Photo credit: Jackie Hildering

From the Office:

The weather allowed us to get out on the water today with the aim of getting insight into humpback behaviours in the fall.  There were at least 7 animals in the area - 3 known animals ("Freckles", "Moonstar" and "Corporal"; 2 animals new to us and 2 for which we could not get ID photographs.

Our humpback mission was interrupted by the sudden appearance of whales with pointier dorsal fins  . . . mammal-eating ("transient ") killer whales. There were at least 8 of them and thankfully Jared Towers of DFO was in the area to ID them.  T037 and T034 were identified as well as a new calf in the group.  We don't think the transients made a kill in the time we observed them but  they did travel past Pacific white-sided dolphins , Pacific harbour seals and Steller sea lions. 

Just a few hours on the water on a day in October and we see all this.  It really makes us reflect on how much we miss in these months where the weather makes it more challenging to be out on the water.  

We'll keep you updated as the weather allows.