Today deviated from the norm for Captain Jim and I today, since we had a charter on M/V Kittiwake that didn't start till around 6:30 pm. Both of us are fairly use to being out on the water earlier in the day, and this was a great chance to see the changes in nature and the surrounding wildlife...oh and did I mention the sunset? With the slowly fading light, navigating the waters can become a bit more challenging, but when you look up and see brilliant orange and pink sunsets with whales breaching in the distance, you tend to forget all of that. I'll take the numb hands and toes any day for the awesome looks we got of our Resident pods along the westside of San Juan Island today.
Most of the pod was spread all along the westside and appeared to be in a resting mode for the first portion of our trip. Their behavior quickly changed just in time for the sun to dip behind Vancouver Island. The fish-eating orcas became much more surface active and I think I even lost count with how many breaches were going on in the distance. It was quite the show and we have our awesome passengers to thank for the evening. Without their dedication to fit this trip in between soccer tournaments in Seattle and flights home the at 5am the next day, we wouldn't have found ourselves on the water! That's some serious whale watchers.
-Caitlin, Naturalist
San Juan Safaris, M/V Kittiwake