Resident Orca Whales Spotted!
Our guests aboard the Island Explorer 3 are on their way to see our resident Orca whales! The report from our spotter says, "There are lots and lots of whales!" Stay tuned to the Whale Report to hear from our Naturalist Kate!
Boy Time (Cappuccino & Blackberry)
Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes
Last Goodbye
Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes
Ferry + Orcas + Mount Baker = a perfect Washington photoPhoto by Naturalist Kate Janes
"It was yet another brilliant September day and a wonderful way to end a fantastic month!! Under the blue sky we found Common Loons sitting outside the marina, a Great Blue Heron atop the breakwater and as we rounded Cap Sante Point the beautiful Mount Baker came into view! The Island Explorer 3 made its way southward down Rosario Strait where a mystical fog bank engulfed the boat! Stopping off at Minor Island located in the Strait of Juan de Fuca we found 20 or so Harbor Seals hauled out on its sandy shoreline, 2 Brown Pelicans, numerous Glaucous-winged Gulls, and Cormorants!! The fog broke as we approached the Keystone Ferry Terminal located mid-Whidbey Island exposing the heavily eroded western shores! It wasn't long after the fog lifted that lots of dorsal fins and exhalations came into view!! We had found a SUPER POD!! All 3 pods of the Southern Residents Orcas were moving northward- towards us!! Riptide (J30) was traveling alongside Granny (J2), who at 97 years old had the youngster at her flukes! We also saw Ruffles (J1), swimming with Princess Angeline, Polaris, and Skagit (a K pod female) all swimming closely grouped up! Over 80 whales could be seen from mid-channel clear to the shoreline! The whales were sure active as they breached, did repeated taillobes, spyhopps, bellyrolls, backdives and porpoising! We saw it all and with some very curious whales we had some close encounters! Little Rainshadow changed direction quickly, seemingly curious about our guests on the bow!! Later we saw Ruffles and Blackberry in persuit of Skagit attempting to win her affections!! What a day! Lots of whales, calm water, and blue skies made this day picture perfect! Thanks to Captain Carl we got the quintescential Washington photo with Orcas in the foreground, the Keystone/Port Townsend Ferry in frame with Mount Baker in the background! It didn't end there, for after leaving the whales we found a Northern Elephant Seal eating a Salmon at the surface!! Also seen today were hundreds of Harbor Porpoise, Common Murres, Rhinoceros Auklets and Bonapart's Gulls!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes
posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 12:34 PM
0 Comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home