Humpback and Minke Whales Sighted!
Stay tuned to the Whale Report for details on today's tour from Naturalist Kate Janes! "Our day started out on a fantastic note as we found 3 California Sea Lions hauled out each on a different channel marker while Harbor Porpoise swam in the surrounding waters! We continued into Rosario Strait heading southward towards the Strait of Juan de Fuca! At Colville Island we found a couple of Harbor Seals hauled out on the rocks! In the calm waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca we found Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres, Pacific Loons attempting to take flight with full bellies weighing them down, and even some Dall's Porpoise! We first found these very friendly porpoise at a distance showing off their "rooster tails" and as we approached they began displaying slow feeding dives. Then without warning their speed accelerated and one came over for a quick bow ride before rejoining the pod!! The Island Explorer 3 continued on its way towards Canadian water where we found a juvenile Humpback whale!! From a distance the young whales exhalation could be seen just moments before dissipating very quickly! In the glass calm water we where able to follow the whales movement by watching its footprints at the surface! Then expectantly the young whale spyhopped in the middle of a raft of Bull Kelp! The Humpback Whale's kelping activity was a first for the crew, resulting in gasps & shouts of excitement from the entire boat!! Surfacing multiple times in a spyhop fashion the whale repeatedly enjoyed the Bull Kelp!! After watching this amazing youngster steadily move eastward towards American waters and enjoying its consistent respiration rates we unfortunately had to start the journey home! Although homeward bound our wildlife excursion was far from over, because at the south end of Lopez Island we found a Minke Whale!! Smaller in length than the Humpback Whale, the Minke has a larger sickle shaped dorsal fin!! Also at the south end of Lopez we found a mature Bald Eagle!! It is always a treat to be able to show our guests two different species of whales!! It is what we like to call a double header!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes
posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 5:15 PM
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