May 20, 2018 – Pulled the anchor at Patos sailing NW with a report of transient (Biggs) orcas 40 miles north near Nanaimo. Lots of activity with the new day inside Tumbo and the Belle Chain Islets. We have a lot of questions about the steller sea lions. Excited to see so many very young ones – we seem to be seeing more each year with the first one being a surprise. There were at least a dozen bald eagles on duty. We returned at Galiano with no orca sightings, but bumped into ‘Chainsaw’ T63 and the gang: T65, T36A1, T101A with following T100’s offshore from Georgeson Pass. We all met with the rest of the T101’s and T36A’s at Georgeson Island and travelled from the Belle Chains back to where we started at Patos at sunset. Phenomenal!
Alden Point Lighthouse – Patos Island
California sea lion (second from left), pup walking on all fours, immature bald eagle
Bald eagle calling
Tumbo
Bald eagle
Black oyster catcher
Cormorants
Active Pass Lighthouse, Georgina Pt
Davy Nicol taking the helm
T63 ‘Chainsaw’ popped up out of nowhere crossing our bow!
T100’s Transient Orcas Matriline
T100’s rainblows
Change in direction
T100’s
T100C
T63 – Chainsaw
T100’s
T101A and his brother
T102 and T101B
Sailing with whales
One lucky sea lion silent at the surface after orcas had passed
Harbor seals safe on land after orcas pass
Transient Orcas, T100’s, with Mt Baker
Giant whirlpool at Boiling Reef
Orca headstand
Chainsaw gives us a big surprise
T36A1 with T63 Chainsaw at sunset
Taking us home to Patos
Whales in the sunset