Orca at Salt Spring

On the way to see Orca today, we saw Bald Eagles, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, and more. Once we were on scene with Orca at Salt Spring Island, we viewed two different groups.

At one point two Orcas had split off from the group and popped up closer. A couple of us had to shut down until they moved on. It was a gorgeous day on the water, no wind, and sunny sky.

When it was time to head back from viewing our orca at Salt Spring Island we saw more harbor porpoise on the return trip.

I stopped to see our beautiful Red-necked Phalarope. These tiny birds are a favorite of mine. They breed in the Arctic Regions and winter at sea after spending a good bit of time here with us in the Salish Sea. These are fascinating birds. To feed they will typically spin in a circle creating a whirlpool and then sidestep out of the swirling water and peck at the critters caught in the vortex.

Red-necked Phalarope reverses their sex roles. The females will fight each other for the right to mate with a male. The male will incubate the eggs and raise the brood of three or four chicks for two weeks. After two weeks, the male leaves the young to fend for themselves. After three weeks, the chicks can fly and join in the migration.

Pulling into the harbor, we noticed the flying Orca coming in for a landing with Mount Baker in the background. Many of our guests who visit Seattle, will fly into Friday Harbor via floatplane with Kenmore Air and tour with us. It is an easy way to avoid the drive, parking, ferry, and tour with us in the most hassle-free way possible. They fly right into the harbor; guests walk up the dock and are very close to our vessel Spirit of Orca.