Whale Tales

“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” 
Jacques Cousteau

Humpback all around, and Lions Mane Jellyfish

Lions Mane Jellyfish

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Humpback All Around

There was no Orca around us today, but we did see many Humpback Whales off of Victoria, BC. We experienced Humpback all around, and Lions Mane Jellyfish to view.

Lions Mane Jellyfish

We also saw Harbor Seals, Bald Eagles, and an unusual Jellyfish at least for me. I often see Moon Jellyfish and Egg Yolk Jellyfish, but this was a new sight for me. “Jellies” are a part of the subphylum Medusozoa family. I once was on a dive during the migration of thousands of Moon Jellyfish.  It was amazing

The Jellyfish was all red with a deep-hued mass of tentacles.  I learned by a little research. These are Lions Mane Jellyfish.  They can reach 10′ across at the dome in the cold Arctic waters but are much smaller the further south they are found and rarely seen below the 42nd Parallel of Latitude.  We are at the 48th Latitude seeing this guy.  Today is the first time that I ever recall seeing a Lions Mane Jelly. For a look at another Jellyfish in our Salish Sea check this link to see an Egg Yolk Jellyfish.

Lots of Fluking

The Humpbacks were showing plenty of flukes, but I was never in the right place to get an ID shot.  Looking around I could see blows in the distance in most directions.

Mirage Effect

The weather and water conditions were gorgeous makings for a great boat ride. Today was one of those days we could see Mt. Rainier and the heat waves shimmering on the horizon. There are times when the mirage effect makes it look like the beaches are hundreds of feet tall. It makes vessels seem very tall too.

Lots of sea life and memories of a day with Humpback all around, and Lions Mane Jellyfish. The Orca stayed out of sight today but there is so much marine life in the Salish Sea that it is never a bust. 

 

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T49As in Rosario Strait

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31503″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Today we had the T49As in Rosario Strait. They made milling circles around Pea Pod’s

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31476″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Today, while viewing the T18s/19s in Rosario Strait. This pod of orcas is one of

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T49As with Mom Needing Quiet Time

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31448″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]We spent our time today with the T49As, with Mom needing quiet time, or “me

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31391″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Our tour today was with the T99s near Protection Island. I had a family with

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31372″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]On the two tours today, we saw minke whales and orcas, the T75Bs. Our first

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T99s in Hood Canal

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31363″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Our Tour today was with the T99s in Hood Canal. We started out seeing Ottis

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T99s in Port Susan

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31349″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]It was a long trip to arrive with the T99s in Port Susan. It took

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31289″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Today started out rough but got better with T60 Brothers and T49As plus Divot and

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31271″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Nine Orcas breaching and porpoising. That was how the day was for us. First, we

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31250″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Today, we were with T60s and T2B plus Humpbacks Bullet and Ukula. The morning tour

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31212″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]We were with the T65As again today with an uneventful kill of a porpoise. No

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31173″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””] Today, we witnessed the T65Aa Whomping on a harbor seal.   On the first

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”31143″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Today I was able to take the first ever photos of two Horned Puffins together

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”30953″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]We had an epic humpback encounter today in the Salish Sea. I have way too

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”30933″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]Zephyr and calf, tight to shore on San Juan Island.  “The Sea, once it casts

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”30903″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]We saw all the birds on my guests’ checklist today, though it was a bit

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”30870″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””]It was a perfect day with orcas tormenting a rhinoceros auklet, viewing a humpback, and

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