Olivia Esqueda | M/V Kestrel | August 28th, 2024 | 2:00pm
Today was an amazing day out on the water with the family of Bigg’s Killer Whales known as the T049A’s. We first started our tour off by traveling from San Juan Channel into New Channel, just north of Spieden Island, where we saw Bald Eagles, swimming Harbor Seals, and Mouflon Sheep grazing by the water. It wasn’t too long after that when we first spotted the Transient Orcas swimming around in the North Haro Strait.
Soon after we arrived, this family of five started playing around with one another engaging in so much surface behavior; it was genuinely so fun to watch! They even started chasing around a Rhinoceros Auklet at the surface (RIP)! While these birds are not on the menu for the orcas, we have witnessed playful behaviors [of primarily calves] playing with them before- very relatable to the curiosity of our own kiddos!
Afterwards, we transited to Spieden Island where we saw more Harbor Seals in their cliché banana pose, thermoregulating on the shoreline, Turkey Vultures scavenging high on the island, and heaps of Egg Yolk, Moon, AND Lion’s Mane Jellyfish. This trip really had it all! Days like today fill our cup in a very special way while leaving so much room for education about many species that call the Salish Sea home.