Orcas In The Islands -Seals and Sea Birds

Orcas in the Islands

We had such a fantastic day yesterday with plenty of Orca and Humpbacks around and beautiful sunny weather. The weather was too good for me, and I was sweating with the lack of wind and hot sun. Today I took our guests north to help about ten vessels search for some whales. We were all striking out, and I was even getting nervous and hoping for a humpback to be able to show something. It ended up being a great day with Orcas in the islands.

We traveled an hour north searching along the way. I was preparing to go through a pass and search inside some of the Canadian islands. Then a call came in about an unconfirmed shore sighting of three Orca in Rosario Strait. It was a risk, but my guests were game for the adventure, so we headed back to the San Juans.

Seal Kills

About 15 minutes before we would be in the area, another captain spotted the whales. We made our way in and began watching a hunt taking place. It was almost time to leave even before we arrived, but I stayed as long as I could and still be back to pick up the afternoon tour. We stayed an extra half hour, and I was back at the dock just in time for the next tour to begin.

The good news this time, we did not have to travel far to see the Orcas. We met up with them again on the north side of Shaw Island in Harney Channel. They made their way over to some rocks beyond the Shaw ferry terminal and began to hunt more seals.

No bloody water and no critters were flying through the air this time, just a lot of thrashing water and seagulls diving for bits of extra fat and meat: some lovely viewing and a bunch of nervous seals.

Some other sights seen today include Patos Island Lighthouse with Mount Baker. A flying Bald Eagle, a young Harlequin Duck, a couple of Black Oystercatchers including a chick. I had never caught an Oystercatcher chick on camera before, so that was a new experience for me today.

Patos Lighthouse and Mount Baker

While we were viewing the Black Oystercatchers, I could see that the whales were headed our way again. We had already had our viewing time, so I kept moving to allow others their chance to see them. We watched from a distance blessed by these beautiful Orcas in the islands that we call home.