Two vessels out today, a sunny spring day with low wind and great visibility. Conditions like this always feel promising before we even leave the dock. With glassy water stretching across the Salish Sea, we set our course south into the Gulf Islands, each vessel branching slightly apart to maximize the ground we could cover.

One of the most common questions we get on days like today is how we actually find whales out here. The answer often surprises people. These animals are not tagged or tracked in real time, and that is very intentional. Tagging can be invasive and disruptive, and for populations that we work hard to protect, minimizing human impact is critical. Instead, we rely on trained observation, local knowledge, and a constant scan of the horizon. Every blow, every bird cluster, every subtle change in the water can be a clue. It is whale watching in its most traditional sense, guided simply by our eyes and experience.

Today, that approach paid off quickly.

As we neared Chemainus, a quiet excitement began to build. Cutting cleanly through the calm surface was the unmistakable silhouette of a tall, black dorsal fin. Even at a distance, there is something instantly recognizable about that shape. Cameras came up, and telephoto lenses were extended as we moved into position to capture identification shots.

Identifying individual orca is a practice rooted in careful observation. Each whale carries its own unique markings. We look at the dorsal fin for nicks, notches, and shape, the saddle patch for its pattern and any scars, and the eye patch for its size and shape. These features allow us to distinguish individuals and track family groups over time without ever needing to interfere with them.

It did not take long to confirm who we were with! It was the T099s!

T099 ♀ Bella ( ~1984)
T099B ♀ Holly (2007)
T099C ♂ Barakat (2009)
T099D ♂ Puck (2015)
T099E ♀ Qwiin qwiin oo qwii la (2021)

Among them was Holly, a familiar favourite. Her dorsal fin carries distinctive notches that make her one of the easier individuals to recognize, not only for Naturalists but also for many locals who have come to know her over the years. The T099s, guided by their matriarch Bella, have earned a reputation throughout the Salish Sea. As a group of Bigg’s killer whales, they are highly efficient marine mammal hunters. While many transient orcas focus on harbour seals and harbour porpoises, Bella and her family have been observed targeting much larger prey, including Steller sea lions and even baleen whales.

One of the more remarkable behaviours associated with this group is their involvement in hunting minke whale. In the past, they have teamed up with the T065s in coordinated efforts to take down a minke whale. These hunts are rare and require extraordinary levels of cooperation and endurance. Much like wolves on land, the orca take turns in pursuit, one individual driving the chase while others rest and conserve energy. Over time, this relay continues until the prey becomes exhausted. Only then do they move in as a group, using their strength and coordination to subdue and ultimately drown the animal.

It is a high-effort strategy, but also a high-reward one. A successful hunt of that scale provides a substantial meal, supporting the entire group. While it is not the most common feeding behaviour we see, it speaks to the adaptability and intelligence of these apex predators. For Bella and her crew, the challenge appears to be worth the reward.

After spending time with the T099s and watching them travel with purpose, we left them to continue their journey and shifted our focus toward another set of familiar faces of the Salish Sea.

Haul-outs nearby were busy with both California Sea Lion and Steller Sea Lion. The contrast between the two species is always fascinating to observe. California Sea Lions tend to be more agile and vocal, while Stellers, the largest of the sea lions, carry a noticeable bulk and presence. Both play important roles in the marine ecosystem and are frequent targets for transient orca, adding another layer to the region's predator-prey dynamics.

Above us, bald eagle activity was constant. These apex avian hunters are as impressive in the air as the orca are in the water. With powerful wings and remarkable eyesight, they are capable of high-speed dives and precise strikes, often snatching fish straight from the surface with little margin for error.

Along the rocky edges of the Gabriola Bluffs, we also observed nesting cormorant colonies. These skilled divers can descend to depths exceeding 100 feet in pursuit of fish, using their streamlined bodies to propel themselves underwater with surprising efficiency. Watching them surface, often with a catch, offers a small but powerful reminder of how much activity exists beneath even the calmest waters.

With the sun still high and the sea holding its calm, we turned back toward the dock. Days like this are a reflection of everything that makes the Salish Sea so compelling. From the precision of a hunting eagle to the cooperation of a pod of orca, every encounter is a window into a complex and interconnected ecosystem.

We returned with full memory cards, wind-touched faces, and plenty of smiles, already looking forward to what tomorrow might bring.

Enjoy the photos below by Aly Kohlman and Evan Hessels.