It’s the “Stinky MINKE Whale”!!!  Our trips this week take us all around the Salish Sea.  On Thursday we have great sightings of the Southern Resident Killer Whales off Salmon Bank.  The weatheris cloudy and grey, but the Orca whales are busy traveling south and then to the west with signs of foraging.  Fish?  Lots of them?  Oh, I wish I could see underwater!!!

Ohhhh!  The birders of the northwest rejoice!  A loon!  Right here in Haro Strait!  Surprise!

Ohhhh, again….and I think this one is L-94 passing by the side of the boat.  Remember….I have a 400mm lens!  But what a great view for everyone, 400mm or not!  We watch this family all afternoon, hopefully finding lots of salmon.

Hey!  Here I come, catching up to mom!  Part of the L pod for sure!

Thursday we follow L pod members around Salmon Bank area.  Friday we search the same area and find Minke whales, Steller sealions, Harbor seals, Bald eagles and a few porpoise.  Saturday morning we travel far to the north as there are no sightings to the south.  We have incredible sightings of seals, sealions, eagles and a Minke whale.  Then, right before the afternoon trip departs on Saturday, we hear the Southern Residents have been sighted incoming west of Victoria!  Yikes!  Lots of calculation and the decision is we can most likely make it IF the whales keep traveling toward us.  Decision made, we strike out toward Victoria, B.C. and….after a long run, we are rewarded with a fabulous sighting of L pod and J pod!!!  The weather is cool and grey, but spirits are high and somehow the cold just doesn’t seem to bother anyone.  Oh, did I mention the blankets, hot coffee and hot chocolate?  Even though part of the trip is in thick fog, everyone has a great time…and when I do drive by of the ferry lane after the trip, everyone seemed to have made it onto the 6:30 p.m. boat that wanted to leave the island!  The lanes are empty!  YAY!  Great end for everyone!