T40 aka Captain Hook travelling with the T124s and T90s in Haro Strait April 20th!

Finally we are starting to get some warmer weather...and calm seas! We departed at 2 pm this afternoon and, fortunately for us, already had a report of a group of Transient 'mammal eating' killer whales in Haro Strait. We travelled east across the Victoria waterfront, taking in the amazing views of the Olympic Mountains to the south of us, past Oak Bay and Chatham and Discovery Islands and into Haro Strait where the border between Canada and the US runs north toward Vancouver City.

Olympic Mountains and Chatham and Discovery Islands

After travelling for just over an hour we reached the north side of Henry Island, near Battleship Island, in the north end of Haro Strait and spotted some other whale watching vessels travelling with two Transient 'mammal eating' killer whales (Orcinus orca). In addition to the whale watching vessels we also spotted the Center For Whale Research vessel conducting a photo-ID survey on the two Transients.

Center For Whale Research staff doing photo ID on transients T40 and T124C

Our reports from earlier in the day indicated that there was a group of about 8 animals travelling together but when we arrived we found there were only two animals. The group had split and we found we were watching a mature male,T40 aka Captain Hook, travelling with a female T124C who is a member of the T124 group. We soon spotted another small cluster of whale watching boats. The rest of the T124 group was travelling with the T90s on the other side of Haro Strait near Halibut and Sidney Islands. Due to the nature of the border here (it runs up the center of Haro Strait) T40 and T124C were travelling in US waters while the rest of the T124s and T90s were travelling in Canadian waters...but I'm sure they didn't know they were travelling in two different countries!

T124C and T40 travelling northbound in Haro Strait

T40 in Haro Strait

Transient killer whale T40

Transient killer whale T40

Transient killer whales T40 and T124C

After having a nice look at Captain Hook and T124C (and the Center for Whale Research researchers!) we decided to cross back into Canadian waters and see the other group. We watched this group who were pointed in a northerly direction but not making much movement up the strait. Just before we reached this group of 5 animals we spotted a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) not far from them. Not sure if the seal was aware of their presence but shortly after we started watching the second group of animals they looked like they were hunting in the area where we saw the seal. In addition to their milling around in one spot for a few minutes we saw a couple sea gulls come to pick scraps i.e. Transient crumbs, from the water...a good indicator that Transients are feeding!

member of T124 and T90 groups of Transient killer whales

member of T124 and T90 groups of Transient killer whales

member of T124 and T90 groups of Transient killer whales

T124 and T90 groups of Transient killer whales with Stuart Island, WA in background

T124 and T90 groups of Transient killer whales with Stuart Island, WA in background

T124 and T90 groups of Transient killer whales with Stuart Island, WA in background

T124 and T90 groups of Transient killer whales

T124 and T90 groups of Transient killer whales

T124 and T90 groups of Transient killer whales

After a wonderful sighting of the T124 and T90 Transient killer whale groups we left them just after 4 pm as they continued their northerly direction in Haro Strait and started to head back towards Victoria.

Mount Baker and Shuskan, WA with San Juan Islands in foreground

Heading home after watching T40 and T124s in Haro Strait

On the way down Haro Strait we made a stop at Kelp Reefs where we saw three Steller sea lions (Eumatopia jubatus) hauled out on the ledge of the marker. They also seemed to be enjoying the sun, warmth and calm seas!

Kelp Reef, Haro Strait and amazing flat calm waters!

Steller sea lions hauled out on the Kelp Reef marker

On the way back to the Victoria harbour we made one last stop in the Chain Islands near Chatham and Discovery Islands near Oak Bay. We took a quick look at the harbour seals also affectionately known as `rock sausages` by local whale watchers because they are one of the main prey of the Transient killer whales. We also spotted some seabirds including Pelagic cormorants (Phalacrocorax kenyoni ), double crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), Harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) and Black oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani). It was a great way to end a wonderful sunny and calm day on the water!

Double Crested cormorant (identifiable by kink in neck in flight) in the Chain Islands, Oak Bay