attack by killer whales, an encounter that left deep scars across her body and fluke. But she didn’t just survive, she thrived. And in the years since, she's earned quite a reputation for her bold behaviour. Valiant has been witnessed charging full-grown male orca, a sporadic and fearless act for a humpback.
While we can’t say exactly what motivates her, it’s hard not to see her actions as a kind of grudge, a memory burned deep into her instincts. Her name couldn’t be more fitting.
This season, we were thrilled to welcome Valiant back to the Salish Sea, and not just on her own, but with a new calf by her side! For a whale that endured such a traumatic beginning, seeing her now as a mother is nothing short of inspiring.
Given her past, we expect that Valiant will be an especially protective mother. Humpback moms are already incredibly attentive; their bond with their calves is strong, and they often position themselves between their young and potential threats. But with Valiant, that instinct may be heightened. If orca come near, it’s hard to imagine her backing down.
Her story is a powerful reminder of both the dangers humpbacks face on their long journey and the strength it takes to overcome them. Valiant’s survival, her resilience, and now her role as a mother all highlight just how tough and tenacious these whales truly are.
As we watch her raise her calf in these waters, possibly the very same place she was once attacked, we can’t help but feel a deep sense of respect and hope. Here’s to Valiant, and to a future where more whales can migrate safely, feed freely, and raise their young in peace.
On today’s tour, the humpback whales truly stole the show. These gentle giants of the sea had us in awe with their powerful exhalations, fluke dives, and the occasional playful roll at the surface. There's nothing quite like seeing a humpback; their sheer size and grace leave a lasting impression.
But the excitement didn’t stop there. Along the rugged coastline, we spotted a group of harbour seals hauled out on warm rocks. These round-faced pinnipeds might look lazy in the sun, but their pups are born ready to swim! Unlike many marine mammals, harbour seal pups can swim within minutes of birth and are often seen riding on their mothers’ backs as they get the hang of it.
Not far from the seals, we found a raucous gathering of Steller Sea Lions. These massive animals, especially the males, can weigh over a ton! Steller sea lion pups are born in the summer and are able to nurse for up to a year. Interestingly, mothers often return to the same rookery where they were born to give birth to their own pups, keeping the family tradition alive.
We also passed by towering cliffs where cormorants perched and dried their wings in the sun. These diving birds nest on rocky ledges and are doting parents. Their chicks hatch naked and helpless, relying completely on their parents for warmth and food in the early days.
Overhead, a bald eagle soared, scanning the shoreline for a meal. These majestic birds are incredible parents; both male and female share nest duties, and their eaglets grow rapidly, sometimes tripling in size within just a few weeks. By the time they fledge, bald eagle chicks are nearly as big as the adults!
All in all, it was a well-rounded day on the water, with humpbacks as the headliners and a delightful supporting cast of coastal wildlife, all thriving in this spectacular ecosystem we’re lucky to explore.
Photos below by Aly Kohlman, Desarae Poier and Val Watson.
Professor X’s dorsal fin. Photo by Desarae Poier.
BCZ0410 calf 2022 fluking. Photo by Desarae Poier.
Professor X. Photo by Desarae Poier.
A fluke from Nike. Photo by Val Watson.
A beautiful fluke waterfall! Photo by Val Watson.
Professor X lifting their rostrum. Photo by Desarae Poier.
Can you spot the barnacle scars? Photo by Desarae Poier.
Look closely can you see the hair on Professor X’s chin? Photo by Desarae Poier.
Dalmatian fluking in the distance. Photo by Val Watson.
Anvil’s 2022 calf’s right dorsal fin. Photo by Val Watson.
Anvil’s 2022 calf’s left dorsal fin. Photo by Val Watson.
BCZ0410 calf 2022 fluking. Photo by Val Watson.
Valiant’s tail, can you spot the missing ends? Photo by Val Watson.
Bullet fluking. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Vanta fluking. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Bullet with Vanta following. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Bullet going down. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Valiant and her calf! Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Valiant diving. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Cascadia and Keta crusing the waves. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
A great blue heron has their eye on something. Photo by Val Watson.
Going in for the kill! Photo by Val Watson.
Got it! Photo by Val Watson.
Enjoying a fishy meal. Photo by Val Watson.
Cormorants lined up on the Bluffs. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
A juvenile bald eagle. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
This young eagle is perched just above the nest. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
A gull floating past. Photo by Aly Kohlman.
Steller Sea Lions resting. Photo by Desarae Poier.
Being watched back! Photo by Desarae Poier.
Plump harbour seals enjoying the sunshine. Photo by Val Watson.
Can you spot all 5 harbour seals in this photo? Photo by Aly Kohlman.