It was a day filled with encounters from almost the moment we left Nanaimo Harbour.

Our first sighting came surprisingly quickly, when we found a pair of humpback whales travelling together along the eastern side of Gabriola Island. As we watched them surface, it became clear that these were two familiar individuals: Frankenstein (BCX1358) and Constellation (BCX1784).

The pair appeared to be feeding in the area, spending time at the surface before lifting their flukes together and disappearing below. Seeing two humpbacks dive in such close synchrony is always a beautiful sight. For animals that spend much of their lives as solitary travellers, moments like this offer a glimpse into their social side.

We spent some time with the pair, watching their enormous bodies move with surprising grace through the water. Despite their size, humpbacks can be remarkably smooth and quiet as they travel and feed. Eventually, though, it was time to continue our search, and the boats began spreading out once again.

From there, our sightings took us in several different directions.

One of our open boats encountered another pair of humpbacks farther out in the Strait of Georgia, Split Fluke (BCX1068) and Yogi (BCY0409). Meanwhile, our other open boat found Cassiopeia (BCY0796) travelling alone closer to the Gabriola shoreline. Our semi-covered vessel had its own encounter, finding three humpbacks just south of Thrasher Rock: Chi (BCZ0575), Prowler (BCX1660), and Thunderbolt (BCY1517).

Although the whales were spread across different areas, their behaviour was remarkably similar. They were feeding.

For humpbacks in the Strait of Georgia, this is what much of their time here is about. These waters are an important seasonal feeding ground, and the whales spend the summer and fall taking advantage of the abundant food in the region. By consuming large quantities of krill and small schooling fish, they build the energy reserves they will need for their long migrations to their breeding grounds farther south.

Eventually, the boat watching Cassiopeia joined up with Chi, Thunderbolt, and Prowler, and they watch this trio of whales move steadily south as they fed. The boat that had been watching Split Fluke and Yogi also headed in that direction, but along the way encountered two more individual humpbacks. One remained unidentified, while the other was recognizable as Hendrix (BCY1278).

Meanwhile, something very different was unfolding for our semi-covered boat.

While watching the humpbacks, the crew spotted dorsal fins in the distance. Orcas.

We headed over to investigate and soon confirmed that the whales were the T123s, a matrilineal family group consisting of Sidney and her three offspring.

T123 Sidney ♀ (~1985)
T123A Stanley ♂ (2000)
T123C Lucky ♀ (2012)
T123D Darcy ♀ (2018)

When we first arrived, the T123s appeared to be finishing a hunt. Their behaviour suggested they had recently made a kill, but they finished the meal quickly and began travelling north at a steady pace.

Then came a surprise.

Two humpbacks suddenly surfaced behind them.

Forge (BCX2499) and BCX2316 appeared to be following closely behind the orcas, creating a dramatic scene as the two species travelled together in pursuit of one another.

Interactions between humpbacks and Bigg's killer whales can occur from time to time, particularly in areas where both species concentrate on similar food resources. Bigg's killer whales are marine mammal specialists, so when they pass through productive humpback feeding grounds, an encounter between the two species is always possible.

The chase did not last long. Eventually, the orcas continued on their way, and the humpbacks went on theirs, leaving us with one of those special moments that only last fleetingly on the water.

With so many encounters already under our belts, it was time to start making our way home.

Our final wildlife stop of the day was at Stinky Rock, where the focus shifted from whales to other Salish Sea marine mammals. Steller Sea Lions were gathered on the rocks, with a few getting into energetic disagreements as they jostled and fought for space. Nearby, Harbour Seals appeared far more relaxed, simply enjoying the sunshine and resting along the rocks.

From Stinky Rock, we began weaving our way back through the Southern Gulf Islands. After a morning that took us from one humpback encounter to another and eventually brought us alongside a family of orcas, the journey home offered a chance to take in the scenery and reflect on how much wildlife we had managed to encounter in a single trip.

Throughout the tour, Marine Naturalists Val Watson, Hayleigh Hilbert, and Evan Hessels captured photos of the day's encounters, available below.