Olivia Esqueda | March 25th, 2025 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:30pm
Today was truly such a fun time out on the water, despite the rain! We had nearly a full boat of passengers all ready to go out and see what the day brings. Starting out our travels, we headed northwest through Spieden Channel and eventually crossing the Haro Strait into Sidney Channel. Right as the rain started to pick up, we spotted two groups of two orcas, all part of the same family, the T069’s. This matriline of Bigg’s Killer Whales (mammal eaters) doesn’t spend a lot of time here in the Salish Sea, making this maybe one of three times I have ever seen this family in the seven years I’ve been working out here; how exciting!
The matriarch, T069 Komox, is a female born around 1974 who travels around with her three sons: T069C Kye [1995], T069E Kodiak [2004], and T069F Kin [2010]. There’s just something about the contrast of seeing a six-foot tall, black dorsal fin gliding out of the water on an all-white/gray rainy day. After many good chats about these marine mammal eating orcas and comparing/contrasting to the historical trends of the SRKW’s, salmon restoration, and conservation we slowly left scene and headed back towards Spieden Island.
There, we saw the lush green landscape nestling a few mouflon sheep braving the weather before coming across a large raft of Steller’s Sea Lions. The world’s largest sea lions were busy thermoregulating in the water, floating at the surface and holding up their pectoral flippers.
Spring rain on a warm day, with no wind AND whales, really helps us feel connected to the environment around us and will always bring a touch of fun to the Salish Sea experience.