Naturalist Alexandria | Friday, May 8th | M/V Kestrel
What a fantastic day it was today on the water! As we suited up and got ready to board M/V Kestrel, Captain Gabe and I had no idea how perfect the day would prove to be!
Once our group was all suited up in their exposure suits and all boarded onto the vessel we started heading out into San Juan Channel. Initially we were operating under a report of potential whales far north from us- well into Canadian water. We started heading up San Juan Channel but not long after were very excited to hear a report on the radio about whales down in Cattle Point! Luckily we had only just begun our trek heading north so we quickly turned around and started heading south down San Juan Channel heading towards Cattle Pass- where these orcas had just been spotted!
As we were getting on scene we saw this group of 17- yes 17 Transient- or Biggs Killer Whales swimming on the shoreline! What a treat this was to see, at first we couldn’t get a definitive count, but as we continued to watch them one thing was for sure, there were so many whales! We got some amazing looks at them and were able to spend ample time with them, watching as the calves tail splashed and lobbed, having quite a great time!
There were a few big males in this group, which we could easily identify based on their large, beautiful dorsal fins! It is so easy to say on our trips that male dorsal fins can easily reach the 6 foot mark, but to see it in person like we did today is truly something special!
After we spend a nice chunk of time with these whales, we continued south out to Whale Rocks were we met with some Steller Sea Lions! Steller Sea Lions are the largest species of Sea Lion in the world and it is always a fun time getting to watch them interact with each other while hauled out on the rocks! They were growling and sunning themselves on the rocks, while a few others were in the water splashing about.
As we were heading back to Friday Harbor we stopped and hung out with our new Biggs Killer whale friends a little longer. We got some more awesome photos and then began heading back to Friday Harbor.
It was a great day- sunshine, beautiful water, and close orcas- can’t go wrong there!
Until Next Time,
Naturalist Alexandria