Photos by Clint on the morning Ocean Magic trip today, see his photos at Orca Wizard
Yet another great trip with Prince Of Whales!

A few pow photos for fun

(Ocean Magic docking in the Victoria inner harbour)

(Pow guest showing off his amazing camera)

(Mallard aka Killer Whale Photography at the helm of his zodiac)

(Captain Kurt & Naturalist Nicola)

(Your friendly OM crew, Shamus & Liz)

(Kurt, Liz, Beemer aka killerwhale.ca)

Humpbacks & Sealions

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Today was a beautiful flat calm day, the water so lovely reflecting the blue sky. We arrived south of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to find find two humpbacks surfacing. Most likely a mother and calf, one was larger and one smaller. A few dives and tail flukes. The younger whale had bull kelp around his/her mouth while surfacing, with his or her head just peaking above the surface. Quite sweet but subtle. After we visited Race Rocks ecological reserve where two stellar sealions were hauled out and one was pretty much passed right out. Seal mothers and calfs lay upside down on the rocks as well. A warm, calm day out on the pacific ocean.

Humpbacks & Seals

Photos by Clint today on the noon trip today, see his photos Orca Wizard

J & K pod

9 am Ocean Magic from Marie O'Shaughnessy

L's San Juan Island

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Our 3:30 Ocean Magic trip brought us to San Juan Island where some of the Lpod was milling. They must have been fishing because they were not traveling in any direction but moving around probably because of food sources. Sighted Skana / L79 and Mega / L41 on their travels. On our way home we stopped to see some seals hauled out at the Chain Islands and almost camoed into the rocks.

From Marie O'Shaughnessy

This evening's 6:30 zodiac trip!

Magic with Lpod

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Today on our 3:30 Ocean Magic trip we set sail towards Race Rocks which is an ecological reserve where sealions usually haul out and seabirds nest. All sealions were busy in the water at the time when we arrived. Lpod the southern resident killer whales were heading west in Sooke, not far from the shoreline of Beecher Bay. They have been out west for the past 2 days and today made an appearance in our local waters. The water was rough so the animals used much momentum to travel against the tide which gave us spectacular views. Groups and individuals, including a few males together who appeared to be L73 & L74 were speed porpoising (out of the water lunge swimming). Mothers and calfs breached out of the water, one after the other (see image up top). One large sprouter male - (teenager Skana / L79) surprised us as he passed, afterwards giving us a spyhop glistening in the sun on his way out. It was high drama on the high seas this afternoon and non stop adventure for all on board. There was an interesting mother and calf tail slamming event going on close to shore. We left the group still traveling at high speed to view a small humpback whale who was near Church Rock. The animals gave a few dives and tails before we departed back to Victoria.



On board today, were guests from the very northern community of Resolute Bay, Nunavut Canada, how exciting!. In fact the Mayor was on board(seen in the middle of above photo). They put their positive energies together into a fabulous trip and that it was indeed! Thank you to them for their participation today! PS a happy birthday shout out to Carol!

Today was simply magic :)

Humpbacks and Seals!

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(baby seal)



On the 3:30 Ocean Magic trip today we traveled almost to the Port Angeles shoreline where two humpback whales were traveling. They gave us a lovely look at their flukes and pectoral flippers as well. A few hard tail slaps came out of now where and was thrilling for people on board. It was quite the Juan de Fuca strait adventure traveling over to the Oak Bay Chain Islands were several seals were hauled out. In one of the photos I noticed a new baby seal just behind the mother. It is very small and silver. We also saw a variety of sea birds including Brants Cormorants! Yay the sun was out and it was warm, finally summer has returned!

K7 J2 - SR Elders

Photo taken on superpod day - July 20'07 by skipper Mark Malleson. This is a photo of the southern resident killer whales eldest females K7 Lummi (est 97 years, 1910) and J2 Granny (est 96 years, 1911). One can only imagine .... Thanks Mark for sharing. His website is located at; http://www.killerwhalephotography.com

Humpback & Sealions

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Another wonderful experience for guests on board the 3:30 Ocean Magic today. Chilly but always an adventure to be remembered. The female (I think) humbpack whale was tail bashing the ocean surface then scooping up large mouth fulls of food. She would lay on her side and heave her long 15 foot or so pectoral fin high into the air before her feed along the surface with mouth gaping wide (see yesterdays blog). We ventured to Race Rocks ecological reserve where there was a group of sealions present. Only the males show up in the area and by September it's a huge sealion party out there. They are usually sleeping on rocks, swimming, eating of fighting for rock realestate :)

2 Feeding Humpback Whales

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(humpback feeding - mouth wide open)



(head)

(mouth)

(nose)

(eye)







What can I possibly say to describe today but incredible. We watched two different humpback whales feasting non stop. Rain and fog did not stop another perfect trip from taking place. Wow...

Lpod, Porpoise, Humpback, Tufted Puffin, Breaching fish

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(Humpback headed our direction, leaves us in suspence)










(Harbour Porpoise)


(feeding humpback)

(breaching fish)

(open mouth)



(humpback with industry on Port Angeles shoreline)


(orcas and puffin)

Today was absolutely extraordinary! Why? Well for starters, we headed out on the 3:30 pm trip and the rain started but that certainly didn't stop our trip from turning out to be pure magic! We departed towards San Juan Island were all 3 pods were milling throughout the day in the fog. As we passed Trial Island we discovered that Lpod was making it's way west. One animal layed on their side pec slapping over and over again. The animals were in fast traveling behavior, speed porpoising. Witnessed a few breaches by Faith / L57 (sorry guys was busy focusing on the group speed porpoising across the Strait of Juan de Fuca). Groups of 3 traveled towards Race Passage. Flash L73, Gaia L74, Faith L57 all sighted and with others including mothers and calfs.

After an incredible glimpse of the orcas we headed towards where a humpback was feeding in the middle of the strait. On the way we sighted a school of harbour porpoise milling. We found the humpback feeding, with a pec high in the air and mouth wide open on it's side. Lots of tail thrashing as well. In the process of this, noticed that fish were flying out of the ocean and then Captain Shamus alerted me that a Tufted Puffin was flying past our vessel! I didn't know where to point my lens today it was so busy. I also noticed in the background of the very busy humpback, harbour porpoise milling which you can actually see in the photos!

After a wonderful viewing of the humpback, we headed back towards Victoria where Lpod was still making their way west. Stopped to see a harbour seal who was munching on a fish and then caught one last glimpse of the orcas. A mother and calf were traveling together as well as a large male. I also noticed later there is another Tufted Puffin right in the foreground of the photo of mom and calf orca! I tell ya, today was up there with one of the best trips I have had in 5 years! It just didn't seem to end. Magnificent!

photos soon

SUPERPOD! JKL PODS!

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(Mating behavior crop)






(Ruffles / J1)







(Mother and baby harbour seal)


All day today was a southern resident superpod! On the 3:30 trip, all the 3 pods (J,K,L pods) totaling 86 animals had reached San Juan Island and were northbound at Pile Point from Salmon Bank. As we stayed pretty much in one spot, the animals traveled fairly close to the shoreline. Various groups of animals passed, along the way exhibiting a variety of behaviors such as; finning (speed hunting below the surface) 2 distant breaches, some aerial scanning (animals laying on their side looking above the surface), tail flukes, and upside down orcas, and even some mating behavior. If you look closely at the photos, you will see some interesting orca positions. Including one male who I think is Mike / J26 exposed out of the water. He was engaging with other individuals who are also in interesting positions. There seemed to be some playful behavior also between Ruffles / J1 and another orca. Some rubbing and investigative behaviors were sighted through the lens. All the animals seemed to be fairly social with one another on their travels. There was a large group passing through spread apart in smaller groups and were probably about 200 meters off of our stern the whole time. What a treat to see so many whales together today!

Jpod

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During our 3:30 voyage we set out for San Juan Island where Jpod was located. They were not going in any direction but were milling about. A mother and her calf were milling close by and the calf spy hopped not far from us. Mom gave a lovely tail slap, right after that Blackberry / J27 breached probably about 100 meters away from the boat and how exciting it was to see such a large animal flung out of the water! The animals continued to mill including the famous Ruffles / J1 who is always a special highlight for our passengers.

Jpod in the fog

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(breach sequence enhanced for better viewing because of the fog)




(Suttles / J40 calf born 2004)

(Samish / J14 mother of Suttles calf above)


(breaches in the fog bank)

(guests watch Blackberry / J27)




(Blackberry / J27 enhanced)


It's been pouring rain and fog today but that doesn't stop the whales from living or the people from wanting to see them! We departed for Stewart Island / Turn Point as Jpod were traveling northbound. Most of the animals were traveling close to the shoreline in small groups. Didn't see Ruffles / J1 or his mom, I assume they were ahead of the others. Blackberry / J27 was visible amongst the layers of mist and fog and was seen in some hunting predation behavior. Samish / J14 was traveling with calf Suttles / J40 (born 2004). Was a bit tough with the fog so was unable to get a photo of the pair but we watched as they traveled northbound. Someone breached multiple times (times) near the shore, I have a series of them however they are grainy due to the fog and low light. Near the end of our trip, Blackberry / J27 (teenage male born 91) spyhopped several times and not too far from us either. It was a sweet moment for passengers onboard today. Today was one of those days where the scenery was out of a painting and you recognize the stereotype of the wet and wild west coast...

Jpod, Humpback and Grey whale!

(inspired by the below post, because they move us)

I will start off todays blog post with the following;

As I was preparing to step onto the Ocean Magic, the noons trip was disembarking. A grand father and his grand daughter (local to Victoria) got off the boat in awe. He looked at his wife (who was waiting at the dock) and said to her "I have never seen anything like it in my whole life". He was clearly moved and his grand daughter completely excited that she had seen a mother and calf killer whale in the wild not to mention J1 (above) the eldest (approx 58) and largest of the SRKW. Everyone hugged and shared in the joy... It was a tender moment even I started to feel standing a few feet away.


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(Ruffles / J1 milling back and forth)





(Cookie / J38)

(Ruffles / J1)






This afternoons trip (3:30) we headed through the fog over to San Juan Island where Jpod was traveling very close to the shore. They were all traveling southbound when we arrived. Saw several groups traveling together. Blackberry / J27 was "finning" below the surface, that is where they are in high speed predation for salmon. Noticed mother Oreo / J22 fishing with calf Cookie / J38 (pic above). Passengers were introduced to Ruffles / J1 of course who along the way was fishing offshore, fairly typical of his behavior. He is always a blessing to be seen and to learn about. Ruffles / J1 in the fog was rather mystical looking :) Earlier in the day, the trips before this one, passengers got to see Jpod, a humpback whale and a grey whale! For some it was a 3 cetacean sightings day and that is a gift to behold.

Jpod

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(Harbour porpoise in front of Victoria breakwater on departure)



(3 orcas logging at the surface)







(calf J42)

(seasnake)



(Spieden / J8 born 1933)


(pec slap or a wave good bye ;)

We found Jpod in the middle of Haro Strait, near Stewart Island just north of San Juan Island. The group of 25 orcas were spread apart in small groups and were milling. They were not going in any direction at first which is typical of their feeding behavior. Several of the orcas logged as well. On several occasions I saw different females logging and waiting for other family members. I also saw one group log together. Logging is when the orcas rest at the surface for a long period of time. One group of animals including J16 and calf J42 with family including Mike / J26 and others traveled towards the San Juan Island shoreline where they fished close to the rocky shore. One of the group, a juvenile orca, breached multiple times before heading off to join the others near the shore. Baby J42 milled back and forth and also with mom going back and forth. Blackberry / J27 also joined in the feast. Other groups continued to also travel south all were heading towards Lime Kiln park by the time we departed our voyage. Guests today saw some awesome behavior and a lovely view of mom and calf together. Through my lens I saw a few other things near the shoreline including seasnakes, pec slaps and tail slaps.

Sunday July 15 Vancouver - Victoria - Vancouver

Sunday proved to be another amazing day for our Vancouver to Victoria (and back) trip. Our passengers were delighted to see Jpod south of Point Roberts, heading towards Alden Bank and Boundary Passage. The whales were on a mission and moving at a decent clip. They were really spread out and J11 with latest offspring Mako J39 and son J27 Blackberry surprised us as we were just drifting watching the whales spread out about 1/2 mile to a 1 mile or so around us. Blackberry was on babysitting duty, he passed us on our port side with Mako in tow, while mum J11 had a little break and passed us on the right side. Our route then took us through John's Pass, where we saw 3 Bald Eagles having an argument over some foodscraps, then between Stuart and Henry Islands into Haro Strait and across to Victoria.
Contrary to what we had thought would happen, the whales turned north again and kept going, so we caught up with them just past Active Pass still heading toward the Fraser. Lots of activity going on, pecslaps, breaches, spyhops, upside down swimming, cartwheels and taillobs. Looked like they were excited for a feast of salmon at the mouth of the Fraser. Ruffles and Granny travelled closer to us away from the others, who were spread up in their family groups. Needless to say our passengers were delighted.
Ellen - Naturalist Ocean Magic Vancouver - Victoria - Vancouver

Feeding Humpback Whale!

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This is a female whale who has had two calfs and has been returning to these waters for 9 years now. I will follow up with the ID number














Today our orcas were out of range but we heard of one of our old friends, a humpback whale hanging around the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We arrived to find the large individual was milling about. Within about 10 minutes of our arrival, the animal started to feed, giving us all an amazing perspective of the inside of his/her mouth. The animal fed the entire duration of our visit, lunge feeding at the surface. The whale would raise his/her large 15 foot pectoral flipper before laying on it's side to scoop up lots of food inside the tide line. After watching the amazing feeding frenzy, we headed over to Race Rocks ecological reserve. We found a few harbour seals hauled out on the rocks, with a mom and pup amongst the group.

Clint's photos; Pow guest

Got lucky on this morning 9am trip, we went all the way to Sombrio Beach and caught L pod meeting K pod. L was moving up north and K was moving south. What a display, K stopped and waited as L approached and then the fun began.... Clint

Aerial Video & Photos by Russ Heinl

Please visit his renowned work at; Heinl Aerial Photography This footage was shot about 10 years ago on BetaCam! It highlights Victoria's waterfront and inner harbour, a Prince of Whale zodiac in transit as well as a "world famous" rugged BC coastline shot. How can you resist getting out there when looking at this. It's absolutely beautiful to watch. Enjoy!

Taken by professional photographer and cinematographer Russ Heinl in a helicoper last week! Stunning views! Please click to enlarge the photos.

K & L Pods

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(Cappuccino / K21)



(Solstice / L89)

(Lpod female tail slamming Salmon)




We departed at 5pm tonight east to San Juan Island. K and L pods were both present spread very far, north and south, inshore and offshore. We first sighted Cappuccino / K21, a sprouted male traveling southbound alone. He was 2 miles off of Lime Liln lighthouse not far from other K's traveling closer to shore (mother can calf). We repositioned and found Lpod traveling southbound towards Salmon Bank. Fairly large groups, and got my first peek at Solstice / L89 in a long time. The animals were hunting Salmon, speed finning (fast fin slicing the water surface) and tail slapping, more like hard slamming and head shaking which means food! A mother and calf combination both breached one after the other. Sorry guys my calf breach was blurry so you'll have to settle with a mom breach instead :) We said farewell after seeing our friends Cappuccino / K21 & Solstice / L89 both traveling solo but close by. A lovely evening it was !

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J&K pods

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(Cappuccino / K21)

(Raggedy / K40 - notice the jagged dorsal fin)







On our noon trip today, we had a cool afternoon after such a hot day yesterday, while observing a couple of Kpod (Cappuccino / K21 and Raggedy / K40 - called that because of her ragged dorsal fin) just south of Hein Bank. They seem to be headed towards San Juan Island. We found Jpod was traveling in a group near Hein Bank towards San Juan Island. They animals traveled together in groups, showing us all their family as they headed towards their usual feeding grounds of San Juan Island. Usual traveling behavior, beautiful groupings. Nice to see the Jpod again.

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(Ruffles / J1)


(Ruffles / J1 hunting and chasing Salmon)




(J14 & J40)

(Tail slap)






(Blackberry / J27)


(see the escaping fish)

This afternoon, Jpod was feeding near Salmon Bank off of San Juan Island. By now the animals were spread out feeding and milling. Ruffles / J1 gave passengers a beautiful glance, and while he sprayed into the afternoon sun - a rainbow formed over his back. How appropriate for him :). One youngster breached several times closer to shore but we all were able to see fully the awesome action of the lil fella. Also noticed an "upside-down whale" as Anna Hall put it, one youngster completely upside down and tail out of the water. Samish / J14 & Suttles / J40 passed through as well, allowing us a lovely glance at the pair, while tail fluking as they passed. I have seen that a few times actually of different animals in pairs or solo. Watched near the end one matriline family - Blossom / J11 with Blackberry / J27, Tsuchi J31 and lil Mako / J39 (born 2003). On our way home, we caught glance of a fish ball with seagulls and auklets stuffed with fish. What a treat to see today. Always amazing and perfect.