Weekly Orca Highlights: 20–26 January 2025
Our Weekly Highlights from January 20 to 26 This week at the Bremer Canyon delivered an incredible mix of intense predation, playful social interactions, and rare wildlife encounters. From thrilling hunts to heartwarming moments between mothers and calves, every day brought something new.
A Really Big Day in the Canyon
20.01.25 Today, members of three different families circulated the hotspot area, moving sporadically. Just before 10am, two mature males were spotted with about 10 others, including Fue, a male with two large notches in his dorsal fin, and Irwin, a sprouting male. The pod split into smaller groups, taking 7-8 minute dives with no clear direction.
More orca joined, including Three Stripes, Shadow, and Adino from Splittip’s pod, bringing the total to about 20 animals. Young males Adino and Irwin engaged in playful rolling behaviour, possibly a learning interaction. Kyph, a female with scoliosis, passed under the boat twice, showing no signs of being hindered by her condition.
Orca Killer Whales excite in the Bremer Canyon
The pods circled within a 2km range before a burst of energy led to a small surge westward. Digby and his family briefly appeared, and small oil slicks suggested successful hunting. A large 8-metre oil slick attracted Wilson’s storm petrels before the orca switched to social behaviour, breaching, tail slapping, and porpoising in all directions. Matriarch Splittip stole the show, slicing through the wake, followed by other pod members and a playful calf.
As we pushed past 3pm, the orca remained unpredictable, showing bursts of energy and stopping suddenly. A rare Tahiti petrel was also spotted, possibly the first sighting of this species off Australia’s south coast—an exciting day for both orca and bird lovers!
A Rare Tahiti Petrel spotted during a Naturaliste Charters killer whale expedition
Mature Male Passes
21.01.25 A morning of anticipation led to an afternoon of action! After a quiet start in the canyon, it wasn’t long before the orca put on a show. Three pods merged, creating a supergroup of over 25 individuals, including well-known orcas such as Tatty, Missy, and Wonks. The interactions between pods were highly social, with frequent spy-hopping, breaching, and fluke slapping.
At one point, a mature male made a dramatic close pass under the vessel, his massive dorsal fin cutting through the water only metres away. Calves played alongside their mothers, rolling on their backs and flashing their white bellies. These young ones, only a year or two old, are still learning the complex social dynamics of the pod.
By mid-afternoon, the energy shifted. A sudden burst of activity indicated a hunt, and within moments, an oil slick surfaced—a sure sign that a successful predation had taken place. This feeding event sparked a wave of high-energy behaviour, with orcas leaping out of the water and celebrating their success. It was an unforgettable experience for all onboard!
A Predation Event
22.01.25
Warning Predation image included.
It was a great day to be an orca and a passenger onboard, not so much to be a beaked whale! Coming into the hotspot, Splittip’s pod was identified, however their movements were sporadic, especially trying to judge their behaviours between the rocky and rolling swells.
A beaked whale surfaced next to the boat with Flapper and Splittip on the tip of its tail! It had a puncture wound on the top of its body leading back towards the dorsal fin which had also taken a beating, evidently growing tired and vulnerable. A lunge forward from the front runners saw the surrounding 8-10 individuals dive with the beaked whale, then popping up a bit further away through a blood bubble rising to the surface – it was game over for the beaked whale.
Warning: Predation Event. Killer Whale vs Beaked Whale
Playful Interactions
23.01.25
A peaceful and restful day in the canyon, but orca still made an appearance! A pod of five, led by the iconic Cookie, kept us company throughout the morning. Long, deep dives indicated foraging behaviour, but no predation was observed today. Despite their relaxed nature, Cookie and her pod engaged in occasional playful interactions, rolling and nudging one another between dives. The day ended with the orca making a close approach to the vessel, curiously checking us out before disappearing into the depths.
Cookies pod were sighted today in Bremer Canyon
Hunting Squid
24.01.25
Highlights 20–26 January. A thrilling day featuring social behaviours, calf play, and yet another predation event! Splittip’s pod and Fue’s pod joined forces again, hunting a large squid. The remains floated to the surface, attracting seabirds in droves. The orca celebrated with high-energy breaches and playful surges alongside the boat. We also observed a particularly endearing moment between a mother and her calf, with the little one mimicking every movement. Late in the day, the pod became more subdued, cruising in formation as they moved away from the hunting ground, leaving us with a stunning sunset backdrop to close out an action-packed day.
A close pass of Glasse Island reveals Australian Sealions basking
Cookie’s Missing Fin
25.01.25 On our journey out to the hotspot, we came across a few common dolphins leaping up out of the water! They zoomed along and came in to ride our wake zipping around. It’s always a great start to the day when we are joined by dolphins right off the bat!
The good luck continued, and we once again had orca as soon as we reached the hotspot. We spotted the familiar dorsal fin of Cookie with her cookie-shaped chunk missing, and she was followed by her entourage including Oreo, Kalimna, Spock, Swirl and big mature male El Notcho. This pod has been frequenting the hotspot the last couple of days, behaving relatively mellow.
Cookie’s pod
Playful Orca Antics
26.01.25
A dramatic day on the water! Not long after arriving at the hotspot, a pod of around 12 individuals surfaced near the boat. Led by the formidable Splittip, they displayed intense hunting behaviours, diving in unison and scanning the depths for prey. Their persistence paid off when an oil slick surfaced, confirming another successful predation.
The afternoon brought a change in pace as the orca shifted to social interactions. Several breaches, spy-hops, and tail slaps filled the waters, with calves actively engaging in play. At one point, two juveniles swam belly-up alongside the vessel, giving us a rare and intimate view of their playful antics. As the day drew to a close, the orca formed a tight group, gliding effortlessly through the waves, leaving us with another unforgettable experience.
A fantasic lineup of killer whales in the bremer canyon today
Dynamic Orca Behaviours
Highlights 20–26 January. Another incredible week wrapped up, with their dynamic behaviours the orca continued to amaze. From high-energy hunts to peaceful close encounters, each experience left passengers in awe. With more action sure to come, we eagerly await what next week will bring! Join us on a Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expedition
