Western Prince Whale Watching

Written by Alison
on Jun 27, 2023

Whale Report: June 14, 2023 PM – “Kelping” Humpback and Orcas

Whale Report: June 14, 2023 PM – “Kelping” Humpback and Orcas

June 14, 2023 PM – We headed north to see if we could catch up with the orcas that we had seen on the morning trip.  Along the way we checked out a group of Harbor Seals and a couple of Oyster Catches on Sentinel Rock which is one of 84 wildlife refuges located in the San Juan Islands.  From there we headed west into Canadian waters.  When we encountered the orcas near Sidney Island heading south west down Haro Strait.  This group of of 7 Bigg’s, marine mammal eating, Killer Whales was a little spread out doing a bit of zigzagging as they traveled along.  The group consisted of 6 of the 124A martiline including 124A, a 39 year old female, her oldest daughter, 124A1 who is now 27 and has no offspring of her own, her 4th offspring; 124A4, a 13 year old female with a young calf, 1241A4A;  her 7 year old son, 124A6 and her youngest 124A7 who was first seen in late 2021.  Also traveling with them today was her brother “Cooper” who is a gorgeous adult male at the age of 31.  After a beautiful encounter with a couple of surprise close passes we headed south to see if we could follow up on a report of Humpback whales.  We only found one the the 3 that had been reported, but it was a local favorite “Split Fin.”  It was flat calm, beautiful lighting and he was have a great time rolling around in some Bull Kelp.  This is kinda of like a spa treatment for the whales.  Feeling the kelp on their skin must feel really good.  He was lifting it up with his rostrum, then his pectoral fin and then came up with it draped over his back.  Eventually we had to go and made one stop on the way home at Whale Rocks to check out the Steller Sea Lions.  Many of the huge males have left our area for the breeding colonies.  The few that were around look enormous compared to the many juveniles still at this location.

 

Photographer and Naturalist: Alison Engle – Instagram: @Alisonengleart – Website: www.alisonengle.com

Western Prince Wildlife Adventures – Instagram: @Westernprincewildlife – Facebook: Western Prince Whale Watching

Written by Alison
on Jun 27, 2023

Whale Report: June 14, 2023 PM – “Kelping” Humpback and Orcas

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