Written by Alison
on Sep 19, 2024

Orcas Cruising the Shoreline

Orcas Cruising the Shoreline

August 29, 2024 Am – Well this trip started with a King Fisher foraging in one of our favorite places, the beautiful Cactus Islands, and it ended with Killer Whales hunting in the same spot in the Cactus Island. Seeing Orcas in this area, let alone this spot has been on my bucket list for at least 10 years! It was so exciting to have the stars line up and share it with our wonderful customers. We first hooked up with 5 members of the T49A’s Bigg’s Killer Whale family at the south west tip of Stuart Island. It was great to see Nan (38 F) and 4 of her 6 offspring including Nat (13 M), Neptune (10 M), Nebula (7 F) and Smoosh Face (2 M). Little Smoosh Face was surfacing nice and high out of the water so we could all get a look at his flattened rostrum with a developing underbite that is believed to from an injury when he was really little. The whales were on the hunt for our entire encounter. We believe they must have gotten at least one harbor seal as they hunted the Kelp/reefs all the way from Stuart Island, then along John’s Island and into the Cactus Islands. The yummy dark green water, kelp and cool rock formations made for some awesome photographs with the whales backlit blows. Just before moving on they made one last patrol along a rocky reef with several nervous harbor seals keeping an eye on Nat’s big dorsal fin. On the way home we got to see some Bald Eagles, Harbor Seals and Exotic game animals on Spieden Island. What a day!!

 

Photographer and Naturalist: Alison Engle – Instagram: @Alisonengleart – Website: www.alisonengle.com

Western Prince Wildlife Adventures – Instagram: @Westernprincewildlife – Facebook: Western Prince Whale Watching

Written by Alison
on Sep 19, 2024

Orcas Cruising the Shoreline

Latest Blog ...