Kelly | M/V Kestrel | June 23nd 2025 | 2:00 PM
Best Kestrel tour ever? I'll say it!
We started the tour heading north in San Juan Channel, stopping briefly for a stoic bald eagle perched in the evergreens. We made our way past the scenic Finger Islands off Sucia's shoreline, and into the Straight of Georgia. Slowly dorsal fins arose in the distance! This group of 8 whales were identified as the T046B's made up of:
T046B/Raksha — female, born in 1988
- T046B2/Akela — born in 2008
- T046B2B/Takaya — born in 2023
- T046B3/Sedna — female, born in 2011
- T046B3A*/Munro — born in 2025
- T046B4/Quiver — male, born in 2014
- T046B6/Sol — female, born in 2019
- T046B7/Tala — born in 2023
T046B3A was the clear standout amongst this large family. Born just earlier this year, the adorable newborn was still sporting it's yellow coloration. As the family slowly transited down the Straight of Georgia and into the the Rosario Straight, we peeled off and began our transit north.
Our next stop was in Canadian water off East Point. Two humpbacks were sighted only moments ago, and we were excited to investigate who they might be. Turns out it was not just any humpbacks.... it was Big Mamma and her new calf! These two have been transiting throughout the Salish Sea for about a month now. It's always so special seeing this prolific lady! We watched the pair surface side by side in the glassy calm water, the calf occasionally rolling impatiently at the surface when Mamma was down on a particularly long dive.
Shockingly...this was not our last whale sighting of the day. The grand finale was our next stop, the T49A's in Boundary Pass. This family has 7 whales total but typically does not travel with all 7. Today we had 5 whales including:
- T049A/Nan — female, born in 1986
- T049A3/Nat — male, born in 2011
- T049A4/Neptune — male, born in 2014
- T049A5/Nebula — female, born in 2017
- T049A6/Charlie II — born in 2022
When we arrived on scene the whales were clearly celebrating. Other boats informed us that they had just finished a harbor porpoise hunt, and they were certainly excited to celebrate the successful kill! So much surface activity from the happy group including spyhops, moonwalks, and tail slaps! We even heard sweet little underbite Charlie blowing bubbles at the surface. The T049A's are quickly becoming my favorite family in the Salish Sea!