All Aboard Sailing

Humpbacks MMX0101 “Strike” and CS631 “Two Spot” plus orcas T34’s, T37 and T37B’s in Swanson Channel

July 19, 2019 – What an adventure sailing up Swanson’s Channel in Canada finding two humpback whales swimming close to the Pender Bluffs. We identified one of these animals as MMX0101 aka ‘Strike’ and the other was reportedly CS631 ’Two Spot’.

We crossed the channel just as the Biggs/Transient orca group started waking up. The group consisted of the T34’s, T37 and the T37B’s. It was great to get a look at T34A’s brand new calf.

After we said good bye to these magnificent whales we sailed along the coast of Moresby before crossing Haro Strait to Turn Point Lighthouse and Lovers Leap. We hugged the Stuart Island shoreline and ended up in one of our favorite places, New Channel. Harbor seals rested as we sailed quietly by the kelp beds. Flattop Island was golden in the evening light.

Route Map 7-19-19

Pair of bald eagles on Shirt Tail Reef

Pair of bald eagles on Shirt Tail Reef

Great blue heron

Group of diving birds

Bald eagle

Harbor seals

Harbor seals with Camp Nor’wester in background

Harbor seal sleeping in the kelp bed

Juvenile bald eagle

Harbor seals

Looking for whales

Pretty day

BC Ferries

Watching humpback whales

Humpback whale MMX0101 aka ‘Strike’

Humpback whale MMX0101 aka ‘Strike’

Humpback whale MMX0101 aka ‘Strike’

Humpback whale MMX0101 aka ‘Strike’

Humpback whale traveling up Swanson Channel

Humpback whale traveling up Swanson Channel

People watching orcas from shore

People watching orcas from shore

Biggs/Transient orcas traveling up Salt Spring Island

Biggs/Transient orcas traveling up Salt Spring Island

T34A with new calf, T34A1

Biggs/Transient orcas changing course for Swanson Channel

T34A with new calf

BC Ferries

T37

T34A with new calf and BC Ferries

T34’s, T37 and the T37B’s

T34’s, T37 and the T37B’s

Harbor seal

Bald eagle

Flattop Island

Pigeon Guillemot with Flattop Island reflections

Turn Pt Lighthouse

Lovers Leap, Stuart Island

Stuart Island coastline

Harbor porpoise in the sunset

Donkey on Stuart Island

Mt Baker