Aug 11th

3 trips all lined up for FastCat today found us off San Juan with the L12's. The morning trip found the animals very spread out foraging for the king salmon! There were alot of boats around, including gill netters, so we made the decision to head to Chain Islets and see the harbour seals. We were able to go through a shallow channel, and view these cute animals at close quarters, without disturbing them. It made for fantastic viewing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0AMhcRYH54

Trip 2 brought a lovely surprise in the shape of a juvenile gray whale! We had a good look at the youngster, and then ventured to the south end of Rosario strait. Here we had the L12's in conference mode with the rest of the southern residents at the north end of the strait! They were in a lazy social mood!
Trip no.3 with those from the cruise ship, Oosterdam, on board found us back at Colville Island, with L12's tired of waiting for J's, K's and the rest of L's. They rounded the island, and continued to forage and travel towards Salmon Bank! Beautiful trip.

Two Cats

IMG_6829.JPG
Originally uploaded by orcagirl.

Aug 10th

Today, aboard the FastCat, we journey south, then west, towards Otter Point, where we had inbound J's, K's and L's. There was 100 yards of patchy fog, which made it all the more mysterious. We ID'd several K7 matriline animals, based on a passengers excellent photos. L21 was also ID'd, and content with our orca encounter, we headed east to Race Rocks and saw all 4 pinnepeds (Harbour seals, Northern Elephant Seals, Stellar Sealions and California Sealions). A double viewing of a tufted puffin got myself, Trev and Jacklyn excited!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmmv5-SFKJg

The afternoon trip was incredible. All 3 pods whipping around the corner of Race Passage, in an 8 knot current. Talk about watching whales on a conveyor belt! It was surreal! L57 decided to go through Race Rocks, and he tootled off by himself offshore. There were groups of whales everywhere! Breaching, spyhopping, cartwheeling, back tail slaps and more! A non stop parade of what I consider the most magnificent mammals on the planet.

Aug 9th

Well, the whales left us in a pickle of a situation yesterday. With all company vessels heading every which way, not a whale fin was to be seen, with the exception of a shy feeding Dall or harbour porpoise!



The FastCat zoomed passed the US aircraft carrier, John C. Stennis, and a watching zodiac flew beside us making sure we wouldnt come any closer! We headed west and south, in a never ending search of cetaceans. Race Rocks was as ever great to us. We even saw a white tailed deer in the scrub at Beecher Bay, Sooke, resting. See video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAT-CiA6DvI

August 8 - FastCat

The Strait of Juan de Fuca was flat calm resulting in a magnificent day on the water for both of the FastCats trips. The morning trip found the FastCat heading out to the Odass buoy, in the Strait, which resulted in a quick view of a lone Dall's porpoise. The FastCat then turned towards Constance Bank, for we recieved a report of a Humpback whale from a sports fishing vessel. However, the Humpback whale turned out to be two Minke whales (the second smallest baleen whale), which both surfaced at one point on either side of the FastCat. The trip ended with a stunning view of Race Rocks MPA in the overcast. We had a view of Harbour seals, Elephant seals, California Sea Lions, and Steller Sea Lions; including a Steller Sea Lion feeding on a fish in the water.

The afternoon trip started off at Race Rocks with another view of the pinniped species, but on one of the rocks, we were surprised with a view of a young Steller Sea Lion pup. We also viewed Harbour porpoises on the way out to Race Rocks. The trip finished up with a view of Minke whales (possibly four animals in total), including one incredibly young animal.

Spectacular Day on the Water.....despite no Killer Whales! Enjoy the photos of the Race Rocks and the Minke whales.

August 7 - FastCat

The FastCat went up Haro Strait that resulted in an amazing view of two mature bald eagles (likely a mated pair), off of Little Darcy Island. We then had a view of over a hundred of Harbour seals piled onto a little rocky outcropping, further up the strait. In Oak Bay, the FastCat was treated to mating displays of a male Harbour seal, thrashing about in the waters off of the Chain Islets.

In the afternoon, the FastCat ventured out west in hopes of one of the three pods of resident whales (J,K, and L) would be venturing back into the Salish Seas from the open Pacific. However, none of the pods were observed in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Instead, the FastCat had a spectacular afternoon at Race Rocks Marine Protected Area (MPA). We had a view of all four pinniped species that utilize the MPA: Harbour seals, Elephant seals, California Sea Lions, and Steller Sea Lions.

Despite the no killer whale day....it was a spectualar day on the water and at least the family groups are possibly socializing with one another. Check out the beautiful photos of Race Rocks MPA.

Aug 6th

SuperCat ventured out towards Eagle Point on San Juan Island. Out there we had the first of Augusts renowned fog, and also quite a bit of chop which made for rocking and rolling whale watching! We came across L79 and L22 in the fog, and as they passed the bow they both did a series of 3 breaches, just after I filmed the below video!



The afternoon trip was a treat because the fog had burnt off in the days sun, and we had front rown seats off Oak Bay, above which the 'SnowBirds' were doing their aerial antics. Copy and paste the below link to watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPlQI1qSIOs

We then decided to take the people on board to see the L12's, after watching the planes for a while! Very cool.

Scanna Moon

Scanna Moon
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

The Supercats only trip today did not depart until 7 pm but what an incredible and sublime encounter inder the moon and then stars.

I was moved by the sight of L-79 cruising offshore under the new moon. Very beautiful.

Cheers,
Jeff

Aug 5th

Aboard SuperCat for the evening cruise ship trip, we ventured across to Salmon Bank with the L12's. We saw L79 (Skana) and his mum, L22 and were treated to a wonderful view of L41 in the moonlit waters to the south east. The sunset over Sidney was as beautiful as ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ouhsWeHnIc

August 3

August 2nd

Aug 3rd

SuperCats 2 trips today were side by side our FastCat. We had K's off Pile Point in the morning, and then spread out offshore, by Hein Bank. We were watching them foraging, and spent some time with the K nursery group, acting goofy! We saw L87 (Onyx) also, so good to know that some L's were in there! Lunch time for both 'Cats' was spent eating pizza, rafted together downtown! Oh the life of a whale watching crew!

Aug 2nd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9rJFH3GELQ

In the company of playful foraging K's off San Juan for FastCats 8am and 12.30pm trip, and then resting K's, with a few L's in there, 4 miles north of Dungeness Spit on the Washington mainland side!

5 Star Staff on Fast Cat

5 Star Staff on Fast Cat
Originally uploaded by orcagirl.