Written by Alison
on Sep 30, 2023

Whale Report: September 13, 2023 – T Party at Race Rocks

Whale Report: September 13, 2023 – T Party at Race Rocks

September 13, 23023 – We had a long run ahead of us, but everyone was up for the ride.  We headed south and made a stop at Whale Rocks in Cattle Pass to check out the Steller Sea Lions.  Not only were they being their usual ruckus selves on the rocks but several were in the water as well checking us out.  As we headed into the Strait of Juan de Fuca there was just a tiny bit of fog near the Cattle Point lighthouse but otherwise it was clear sailing on smooth water.  Our encounter started at Bentinck Island. This is the farthest west I have been on a regular trip!  Bentinck Island was used as a leaper colony starting in 1924, but now serves as a military base, therefore the “Blasting” warnings painted on the rocks.  It is located just a hop, skip and a jump from the Race Rocks Biological Preserve.  We watched the whales make their way along the edge of the island, checking the Kelp beds for seals along the way.  Eventually they headed over to the the RR preserve and continued to hunt along the rocks as hundreds of Steller and California Sea Lions watched.  The shear number of Bigg’s Killer Whales we saw was amazing.  I even met members of 3 family groups I had not seen before.  These groups are made up of mom’s and her kiddo’s with the exception of T55C, a 19 year old male that was traveling separate from his family. The T60’s, 4 of its 6 family member present, the T69’s, also with 4 family members present, the T109’s with 5 family members present, and I believe her eldest daughter T109A, who is usually traveling with 5 of her 7 kiddos and one grand calf.  The ID’s of the 109A’s is a bit of a guess, but this makes 21 Orcas total!  And we got to go to Race Rocks, and we saw 3 humpback whales as well!  What a day!  FYI, the spyhop photo is a bonus photo, from 9/16.  It is one of the same whales we saw on Wednesday and 2 of Wednesday’s passengers also present!

 

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 Sep 30, 2023

Whale Report: September 13, 2023 – T Party at Race Rocks

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