Olivia Esqueda | May 4th, 2026 | M/V Osprey | 1:30pm
Setting off for our second trip of the day, we went north towards Spieden Channel where we looked at Stellers’ Sea Lions, Bald Eagles, and Mouflon Sheep. Shortly after, we rejoined with the T049A’s [Transient Orcas/ Bigg’s Killer Whales] that we had found earlier that morning. This time, they had recently hunted and were prey sharing beneath the water in Spieden Channel, not far from a Harbor Seal haul out. With bits of their food floating to the surface, many birds were swooping down to get their easy meal. This was such an active scene unfolding right before our eyes!
We peeled away and dipped our nose into the Haro Strait to look at not one, but two Humpback Whales traveling together! They were earlier identified as BCX2075 Olympus and BCY1276 Kelpie. On the morning trip, we were talking about the success story of Humpback Whales and how we tip our hats to Big Mama [BCY0324] for the return of the Humpback Whales in the Salish Sea. We were chatting about how any day now we hope to see her since she usually returns around Mother’s Day (ironic, right?) COINCIDENTALLY after this conversation, another PWWA vessel spotted her for the first time further north which made our crew SO excited. And while we didn’t see her on this trip, Olympus is her granddaughter, meaning we were able to see her lineage still returning, with friends in tow. It was the history of the comeback, unfolding right in front of us. Special, eh?
After watching their differing-colored flukes as they went on a deep dive- they eat 3,000 pounds of food every day (!!!)- we headed back towards Spieden Channel to snag one more look at those same orcas. This time, they looked as if they were prey sharing again, but possibly as a teaching moment from mom, as we saw the younger calves repeating behaviors that mom had shown them earlier. With everything passed down generationally, these moments can often feel extra humbling.
A day like today makes us extra excited for what tomorrow may bring!
Wanting to see more photos from our trips? Visit our SmugMug page at: https://sanjuansafaris.smugmug.com/
More information about the Pacific Whale Watch Association: https://www.pacificwhalewatchassociation.com/