We headed out this morning and could see a thick band of fog stretching across the southern part of the Strait of Juan De Fuca. This fog did affect our efforts to find wildlife but we did see lots of Seals, Sealions at Race Rocks, Dall & Harbor Porpoise and eventually a Grey Whale was sighted at Green Point. This was the first time I had seen a Grey Whale this season and it was a thrill to see this large Baleen Whale (they can reach lengths of well over 40' and weigh 30-40 tons)!The only member of the family Eschrichtiidae, the Grey Whale is a Mysticete or Baleen Whale that feeds . Grey Whales have one of the longest migration route of all the large whales averaging 10,000 - 14,000 miles (16,000 - 22,000 kms) round trip. They travel from their winter grounds in the Baja peninsula to the Bering & Chukchi Seas and then return south in October.
Grey Whales feed on small crustaceans and tube worms found in bottom sediments, feeding primarily in the summer months. The Grey Whale has a unique feeding technique, the whale dives to the bottom of shallow bays, rolls on its side and draws bottom sediments and water into its mouth. As it closes its mouth, water and sediments are expelled through baleen plates and trap food inside near the tongue and then can be swallowed. It is this method of feeding that results in Grey Whales being covered in Barnacles and crustaceans.
Whilst we watched the Grey Whale it surfaced up wind of our vessel and we got a stench that is almost unbearable:)
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