Transient Carnage

(photo of intestines by rachael griffin)










We departed Victoria under perfect conditions. We headed west as there were reports of a humpback and further on by Sharingham - a small group of transient orcas. We arrived on scene and found the group of 4 (suspected to be T93 but not confirmed) and 3 others, two females and a calf. They moved in a typical traveling pattern to the east, about 2 miles offshore. We checked out Race Rocks on our way home where there were many male stellar sealions hauled out on the rocks.

This evenings trip brought more carnage action. We found the same group just south east of Race Rocks. We observed the mother and calf and then watched as the other two hunted. The animals would momentarily lunged out, obviously in persuit. At one point the large male lept upside down out of the water and you could even see blood in the water and then an intestine drapped over his fin. I saw a dark object in the large whale's mouth. We watched two kills occur during the evening trip. Went over to the carnage scene and found small bits floating and seagulls opportunistically feeding and arguing over the bits. Quite the day, that is two carnage days in a row! We passed by race rocks again and found a group of stellars in the water swimming beside our boat. Great trip!