The whale watching season is coming to an end here on San Juan Island, and in the Salish Sea. The weather is getting colder, the days shorter, but that doesn't seem to have an effect on the transient orcas! When we left Friday Harbor, we headed south then west traveling off the shores of Victoria to catch a glimpse of some transient orcas. When we arrived on scene, the T46b group of five orcas were traveling close together. After waiting in anticipation for over an hour to see orcas, our guests were thrilled! We had definitely gone the extra mile!
It was more of an emotional trip for everyone on board because we all knew this was our last trip out for the 2013 season and were lucky enough to see the orcas. Everyone seemed to have a deep appreciation for what they were watching. The transients were traveling in their typical zigzag type of pattern, speeding up and slowing down. They were on the hunt for any marine mammals in the area. We got to spend about an hour with the whales then headed home, checking out some steller sea lions along the way! What a great way to end the season, but Captain Brian and I were simply determined to see Orcas today no matter the cost!
This is our last blog for the 2013 season and I will leave you with this: these orcas are some of the most intellectual, thoughtful, and compassionate beings that I've ever had the pleasure of observing. They have culture, tradition, and language. They are simply magical. I hope to see you all in the next spring and summer to whiteness the beauty that I have seen throughout the 2013 season here in the San Juans.
Heather, Naturalist, M/V Sea Lion
San Juan Safaris