With our first departure at noon, Captain Mike, Naturalist Rachel, and myself left the dock with no reports of any whales. With rainy and foggy weather we headed north toward Flat Top Island. Our guests were able to see Harbor Seals and Pigeon Guillemots. Pigeon Guillemots are part of the Puffin family and are diving sea birds. They can dive over 100 feet deep. We motored to the Cactus Islands and Spieden Island seeing Bald Eagles and juvenile Bald Eagles. Guest were also able to see two different groups of Mouflon sheep on Spieden Island! It is common to see the females and males separated at this time. They only come together when they are mating.
During that time, Captain Mike got a report of a Humpback whale that was swimming north in San Juan Channel. We altered our course and headed towards Lopez Island, where the Humpback was last seen! Once on seen guests were impressed to hear there was a Humpback in these waters. During this time of year, Humpbacks are migrating North to Alaska. Every so often, we are lucky enough to be able to spend a day or two with them. This Humpback had a traveling pattern of surfacing three or four times then staying under for about eight minutes. Our last viewing was the close enough for our guests to hear the blow!
We arrived back to Friday Harbor with the clouds breaking apart and the sun coming out! Captain Mike and myself also had a sunset trip tonight. I was excited because the weather improved and we still had them Humpback in San Juan Channel. We motored out of Friday Harbor and were able to give it right off Turn Island. Our guests were lucky enough to get a great view of this Humpback, surfacing about 100 yards off our port side! Right before that surfacing, I was telling guests to listen for the blow of the whale, needless to say everyone heard it. The Humpback was swimming in the current lines being caused by the tidal exchange. This was the perfect place for small fish and krill to be, and that happens to be what the Humpbacks eat!
We motored south to see some other wildlife, hitting some rougher water down in Cattle Pass. With the massive flood and strong winds, guests were impressed how rough this inland body of water can get. Down along Long Island we were able to see two Bald Eagles and their nest. We headed back toward the Humpback to see one last time. Guest were able to enjoy a cruise back to Friday Harbor and watch the sunset!
Aimee
Naturalist, M/V Sea Lion