Whale Watching Report

Cruise By (Blossom-J11)

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

"It was a special treat for our guests as we cruised the inner islands towards Battleship Island where we found J Pod!! Along the way we visited a Bald Eagles at its nest on Decatur Island and just before departing its mate returned carrying food in its talons! These wouldn't be the only eagles of the trip, by the end we would see a total of 7! Just past Spieden Island, as we entered Haro Strait, we began to see the members of J pod really spread out! To our surprise Blossom (J11) appeared followed by her 17 year old son Blackberry (J27). We spent some quality time with this mother & son as they navigated through some riptides and among lots of debris. Conveniently they swam in the direction of a log that had a branch sticking straight up that we kept confusing as a dorsal fin of a whale! We eventually went to visit with some of the other whales. Our guests enjoyed as the whales became more active breaching, spyhopping, and taillobing! We left with a final visit with Oreo's (J22) subpod. Her neice Rhapsody (J32), her son Doublestuff (J34) & her youngest Cookie (J38) all swam giving our guests great looks as they were nearly swimming in unison! Other wildlife we saw on our adventure today included: a Black-tail Deer on Shaw Island, Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets, Harbor Porpoise, & Harbor Seals!" - Naturalist Kate Janes