IMG_2626.JPG
Originally uploaded by orcagirl.
After an amazing journey
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Jpod in Rosario, June 10
This afternoon we traveled long and hard but it was 100% worth it. The animals were traveling north from Bird Rock (Rosario Strait) and were found on scene in a long resting line. The animals grouped up tightly at times and continued to travel north. They were quite calm and docile. I heard they were quite active earlier that day.
Caught in the mix are some exciting views of sprouting males, you can see various sizes emerging. Also cute was Ruffles J1 and I believe calf J39 or J40 together, probably great grandad and son or daughter. The animals moved back into a resting line that was quite large. Epic was the beautiful fins and blows fill the Strait. We cruised home passing many of the San Juan Islands with a warm sun and shimmering green seas offering glimpes of seals and sea birds.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Transient Female Adult Spyhop
What can I say, this was a stunning moment that proves it is always a good idea to go west. One point five miles east of Great Race this beautiful transient orca female decided to we which one of the whale watching boats was left. Sizing us up? Perhaps. An amazing encounter made no less when a budding young Marine Biologist /English Major had a life long dream come true and perhaps found a life calling. Good luck finding that Marine biology course in the phoenix area.! We were all in awe of the sheer uniqueness of the moment. Props to Capt. Brad of the OM ll (he's also known as "Diner") for finding the pair of transients and being so quick to share. Well spotted old boy!
See you on the water,
Jeff
See you on the water,
Jeff
Friday, June 09, 2006
9th June
Afternoon trip found us at the north end of Haro Str
ait, with J-pod at the south end of Stuart Island, as they slowly rounded Turn Point and across Bound
ary. On the way home we found another group of J's that were lagging behind somewhat. They were in full travel mode mid strait off Andrews Bay. Our evening cruise ship found us heading west along the Juan de Fuca Strait, looking for K's, L's, Transients or humpbacks. None were found, but we had a good visit at Race Rocks, and enjoyed a wonderful evening out on the water.
ait, with J-pod at the south end of Stuart Island, as they slowly rounded Turn Point and across Bound
ary. On the way home we found another group of J's that were lagging behind somewhat. They were in full travel mode mid strait off Andrews Bay. Our evening cruise ship found us heading west along the Juan de Fuca Strait, looking for K's, L's, Transients or humpbacks. None were found, but we had a good visit at Race Rocks, and enjoyed a wonderful evening out on the water.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Fast Cat Looking Good!
The new 5 Star FastCat is nearing completion! We are going to have a lot of adventures with this excellent wildlife watching platform.
I hope some of you reading our blog posts will come out and join us
in our search for orca and other whales.
Kind regards,
Jeff
I hope some of you reading our blog posts will come out and join us
in our search for orca and other whales.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Five Star Fast Cat
Nearly ready for a life of adventure. The 5 Star FastCat gets the finishing touches. Contracted by SuperCat builders Armstrong Marine, the new vessel is a thing of beauty. Propelled by Cummins Turbo Diesel engines and Arneson drives, the FastCat will take thousands to see and learn about all of the marine animals in the
Strait of Juan de Fuca. All of us at Five Star are proud of this
amazing vessel. I personally cannot wait until I can take her out into the Strait and look for whales!
Strait of Juan de Fuca. All of us at Five Star are proud of this
amazing vessel. I personally cannot wait until I can take her out into the Strait and look for whales!
June 8th
Wow. what a day, what an encounter. Out to Hein Bank, just south of San Juan Island, where we had a group of transient killer whales called the T100's. They were zigging and zagging all over, and we saw some erratic behaviour that could have only been linked to a kill being made. They had been seen killing a harbour seal earlier that day, yet we saw another seal be killed, and 3 spyhops later, one orca showed us a chunk of seal. Delicious! Great trip.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
June 7th
A great day on the water, sunny skies, and calm sea, and J-pod off San Juan Island. They were foraging off Andrews Bay during our morning trip, and were resting by the afternoon trip, noses pointed north. We left them by Stuart Island, and were heard on the radio as having past Turn Point and heading up Boundary Pass.
5 Star Cat
IMG_2390.JPG
Originally uploaded by orcagirl.
Caught traveling towards San Juan Island this afternoon
Sunday, June 04, 2006
June 4th
Cloud, mist and morning rain did not detere us from having happy people on board viewing our delightful J-Pod off Salmon Bank this morning, and then slightly further north by the afternoon. My trips were made by the presence of another school friend on board, Tim Cullinan, and his family in the morning, all the way from Nottinghamshire, then the afternoon trip had an old collegue of mine, Andy, from my Ground Services work also in Nottinghamshire, UK. That was a nice surprise. Ruffles was good to us on both trips, and it was grand to see all of J's in relaxed foraging mode.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Dall/Harbour Porpoise Hybrid
Two young Hybrid porpoises we encountered 1.75 miles north of Beaumont Shoals.
The Young animals were together with 5-6 dall adults. One of the two hybrids was a littler larger (not Pictured) and was known to Ron Bates of MMRG by it's unique dorsal shading. Read More on this facinating interaction http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/rwb/hybrid.htm
The Young animals were together with 5-6 dall adults. One of the two hybrids was a littler larger (not Pictured) and was known to Ron Bates of MMRG by it's unique dorsal shading. Read More on this facinating interaction http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/rwb/hybrid.htm
Dall Porpoise in Haro Strait
Hello all,
This animal was zipping past the Supercats Starboard hull as we sat quietly with the engines off. The Porpoise were just north of Beaumont Shoals.
This animal was zipping past the Supercats Starboard hull as we sat quietly with the engines off. The Porpoise were just north of Beaumont Shoals.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Jpod, J40, J1 and others
This afternoon we found Jpod traveling west of Lopez Island heading towards Salmon Bank (San Juan Island USA). On route we found baby J40 and mom J14 traveling together and were graced by a couple of breaches by baby J40. After that, we caught up with J1 (ruffles) and others traveling. We saw many interesting behaviors such as spy hopping, inverted tail lobbing and perhaps a bit of frisky socializations not to mention some very unique noises. It was a wonderful trip. We had a family of 3 generations onboard and some were visiting from the far east. Although it was foggy and raining, this did not stop an incredible voyage from taking shape. It's good to be home.
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