Orca Both North and South
We have several pods of Orca in the area to choose from today for our viewing. The viewing today of Orca both North and South of the San Juan Islands was an enjoyable experience. On the morning tour, we started north and saw some Harbor Seal mama’s with their pups, some younger than others. There were sea birds to see including Black Oyster Catchers, Black Turnstone, and I expected to see Bald Eagles on Java Rocks, but instead, there were a bunch of Turkey Vultures there.
Orca in Boundary Pass and Strait of Georgia
We were viewing the T46’s in Boundary Pass as they moved up the channel. We stayed with them until they reached the Saturna Island Rich Folks Protection Zone. It is supposed to be a critical habitat area for the protection of the Southern Resident Killer Whales. Doesn’t matter that the Southern Residents are nowhere within a hundred miles from here. The Saturna folks cried, and politicians jumped to protect the islanders’ views of the sea.
The T46B’s were not with the T46’s today but about 38 nautical miles to the south. This pod includes Casper, T46B1B. Casper is the more white than it is black calf with a pigment disorder. It is not a true albino though he is a beautiful whale to view.
There was a great deal of tidal turbulence at Boiling Reef today as we crossed into the Strait of Georgia. After the whales cleared the no go zone in front of the Saturna island cliff dwellers homes, we again were able to start viewing the pod.
Orca in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
The afternoon tour we made our way south into the Strait of Juan de Fuca to view the T65A’s. On the way, we stopped to see Harbor Seals and pups. We pulled into Shark Reef Cove and saw a couple of Bald Eagles sitting proud gazing for fish to dive for.
We were headed for the T65A’s when I noticed there were too many boats around them. I decided to take our tour to an island where I knew we would see Tufted Puffins. It was beautifully calm today, with the tufted puffins. I love these little birds. I think my favorite is the Black Oystercatcher, followed by the Tufted Puffin, then maybe Great Blue Heron. However, I can’t leave the Red Neck Phalarope from the list of my favorites. I will include a pic of a Phalarope in this post so you can see why.
We did meet up with the T65A’s after most of the boats had left. They gave us some excellent viewing, especially the young calf with lots of energy. As I was departing I let a pleasure boater know he was not legal tailing the whales and that he needed to move off to either side and stay out with the professional boat operators.
Stellar Sea Lions
On the way back in we stopped off at Salmon bank to see a couple of Minke Whales spotted in the area. We did not see them so made our way to some rocks to view Stellar Sea Lions. While shutdown and taking pics a pair of them that were in the water swam underwater and showed up under the boat checking us out. These huge beautiful creatures are a curious lot. The big bulls grow up to 2500 pounds.
Again, the viewing today of Orca both North and South of the San Juan Islands was an enjoyable experience.
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