This afternoon we departed on Five Star Charter's Fastcat and headed south into the Strait of Juan De Fuca to Race Rocks Marine Protected Area. Fortunately for us we had some options for where to go...there were the two Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) still heading east in the Strait of Juan De Fuca and a possible report of killer whales (Orcinus orca) coming towards us from the west side of Vancouver Island. We started out by going to Race Rocks to see what wildlife was to be seen...and we saw many Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) hauled out on the rocks, one Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) tucked into the rocks, and one California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) also hauled out on the rocks.
After receiving a confirmed report of the killer whales coming in from west we decided to run along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island to check out the report. Just prior to our arrival I received a message from a fellow whale watcher (and another whale nerd!) Mark 'Mallard' Malleson of Prince Of Whales that was watching the L12 sub-pod of Southern Resident 'fish eating' killer whales (Orcinus orca)! We arrived at the group of whales at approximately 1500 off of Beechey Head at the beautiful East Sooke Park (there were some lucky hikers today! Also be sure to read the report on the park website of a white 'spirit' bear sighitng in this beatiful park!!).
We had a lovely sighting of this group of 10 whales during which time we had a good look at L41, Mega, a 32 year old male and L77, Matia, the 22 year old younger sister to Mega and L12, Alexis, a matriarchal female estimated to be in her 70s (Southern Resident matrilines). They were travelling towards Race Rocks most of the time but we also saw them chasing and milling as they were probably hunting migrating Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The rest of the whales were in the area but we didn't see them as the group was spread out.
We left the L12s and L25s just past 1600 and headed back toward the Victoria Harbour. On the way to the harbour we made a quick stop at Albert Head (which includes a small regional park) to check out the nesting Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). One of the adults was in the nest but we didn't see the chick which hatched about a month ago.
L77, Matia, 22 year old female in the L12 subpod
L41, Mega, the 32 year old big brother of L77, Matia
L77, Matia's left side...note how it is quite different from her right side!
Above 5 photos: many looks of L41, Mega
Bald eagle in nest at Albert Head...there should still be a chick in their but we didn't see it today
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