Heading out of Friday Harbor on this gloriously sunny day, passengers and crew aboard the M/V Kittiwake didn't have to go far to meet up with some Minke Whales! Sitting over Salmon Bank we were able to kill the engine and enjoy the silence while waiting for the minkes to surface. Generally a good way to spot Minke Whales is to scan the horizon for birds feeding on bait fish below the surface. Both the Minke whales and the birds are feeding on the same type of fish. Lucky for us, our boat was surrounded by birds, both gulls and rhinoceros aucklets, foraging for bait fish. Using this method we were able to spot not one but two Minke Whales foraging in the area! Great day for whale watching!
Caitlin, Naturalist- M/V Kittiwake, San Juan Safaris