...over the last many days it has been whales, whales - transients - everywhere but...
...something was on my mind that I could not shake...so here's is my take - LOL...
...here are some images from recent days...
...I rode along on the Western Prince and not even out of the harbor was a gray whale...
...then word came that whales were seen in the Strait of Georgia...
...on another day the T49As and the T65As and T65Bs were together again (last time seen together was about a week before)...
...T65Bs (mother and offspring) used to travel more often with her mom - T65 and Chainsaw T63...Chainsaw hadn't been seen in these waters for the last few years, but he was seen north (SE Alaska - I think) last year but no mention of T65...hummm...so the other day when Chainsaw was seen coming in from the west there was an unidentified female who was later ID'd by one of the Victoria boats as T65!
As far as I know there has been no word on the whereabouts of the Residents...as in prior years, one day they will just show up...
...I am so anticipating hearing them over the hydrophones early one morning ...but also realizing that I am quite concerned for their well being.
Tuesday, April 12th
...ready for the day?...here we go...
...7:30 already up and ready but not expecting anything...
...an email: 'whales!!"
...in Friday Harbor, going between Brown Island and SJI shore...
...then came a description...one male - nick down low, a female and two others - one maybe 7 yrs. and the other a few years old...great description!-thanks!
..."which direction?"...down island, so get in the car and get there fast...and for the next three hours watch, along with a couple others who pulled up along the side of the road, killer whale dots...in fact they were so far out they were barely dots!...but they were there...and you know how it is...if they are there you just gotta watch them...Mallard on Prince of Whales zodiac, with a private group, got on scene and said it was the T49As...thanks Mark!
...they exited Cattle Pass in some really rough seas...and that was it...
...now on with the rest of the day...
...that didn't last too long...other whales appeared on the west side of the island...moms and kids...making a kill...
...not on the boat but instead at County Park to try to get a glimpse of who might be out there...
...but it wasn't long before I was hopping on the boat...thanks Capt. Jim on Peregrine...it was the T99s and the T36As...
...the tide was going out and the whales were working over their meal and letting the current take them along and that was down island...
...they were very vocal over the hydrophones, first Orca Sound and then on Lime Kiln (links on the left column)...
...off the boat and get to Lime Kiln asap...just in time!...the whales were off the lighthouse and far from shore...they continued vocalizing and working that sea lion kill...
...down island a bit...and continuing to watch the whales way off shore...and then there was a tall dorsal fin!...the T49As had come up island and met up with the T99s and the T36As !
...for a short while they still appeared to be eating...then they began to move up island at a good pace...
...back to Lime Kiln...
...this time no vocals but instead porpoising whales...and leaping whales too!...however, it was best to see them using the binoculars...it was awesome to watch but not for taking pictures...
...the porpoising ended and they came up...
...as they entered the park and not far down from the lighthouse they turned in toward shore, coming directly in...
...then they turned again and continued to move north at a steady pace...
...they passed by north of County Park, steady pace but did not seem to be tightly grouped...
...it may not have been the best day for pictures but it certainly was an interesting chapter in the lives of these three family groups.
Wednesday, August 20th
...Ts, Ts, and more Ts...wow...
...unable to go on the morning trip on Maya's Westside Charters I learned the T100s and T101s were seen...neat groups with some sprouting males in them...next time...
...but in the afternoon...on the boat...we saw a different group of Ts...and many more...
...and they were having a great afternoon, which gave us a great encounter...
