This afternoon was pretty spectacular with three pods of Biggs Orca. They were somewhat on the same path, though not traveling together. As a result, we were able to see all three pods on this tour.
Biggs T65A’s
We stopped off at Spieden Island on the way and saw a few Bald Eagles and Harbor Seals. Then we crossed over the border to see the Biggs pod of T65A’s. This family has a young one with lots of energy. All three pods today had young ones.
Now is a good time to note that our Biggs pods are thriving. It is because of the healthy harbor seal, sea lion, and porpoise population here in the Salish Sea that they are doing so well. There have been more calves born to the Bigg’s pods in the last five years than there is Southern Resident Killer Whales population as a whole.
I also snapped a shot at a Rhinoceros Auklet included in this post.
Biggs T36A’s
After observing the T65A’s back into USA waters, we doubled back to view the T36A’s and their young one. I will try to have the pics in this post to match the order of what we saw to keep the three pods separate.
We stayed with them for a bit then decided to go exploring and hopefully see a Humpback Whale. I could not raise anyone with the Humpback, so I headed for the third pod of Biggs Orca the T124’s.
On the way, we transitted Johns Pass, and I pointed out the youth camp known as Camp Norwester, which is a non-denominational camp to instill values into the youth of today.
Biggs T124’s
After Johns Island, we slowly made our way closer to see the Bigg’s T124’s moving up the southern side of Stuart Island. We were fortunate to view yet another young one with lots of energy staying close to mom. We left them abeam of Turn Point Light House and started back for Friday Harbor.
Our waters contain many marine mammals, including many Killer Whales and other marine life and seabirds. The three pods of Biggs Orca filled our time nicely for a wonderful day on the water. Because there is so much marine life here in the Salish Sea we are blessed to see it every day all around us.
Check out some of my other photoblog pages at Whale Tales.
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