Biggs-T60s and Humpback Whale

We had two tours today. Both were with Biggs-T60s and Humpback Whale named Stitch. I do not know how he got his name. We had some rough water today on both tours, moreso in the morning than in the afternoon.

Seals and Eagles

I snapped a few shots of Harbor Seals, including one of Popeye in the harbor. We saw some Bald Eagles but I did not capture any worth sharing. At one point it looked like there was a vulture flying with the eagles and back home on my computer that is exactly what we had. A few Bald Eagles including juveniles but also a vulture flying among them.

We saw Stitch at the begining of each tour. He was being hard to read today. We could not seem to anticipate his track. Multiple direction changes, changing his dive times and number of breaths on the surface too. I spotted a few porpoise out there but nothing I could grab a picture of.

Lime Kiln Park

After viewing Stitch we moved on to the T60’s. On the first tour they were just arriving to the shore of San Juan Island and then Lime Kiln park where we voluntarily stay a 1/2 mile radius away. After they cleared the park we moved in to a 1/4 mile from shore. They were pretty tight to the shore line. It was cool seeing them combing the shore but a 1/4 mile away is not that great for photos.

Fortunately, on the afternoon tour we were able to meet up with them at Turn Point Lighthouse. They made their way across Boundary Pass into Canadian waters and we had some good views and a chance to shoot a few photos too. We stayed with them until they started to enter a “No Go Zone” on the Canadian side. This is new as of June 1 and law to keep all vessels not just whale watching vessels out of that zone.

Rich Peoples Protection Zone

This is not a park, but has been touted as a Southern Resident Killer Whale critical habitat zone. Nevermind the fact that the Rezies are never there, this is a noisy wheel getting attention from law makers no wheres near the coast. A bunch of rich people got their way keeping all vessels away from their homes view. Hopefully in the months to come politicians will recognize the zone is doing nothing to help the SRKW’s.

Chinook Salmon Needed

What our whales need more than anything is more Wild Chinook Salmon. They are not here because we dont have enough wild chinook salmon in our waters to keep them here. They range the coast from Monterey Bay all the way up to SE Alaska.

What we do have here are the new Residents, that being our Biggs Killer Whales. They are here in abundance because we have plenty of seals, sea lions and porpoise here for them to eat. Todays tour with Biggs-T60s and Humpback Whale is typical these days.