Marie O'Shaughnessy Photos

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A note to all blog readers, I am gone away for 10 days and will return for the first two weeks of September before departing to Toronto. There will be little activity from me on the blog until then. See you soon!

Superpod!

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(Ruffles / J1 est 57 years old)






Pinnipeds at Race Rocks








Well for me it's been 6 days since i've seen the southern residents orcas (fish eaters) and today all 86 animals returned to our area. On the Ocean Magic 3:30 we didn't travel far to reach the animals as they were all spread 3 miles offshore of Victoria's Dallas Rd in to the Strait of Juan de Fuca traveling eastbound to San Juan Island. Family groups including the J2 matriline (at 4:44) (ecard) and other smaller groups in Jpod were in our view this afternoon. All the animals were traveling however we viewed mainly the Jpod family who consists of 25 members. The animals were viewed breaching, spyhopping, pec slapping, tail slamming, traveling, speed porpoising and playing along their travels. There was much variation of activity and was happening all around us all the time. Near the end, brothers Blackberry J27 (1991) & Mako J39 (2003) spyhopped past our stern (at 5:10 pm) at this point we were situated about 2 miles southwest of Trial Island. After an amazing time with the killer whales we headed to Race Rocks where an elephant seal was busy making it's way up to the lighthouse, and piles of sealions were hauled out on the rocks sleeping and fighting for real estate.... What an epic trip it was.

Transients, Humpbacks, Pinnipeds

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(Naturalist Liz)

Today on the 3:30 Ocean Magic trip we caught up with 4 transients (meat eating orcas) - T30a and others (will confirm) and were traveling west in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They zig zagged from 2 miles west from Crescent Bay and 2 miles offshore and would take long dives. After watching the group for about 30 minutes, we followed up with two humpbacks feeding about 3 miles offshore from Beecher Bay. They were about 1 mile apart from each other (the two humpbacks). We watched one animal fluke a few times before heading over to Race Rocks ecological reserve. There we found a large number of Stellar and California sealions hauled out on the rocks. Guests had a lovely view of the lighthouse as well as a variety of marine birds. Today was a perfect warm and sunny summer day!

Humpbacks & pinnipeds

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(Bull Kelp - NOTE: kelp was already dead)
















(Naturalist Jenn)

Today on the 3:30 Ocean Magic voyage, we headed approximately 6 miles south east of Victoria where two humpback whales, a probable mother and calf were milling. Nice tail flukes. The animals were apart by about a mile. Following the sighting we headed to Race Rocks ecological reserve where we found an abundance of Stellar and California Sealions and Elephant seals and harbour seals. One Elephant seal was busy on its way up towards the lighthouse. On our way home, passengers were treated to a hands on information session about bull kelp. Today was sunny and beautiful, a perfect summer day.

humpback whale, pinnipeds, transients

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On the 3:30 Ocean Magic trip, we only traveled outside the harbour to see 1 humpback approx 1.5 miles south of Ogden Point breakwater, (Victoria waterfront) lunge feeding & milling at 4 pm and continued for half an hour.

We traveled south to Race Rocks where 3 elephant seals were busy moving up past the light house and piles of Stellar and California sealions including seals were hauled out. On animal was branded and taged.

We departed Race Rocks for T101, T101A, T101B, and T102 (thank you Jared Towers from Seasmoke Whale Watching for the ID of these animals) who we sighted 4.5 SW of San Juan Island in Haro Strait at 5:30 pm. We watched the group of 4 meating eating orcas travel south through the strait. A full day of westcoast wonders!

Pinnipeds, elephant seals, humpback & gray whales

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Today JKL pods headed west and were out of our range. But that doesn't stop a wonderful trip to be had. We ventured over to Race Rocks where two elephant seals were hauled out right up to the lighthouse. We saw a number of stellar sea lions as well as harbour seals and marine birds. We traveled a few miles to the south east to find a humpback whale making deep dives. This means we had a spectacular view of the tail during the descend. Followed by this, we traveled across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Green Point Washington where a lone gray whale was feeding near the shoreline. Guests onboard the 12:15 Ocean Magic trip were treated to a variety of west coast wonders.

JKL PODS!

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On our 12:15 trip the Ocean Magic headed to San Juan Island where J, K and part of L pod were spread apart feeding. We arrived and found the animals spread apart and seemed focused on one thing; food. Skana / L79 surprised us while he threw himself a big lunge about 100 feet from our boat, followed by a huge pectoral raised out of the water. He and one other - a female probably Spirit / L22 headed off together. Some animals were sighted in towards the shoreline and other animals far off into the Haro Strait. Ruffles / J1 was sighted with others as well.

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(orcas pass close to the Vancouver Ocean Magic stern)

(6 min clip of the many orcas together)

On our 3:30 Ocean Magic trip, we arrived south of Pile Pt to find all the animals grouped up into one - and were in a line formation. It was spectacular and more then what any of us could have expected. Except for the other part of Lpod who headed out west, the entire community was together. The animals traveled southbound and then offshore maybe about 3 miles to the south. We caught up with Cappuccino / K21 who was straggling on his own. Before heading home we caught one last epic glimpse of the group as they continued to travel in a resting formation. Today was yet another amazing day on the Ocean Magic.

Lpod Eagle Point

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(pec and dorsal)



(3 orcas playing)




(skana / L79)



Southern Resident killer whale Lpod members; Skana / L79, Solstice / L89, Onyx / L87 with sister Spirit / L22 and Mystery / L85 were all together in a restful but social behavior near Eagle Point, San Juan Island. Some spy hops, and rubbing of bodies it seemed. At one point the animals seemed to group up and hang out, even on top of each other. It's cool to see these boys hanging out with the sister...

T14, Humpback, J&L pod

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(Alexis / L12)

(Blackberry / J27)

What a day! First we found transient (meat eating orca) Pender / T14 traveling east through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. He was pretty much just moving along in one direction the whole time. Followed by this, we found 2 humpbacks fluking south of the strait, apparently were breaching just before we arrived. We caught some great tail flukes. Stopped in at Race Rocks ecological reserve where both Stellar and California sealions were hauled out. Harbour seals and elephant seals nearby in the water. On our way home we found members of J & L pods passing through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The southern resident orcas (fish eating killer whales) were spread miles across the strait. The large male above is Blackberry / J27 and female Alexis / L12. A younger smaller orca breached about 5 times, along with a distant spyhop. Some distant tail action (slamming) as well. An amazingly whale packed day on our Ocean Magic 3:30 trip today!

Humpbacks and Sealions

Just a great day on the water, sun, sealions, and two humpback whales !!! We watched two Humpback Whales feeding off Beacher Bay. Just a really memorable time. Five or six breaths and down they would go, showing tail everytime. Photos by Clint on the Ocean Magic 900am trip Monday Aug 6, see his photos at Orca Wizard

Gray Whale

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Today the southern residents were out in Sooke, past our range. On the 3:30 Ocean Magic trip, we crossed the entire Strait of Juan de Fuca to the flats of the Port Angeles Shoreline - Green Point - east of Port Angeles where a lone gray whale was feeding in the kelp bed. The animal, thought to be a she based on her size was very busy feeding, coming to the surface with remnants in her mouth. If you click on the images to enlarge, you will see her eye and something hanging out of her mouth. On our way back we stopped into Race Rock ecological reserve to see the different sea birds and Stellar sealions hauled out on the rocks. An adventure we had on the high seas today!

The Sun was shining, the water was crystal blue and the Orcas were playful. One of the best days this year!!
Photos by Clint on the Ocean Magic 1230 pm trip Saturday Aug 4, see his photos at Orca Wizard

J & K pods

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(Jelly fish right at the Ocean Magic dock)


(J16 & J42)

(J42)



(Ruffles / J1)





(Cappuccino / K21)


Today on the 3:30 Ocean Magic trip, J and K pods were found traveling in pairs and groups northbound in Haro Strait past Boundary Pass towards North Pender Island - It's possible they headed into Boundary though because it seemed some were moving into the pass, not entirely sure what direction they took in the end. Ruffles / J1 (1951) - the large male with the wavy dorsal fin was cruising on his own which is not uncommon however he was not far from the others. Caught glimpses of many of the family members such as J16 and new calf J42 who were also traveling near their other members. Sighted Raggedy / K40 (1963) & Cappuccino / K21 (1986) (sprouter male) along with other family members. Guests on board were treated to perfect warm weather, calm seas and plenty of orca sightings.

NOTE: I just got a new DSLR Canon 30D camera and am still adjusting to it and the focus settings please excuse any blurry images as I am still adapting. I need to study the manual.

Friday 330 pm Ocean Magic Trip

Photos by Clint on the Ocean Magic 330 pm trip Friday Aug 3, see his photos at Orca Wizard
J & K Pods on a super sunny day, yet another great trip with Prince Of Whales!

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