Kelly | M/V Sea Lion | April 4th, 2025 | 12:30pm
Spring is here! The weather was absolutely perfect as we left Friday Harbor and turned left down San Juan Channel. As we made our way through Cattle Pass (the narrow passage between San Juan and Lopez Island) we admired the various wildlife around us. This area is extremely productive due to a process known as upwelling. Upwelling occurs when you have an uneven sea floor mixed with a strong current/tidal exchange. This creates a ramp effect, shooting water up towards the surface and stirring nutrients up to from the sea floor. Upwelling is key to our ecosystem, allowing nutrients to mix with the sunlight and create phytoplankton. Without this process, we would lack the biodiversity that makes the Salish Sea so special. Here in Cattle Pass we see an abundance of sea lions, harbor seals, cormorants and bald eagles. All species favor this spot for the same reason… the food.
Next, we were heading straight across the Strait of Juan De Fuca and towards Whidbey Island. Our mission--- to investigate a gray whale report along its shoreline. Once to the reported location, just offshore from Whidbey’s Airforce base, we shut off our engine and scanned in every direction. Gray whales sometimes feed in the same area from hours at a time, filter feeding along the bottom of the ocean floor. We hoped that was the case as we looked for any sign of that distinctive heart-shaped blow. Just as almost all hope was lost and we began to depart the area, we heard that another boat had found the whale! Turns out it was not one, but two gray whales!! Both opportunistically feeding in the same area. We were treated to great looks at this pair as they surfaced many times off our starboard. Gray whales are not known to fluke (show their tail as they deep dive) but we were treated to one good look at both of those splotchy grey tails. Gray whales are fascinating for several reasons but perhaps the most impressive quality is their migration. Gray whales have the longest migration in the animal kingdom, traveling 10,000 miles round trip to breeding and feeding grounds. Such a special treat to catch them as their fueling their massive bodies to sustain these long distances.
We rounded out or trip with a quick look at Whale Rocks, overflowing with Stellar sea lions. These noisy pinnipeds were extremely active! Diving in the water, fighting amongst themselves and showing off that distinctive roar.