JUNE 2, 2009 MORNING Large group of Transient killer whales still in the Strait of Juan De Fuca!

We departed at 1000 this morning on Five Star Charter's Fastcat and headed out to another report of a large group of 'Transient' mammal eating killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Before heading to the whales, who were quite close to Victoria, we decided to look at the Bald Eagle's (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest at Albert Head and check out Race Rocks Marine Protected Area.

Passengers in the Fastcat cabin looking for wildlife

Five Star crew on the Fastcat: Trev, Ron and Kirsten (on her last day of work...she' off to South America for 2 months!)

Above two photos: passengers enjoying the sun on the top deck of the Fastcat

When we got to the eagle's nest we were lucky to find both of the pair of eagles at the nest. Although one of the other Five Star crew told me there was a chick seen recently we did not see it today. When we were at Race Rocks we had a nice sighting of 6 Northern Elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) hauled at the top of one of the rocks, 1 Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) and 2 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). We also saw another Bald Eagle sitting on a rock keeping an eye on things in the marine protected area.

Bald Eagles sitting in their nest (apparently their are chicks in the nest now!)

Harbour seals hauled out and in the water near Albert Head

Steller and California sea lions hauled out at Race Rocks

Bald Eagle sitting at Race Rocks

After some great sightings of the Eagles in their nest, the Elephant seals, California sea lions and Steller sea lions we headed northeast of Race Rocks where we could see the whale watching vessels with the group of Transients. When we got there they were travelling in groups spread out and we were able to identify the same groups that have been travelling together the last couple of days; the T100s, T124s, T101s, T90s and T30s. It was an awesome sightings and we were very lucky to get some pretty decent looks at some of the groups as they travelled in separate groups and then joined into a larger group making their way slowly towards Race Rocks.

T100C a young (possibly 7 year old) Transient killer whale

T100 and T100C travelling together

Transient spyhop

Members of the T124s with possibly the T100s travelling in a tight group

Tail lob!

T102 a 25 year old male

Another tail lob!

Tight group travelling slowly west toward Race Rocks

Matrilineal group of Transients likely to be the T101s

Male T102 tail lobbing!

T102

T101s including T101 (at least 46 years old), T101C (or B? 12 years old), T101A (16 years old) with a female who is probably T124

Male killer whales T30A (23 years old) and T102 (25 years old)