Our first six-hour charter started out with a bit of rough water but later was flat and calm, and overall, it was a beautiful day. We started helping search for a three-hour-old report of Orcas southbound at Lummi Island. We did not locate them and moved on. Laurel got to see her favorite animal, Ottis the Sea Otter, and our first pairs of Tufted Puffins of the season.
After we viewed the puffins, we headed south to the last known position of a Gray Whale, but again, no longer requiring him. So we moved on and reaquired a pod of Orca, the T99’s. After a bit of time with them, we started going home. While northbound in Saratoga Pass, we came upon a Gray Whale. This gray is known as a “Sounder,” which is a gray whale known to return to Puget Sound year after year after year. This particular gray is known as Sounder #2259.
On the way home, the pod up north that we could not find had reemerged just off Anacortes. So we stopped for a few looks before heading to the dock.
“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
Jacques Cousteau