September 3, 2026, 3:30 PM - A new-to-us matriline plus some familiar fins!
Keta began the trip by heading south from Nanaimo for an afternoon on the water, travelling through Northumberland Channel and passing through Dodd Narrows. Almost immediately after emerging from the narrows, our search was fruitful when multiple black dorsal fins were spotted ahead - orca were travelling through the area!
Naturalist Val quickly raised her camera and began documenting the whales as they travelled along. A few of the dorsal fins looked familiar, and after a closer look, three of the whales were confirmed as members of the T069s . The remaining fins, however, were less familiar.
With cameras snapping away and identification catalogues being compared, it soon became clear that these were indeed unfamiliar fins - at least to us. The five whales were identified as the T109Bs, a matriline that we as a company had never encountered before!
T069 Komox ♀ (~1974)
T069C Kye ♂ (1995)
T069F Kin ♂ (2010)
T109B Sem ♀ (1996)
T109B3 Psyche ♀ (2013)
T109B4 Styx (2015)
T109B5 Oracle (2018)
T109B6 Jupiter (2024)
Naturalists can identify individual orcas by the shape and possible notches on their dorsal fins, saddle patches, and other distinctive features, such as their eye patches when visible above the surface. Years of sightings and photographs have built an extensive catalogue of known individuals, as shown in the latest update: the 2025 Bigg’s Killer Whale ID catalogue. Today’s IDs were confirmed because a few T109B matriline members have very unique notches, visible in the photos below.
The whales were travelling in two groups when we first found them. T069F Kin was travelling alongside T109B3 Psyche and T109B4 Styx, while the other members of the T069s and T109Bs were further away.
Kin was being very surface active as we observed him. It seemed he was in the middle of a hunt, as he had caught a Harbour Seal and was dragging it through the water in his teeth. While we did not witness it, he likely took the seal below the surface to finish the hunt. After finishing his meal, he continued patrolling along the log booms along Northumberland Channel, seemingly searching for another opportunity.
The log booms near Harmac Pulpmill are the seasonal home for many California Sea Lions. As the orca cruised past, the sea lions shifted and paced uneasily along the logs. With several large predators moving through their waters so close, they were certainly keeping a close eye on what would happen next. Fortunately for the sea lions, the T069s and T109Bs continued on without making another attempt at a hunt.
Later in the trip, Keta met up with the rest of the T069s and T109Bs, giving everyone a much better look at the entire group.
One individual in particular stood out amongst the pod members. Styx has a remarkably distinctive dorsal fin, marked by numerous small notches along its trailing edge. A large notch is also missing from the saddle patch right along their spine, creating an identification feature that makes them especially recognizable. Despite these injuries, Styx seemed to move easily alongside the other whales, keeping pace with the group as they travelled.
After spending some time with the pods, we continued southbound. We ended up out towards Thrasher Rock, and soon, another group of orca appeared!
This time, three familiar individuals were present: T049A2 Jude, T063 Chainsaw, and T065 Whidbey II:
T049A2 Jude ♂ (2007)
T065 Whidbey II ♀ (~1971)
T063 Chainsaw ♂ (~1978)
Chainsaw and Whidbey II seemed to be finishing a hunt as we approached, while Jude travelled farther off to the side. All three are well-known individuals in our area, though they tend to turn up in somewhat different places. Chainsaw and Whidbey II are frequently encountered in the open waters of the Strait of Georgia, while Jude is more often seen closer to shore or inside the Southern Gulf Islands.
After some time with the trio, Keta continued along the outer edge of the Southern Gulf Islands. The afternoon was beginning to fade as the boat headed toward Stinky Rocks, popping in for a different kind of wildlife encounter.
The high tide meant that most of the pinnipeds that usually gather around the rocks were elsewhere, but a small group of Steller Sea Lions remained huddled together at the top of the rocks. They slept lazily through the evening, enjoying the calm weather as clouds began to roll overhead.
As the sun began to set, it was time to head home. But even with the afternoon nearly over, one more surprise still lay ahead!
Not long after leaving Stinky Rocks, a lone humpback whale appeared in the fading light. The whale surfaced, arched its back, and lifted its enormous flukes high above the water. It was the perfect opportunity for an identification photograph, and the distinctive markings and notch confirmed the whale as Bullet (BCX1658).
We spent a bit with Bullet before we said our goodbyes and headed out one final time. We soon glided back into the harbour and wrapped up another amazing trip out in the Salish Sea, exploring and seeing not one but two incredible whale species in one trip!
Please enjoy today’s photos taken by Marine Naturalist Val Watson.
T109B3 Psyche making her way along.
T069F Kin glistening in the sun.
T069F Kin with the shoreline right behind him.
T069F Kin catching his late lunch, a Harbour Seal.
T069F Kin has some intense scarring on his side now, reminiscent of ‘gills’ on a shark!
A big bushy backlit blow from T069F Kin as he travels along.
T109B4 Styx close to Dodd Narrows.
The trio T069F Kin, T109B4 Styx, and T109B3 Psyche making their way towards the Narrows.
T069F Kin, T109B4 Styx, and T109B3 Psyche travelling together.
T109B4 Styx and T109B3 Psyche, side by side.
California Sea Lions hauled out together on the log booms.
T109B4 Styx scanning the booms in search of their next meal.
T109B4 Styx and T109B3 Psyche spent most of their time close together today.
The matriarch, T109B Sem, making waves.
T109B Sem with her youngest T109B6 Jupiter beside her.
T109B5 Orcale, T109B Sem, and T109B6 Jupiter (back) travelling together through the sunshine.
T069C Kye with his impressive towering dorsal fin.
T069C Kye with a backlit blow.
Matriarch T069 Komox with Harmac in the background.
T109B Sem, T109B6 Jupiter, and T109B5 Oracle travelling together.
T069 Komox with her eyepatch out of the water.
T069C Kye with some new scarring.
T069 Komox with the Gabriola Bluffs behind her.
T109B Sem travelling.
T109B5 Orcale with T109B6 Jupiter with their head out of the water.
T065 Whidbey II gliding through the glass-like seas.
Ever distinct T063 Chainsaw following his mother.
T065 Whidbey II and her son T063 Chainsaw together.
T049A2 Jude, one of our favourite lone male orca.
A Common Murre sitting on the edge of the water.
A BC Ferry in the background with Steller Sea Lions in the foreground.
A storm was starting to roll in near the end of the day!
Bullet travelling, her blowholes visible.
Bullet with her unique dorsal fin visible above the surface.
Bullet fluking in the low light.