Kelly | July 10th, 2026 | M/V Kestrel | 10:00 am
On this mornings adventure tour the only whale report to investigate was deep in the Canadian gulf islands, so we wasted no time heading that direction. Pointing north up San Juan Channel and eventually into the bigger body of water known as Boundary Pass, quickly slipping over the border and into Canadian water. After navigating into the gulf islands we began to slow the boat and watched as 6 distinct dorsal fins rise from the water. This family was identified as the T49a's made up of:
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 — male, born in 2022
T049A7/Nimbus — born in 2026
We watched this family swim close to the shoreline in a tight group. Tiny little Nimbus a clear standout, launching that little 8 foot body almost entirely out of the water with each surface. Baby Nimbus is approximately 4 months old and one of many young orcas in this population! On average this population known as Biggs or transient killer whales, is growing at roughly 4% a year! We are most certainty experiencing a baby boom. We continued to watch this family travel south, peeling off the shoreline as they began to circle in the same area, perhaps on a hunt! They quickly became directional again and as they made their way down Captains passage. We were treated to incredible views as they swam through this scenic pass!
Vessels