MAY 31, 2009 AFTERNOON T12A travelling west with T109A and T109A2 near Race Rocks!

We departed the dock this sunny afternoon at 1400 on Five Star Charter's Supercat and headed out of the harbour to a group of the 'Transient' mammal eating killer whales (Orcinus orca) travelling through the Strait of Juan De Fuca. We caught up with them near Race Rocks Marine Protected Area travelling west. We had a great look at the group of 3 killer whales from two matrilines: T12A a 27 year old mature male killer whale and T109A a female with T109A2 who is her second known offspring (Department of Fisheries and Oceans PDF catalogue of Transient killer whales of BC).

Just before departing I spotted Great Pacific Adventures zodiac driver Jimmy Z modelling the best in whale watch boat driver fashion

T12A, 27 year old, 'Transient' mammal eating killer whale travelling in the Strait of Juan De Fuca

T109A2 'Transient' mammal eating juvenile killer whale

T109A and her offspring T109A2 (her 2nd calf) travelling with T12A in the Strait of Juan De Fuca

Adult male 'Transient' killer whale T12A travelling with T109A2

T12A

T109A and T109A2

T12A from behind

T12A travelling in the Strait of Juan De Fuca with the Olympic Mountains, WA in the background

Commercial fishing boat in the Strait of Juan De Fuca with Mount Baker in the background

T12A

Ideal photo-ID photo of T12A, angle shows shape of fin and scratches on saddle patch which can be used to identify individual killer whales

T12A and T109A

After watching the Transients for just under an hour we left them still travelling westbound just west of Race Rocks at around 1545. We headed back towards the Victoria harbour making one more stop to see if we could spot the bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in their nest near Albert Head...and we did get a nice look at one of the adults sitting in a tree close to the nest!

Bald Eagle nest near Albert Head

Mature adult bald eagle