Oh, September?  Where are you going?  Things are changing so fast.  Take the sea birds for instance.  Quick!  Out come the winter outfits.  Check out this Common Murre.  Ususally the coloration is a solid dashing black for the entire head and upper body, with chic sea bird white on the breast.  Then, take the boat naturalists for another indicator that the seasons are marching on.  Last week, short pants, short sleeve shirts, and NO socks.  Ah, but it was all different by Thursday….yes, socks (wool), long pants, three layers between the shirts and jackets…oh, and gloves.

Although we experience some cloudy weather, a few rain drops and some light chop on the water….the wildlife viewing is spectactular.  The Bald eagles are back!  One day we find six adults as we meander through the waterways.  Steller sealions practice their Fall - Winter - Spring assignments of being the biggest bully, appearing to have the biggest body, letting loose with the loudest roar and catching the most fish.  Whale Rocks provides high action with  sealions, birds and currents.  The Harbor seals hardly seem to noitce any of it!

Thursday and Friday we find all three pods of Southern Resident Killer Whales out in Haro Strait.  Just back in from a trip out the Strait of Juan de Fuca, they are busy hunting for salmon in family groups.  Yes, the weather is slipping into Fall.   The wildlife is changing…into Fall coloration and presence.  The colors are changing…from grey sky, to brilliant blue, to bright afternoon light, to rain spitting from the clouds…suddenly here, then gone.  And then there are the other signs…the hats, the gloves…oh, and did I mention the hot chocolate??????????