07.01.2022
The big finale!
On the hotspot again all day today! So much activity in the area with birds, fish and orca all in feeding mode.
We had the bull Nani (ski-ramp shaped dorsal fin), and his pod which includes Billie, Dot, calf Neo, Alki, Jagger, and Kwilana. These orca were with us for most of the day!
Just before lunch we gave them some space and headed west for a short run. You may come across something new when you go looking.
As we scooped back towards the north a distinct isosceles triangle dorsal poked out of the swell. It was big Blade. His tall dorsal fin towering over the surface chop. With birds over head and orca surging we knew something was going down.
Slicks of oil were rising up but no clear indication on what the orca were eating. The orca surged again to the west and our big triangle finned friend was joined by a further fifteen smaller ones!!
The pod had swollen as more orca were swimming over. Still no prey on the surface!
With orca now in a distinct line, side by side, and all moving forward our anticipation levels were hitting an all-day high!! This behaviour always leads to a kill. We see it time and time again.
The orca pushed into a central spot and dove down. All we could see were orca backs and saddle patches…. Another sure sign there is prey below.
A big bubble rose to the surface mid-action. It wasn’t coloured, so not blood, but as it hit the surface it splayed out like a giant blue whale footprint and we could see it a was a big bubble of oil. SUCCESS! They had made a kill. Or at least a heavy blow.
The animal that had just been torn apart was still not coming to the surface. Now Split Tip was in the mix and chunks of red and white flesh were being passed around.
As a maternal group of five shared the food, those that weren’t actively eating were socialising! Lots of swell surfing and upside-down swimming!
A big day that was so rewarding. We soaked up the sun, salt spray and orca snot!!!!
