September 10, 2026 - T069E Kodiak and New to Us Whale BCY1552
The Salish Sea gave us a little bit of everything on this trip, from a lone orca travelling through Stuart Channel to a humpback whale in Pylades Channel, then a stop at Stinky Rock to spend time with Steller Sea Lions and Harbour Seals.
Our search began in the Southern Gulf Islands as we made our way into Stuart Channel. Before long, we received word of an orca travelling north through the channel. When we arrived, we found a familiar dorsal fin belonging to T069E Kodiak.
T069E Kodiak ♂ (2004)
Kodiak is a member of the T069s, a family group within the Bigg’s killer whale population. Bigg’s killer whales are mammal-eating orcas commonly found throughout the coastal waters of British Columbia and Washington. Unlike fish-eating Southern Resident killer whales, Bigg’s killer whales regularly travel long distances in search of marine mammal prey, which can include Harbour Seals, Steller Sea Lions, porpoises and other whales.
On this occasion, Kodiak was travelling alone, steadily making his way north through Stuart Channel. Seeing a lone male like Kodiak is a good reminder that orca travel is not always about large groups moving together. Adult males can sometimes be found travelling independently, even when their family members are elsewhere. With his tall dorsal fin cutting through the water, Kodiak was easy to recognize as he continued on his journey.
After spending some time with Kodiak, we continued our search toward Pylades Channel. There, we encountered a humpback whale travelling through the area. A few good looks at the underside of the fluke allowed us to identify the whale as BCY1552.
Humpback whales are individually recognizable by the unique patterns on the underside of their tail flukes. These patterns develop from a combination of natural pigmentation, scars and markings, creating a kind of fingerprint for each whale. By documenting these features, naturalists can contribute sightings and identification information to ongoing research into the movements and lives of humpback whales along the coast. Interestingly, this is the first time we have ever observed this individual as a company, although they have been seen in the Salish Sea before now. It made this encounter even more exciting!
With an orca and a humpback already on the day's list, we made one more stop at a favourite wildlife viewing location, Stinky Rock.
Stinky Rock is a small rocky outcrop that can be a busy gathering place for marine mammals. On the rocks, Steller Sea Lions were hauled out together, while Harbour Seals rested nearby. Steller Sea Lions are the largest species of sea lion in the world, and males can grow to impressive sizes. Their loud calls and constant movement can make a haul-out seem like a very busy place, especially when several animals are sharing the same stretch of rock.
Harbour Seals, meanwhile, tend to be much quieter. They can often be found resting on rocks with their heads raised, watching the activity around them. These seals are also an important part of the Salish Sea food web and are one of the marine mammals regularly preyed upon by Bigg’s killer whales.
From one end of the food web to another, the day offered a great look at just how connected this ecosystem is. A lone Bigg’s killer whale travelling through Stuart Channel, a humpback whale moving through Pylades Channel, and seals and sea lions resting at Stinky Rock may seem like separate encounters, but each is part of the same living Salish Sea.
It was a day that reminded us that you never quite know what you will find when you head out on the water. Please enjoy the photos below taken throughout the trip by Marine Naturalsits Hayleigh Hilbert and Evan Hessels.
T069E Kodiak surfacing in the waves. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T069E Kodiak showing off his eyepatch as he surfaces along the shoreline. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T069E Kodiak swimming North in Stuart Channel. Photo by Evan Hessels.
T069E Kodiak showing his saddle patch as he surfaces. Photo by Evan Hessels.
A look at T069E Kodiak’s eye patch as he surfaces in the waves. Photo by Evan Hessels.
T069E Kodiak making a splash as he moves through the water. Photo by Evan Hessels.
BCY1552 lifting their tail for a dive. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
The underside of BCY1552’s tail as they dive. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
BCY1552 arching to prepare to dive. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
A lovely fluke waterfall from BCY1552 as they dive. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
BCY1552 surfacing in front of the Freighter. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
BCY1552 arching their back to dive. Photo by Evan Hessels.
A fluke waterfall as BCY1552 lifts their tail to dive. Photo by Evan Hessels.
A lovely fluke waterfall from BCY1552. Photo by Evan Hessels.
A Harlequin duck swimming by at Stinky Rock. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
A Harbour Seal having it’s little mermaid moment. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
A very cute Harbour Seal at Stinky Rock. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
Steller Sea Lions fighting on the rocks. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
Surf Scoters flying by. Photo by Evan Hessels.
A large male Steller Sea Lion doing a big yawn. Photo by Evan Hessels.
A starfish snack for this young gull. Photo by Evan Hessels.
Steller Sea Lion posing on the rocks at Stinky. Photo by Evan Hessels.
An Itchy California Sea Lion. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.