Whale Watching Report

Photos courtesy of passenger Carlton Ward on April 1, 2008

On board the Island Explorer 3 Naturalist Kate Janes reports: "Blue skies welcomed the IE3 into the waters of Port Gardner as we sought out wildlife on the first day of April! We found ourselves in Saratoga Passage heading towards Coupeville after hearing word that yesterday there were Transient Orcas in the area. Just before Coupeville we encountered Dall's Porpoise making slow dives as they searched for food, however moments later they were racing through the water spraying good size rooster tails!! After searching the area that the Transients had been seen the previous day we headed back to the southern tip of Whidbey Island were we found 2 Gray Whales!! Bringing our current Gray Whale total up to 7 individuals # 21 and #22 join previously seen #49, #356, #531, #44, and #56! We also saw: Harbor Seals, Pigeon Guillemots, Western Grebes, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Cormorants, and California Sea Lions!"