The October weather is here in full force, with dark, overcast skies all around us as we set off on Kula. Naturalist Hayleigh discussed the day’s adventures as guests onboard stayed nice and cozy inside the cabin. As we departed, it was decided we would head south, searching around the coast of the Southern Gulf Islands. As we picked up speed, we scanned all around us, ever searching the horizon for any signs of whales.

Our adventure took us into the Strait of Georgia, poking out through Porlier Pass, the small waterway separating Valdes Island and Galiano Island. Once out here, it didn’t take us long to spot a pair of humpbacks travelling together close to the pass!

Getting into position, cameras went up, and as the pair dove, their flukes emerged from the surf. A quick photo of the pair helped us conclude that this was Nike (BCX1377) travelling with Kaju (BCY1474).

Nike is an older individual, with his first confirmed Happywhale sightings currently dating back to 2009. Thanks to Happywhale, he was crossmatched to the breeding grounds in Mexico in 2012, 2014, and 2021. He was already fairly large at his first documented sighting, so he was likely at least a few years old then. Humpback research and lineage tracking are still relatively new developments in the scientific world, so at this time, nothing is known about his history prior to that first sighting, such as who his mother is. Kaju, on the other hand, is a whale about which we know many specific details. As the 2021 calf of Sherwina (BCY0961), they are now 5 years old. They have also been crossmatched to the breeding grounds in Hawaii in 2024 and early 2026, just like their mother before them. Sherwina is an interesting case, as she has also been crossmatched to the feeding grounds off of California previously as well. Humpback whales tend to show strong site fidelity, or typically will return to the same areas their mothers taught them about in their infancy, so we are interested in seeing if Kaju ever makes an appearance down in California as well!

After some time with the duo, we turned and slowly began travelling once more. Heading further north, it didn’t take long for us to locate another group of humpbacks in the Strait. This time it was a trio, with two of them appearing to be directly associating, and one trailing a bit further behind.

Up came the tails, and soon we learned that the two associating were Smiley (BCY0995) and Dandelion (BCY1107), with Hammer (BCY1222) minding his business farther off. Dandelion seemed quite excited and kept flicking their tail at the surface as they followed Smiley around. At one point, Dandelion dove, headstanding with their fluke and peduncle straight out of the water. While we cannot be sure what caused the rush of surface activity, it is possible Dandelion may have been trying to woo Smiley in preparation for the upcoming breeding season. Hammer, the other whale in the trio, is also a confirmed male, so while Dandelion’s gender is currently unconfirmed, this may have also led to competitive behaviours between the two.

As daylight began to fade, we departed and headed back towards the shore. Coasting over to Valdes Island, we made our way to a small area cheekily referred to as Stinky Rocks. This spot is an ideal haul-out for pinnipeds, with many Harbour Seals and Steller Sea Lions seeking refuge here from the chilly ocean waters. During this encounter, most were busy napping the day away, one of the most common behaviours to witness at a haul-out. Many shorebirds were also taking advantage of the calm weather, tucking their heads under their wings and resting alongside the pinnipeds.

Turning away again, we soon started our journey back to Nanaimo. The day wasn’t quite over yet, though, as we pulled up alongside the log booms outside the Harmac pulpmill for one more wildlife encounter. Similar to Stinky Rocks, these log booms are a perfect rest stop for pinnipeds. While Harbour Seals and Steller Sea Lions can occasionally be found here as well, this area is dominated by California Sea Lions, the smaller cousins of the Stellers. Snoozing away, these sea lions draped over one another, using each other as ‘pillows’ as they dozed.

Wrapping up, we headed out for the final leg of our journey. After a few more minutes of travel, Nanaimo came back into view, its skyline stretching across the horizon. We soon pulled back into the docks, concluding another beautiful day exploring the Salish Sea.

Please enjoy this trip’s photos taken by Marine Naturalist Hayleigh Hilbert.

October 13, 2026 - Humpbacks flaunting their stuff!

Nike and Kaju

Hammer, Smiley, and Dandelion

Other wildlife