Island Explorer 3 On-Scene With 3 Orca Whale Pods!
Morning clouds turned to afternoon sunshine and made for a beautiful day on the Salish Sea, with the Orca Whales! Stay tuned to the Whale Report for details on today's tour from Naturalist Kate Janes! "Our morning started at Pointer Island where we found hauled out Harbor Seals, a smorgasbord of gulls, Black Turnstones, a Black Oystercatcher and one huge Bald Eagle's nest on Blakely Island! We then navigated a scenic pass between Blakley & Armistage Island before heading into Thatcher Pass and the inner islands! Our journey took us through the heart of the San Juans where we found Pelagic & Double-crested Cormorants, more lounging Harbor Seals and Harbor Porpoise swimming in the tide rips!! As we entered into Haro Strait there was a buzz over the radio of whales heading north along San Juan Island, however is was hard to discern if it was a rumor or a Transient Pod of Orcas that broke away from a group that was traveling north. So with time on our side we decided to explore this southern option and did it pay off!! We found all 3 Southern Resident Pods of Orcas making their way northward and heading the groups was Ruffles (J1) as he confidently made his way north! How 80+ whales remained undetected for most of the morning is baffling, but it does happen since they are wild animals that can travel over 100 miles in a 24 hour period! Whales could be seen as far as the eye could see! Blackberry (J27) and a companion traveled right along the shoreline showcasing for our guests that even near the islands the water can be very deep (at that location over 700 ft deep!)! We also enjoyed time spent with Moonlight, her new firstborn L110, Tsuchi, Mega, Riptide, Lea, her youngest K42, Lobo & Yoda! We watched as the whales porpoised, taillobes, breached, cartwheeled, raced through the water in order to catch a salmon, and even pec slapped displaying an array of behaviors! We ended a picture perfect day that was filled with wonderful surprises at the south end of Lopez Island where Turkey Vultures soared overhead as we peered upon Harbor Seals, rafts of Bull Kelp, and a couple of feeding Great Blue Herons!" - Naturalist Kate Janes
posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 4:35 PM
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