A Sea of Harbor Porpoise
"As we left the marina the extreme low tide exposed normally hidden treasures on the breakwater. Ochre Sea Stars, both purple and pink in coloration, clung to the wooded pilings as we cruised on by! It was at the end of Guemes Island where we found a hauled-out California Sea Lion lounging on a channel marker. Our guests enjoyed the sleepy giant as he "winked" for the cameras! We decided to head south down Rosario Strait and that is where we first encounter large numbers of Harbor Porpoise! Bait balls were forming under the water thanks to the efforts of the porpoise pushing them higher in the water column! Glaucous-winged Gulls, Cormorants and Rhinoceros Auklets started appearing just to join the feast! We continued on our way into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and found small swells quickly building. Our decision to turn back into flat water was only reinforced when we received a call that J pod was north with an undeclared direction. So we started back north hoping for the best- that J pod would head back south putting them back into our range! It became apparent at this point in the trip that it was the day of the Harbor Porpoise! Everywhere we turned their small dorsal fin appeared in the water and then quickly disappear! At Peapod Rocks we found 20+ Harbor Seals hauled-out, a lone Harlequin Duck, 3 Black Oystercatchers and our second Bald Eagle of the day! Unfortunately as we rounded Orcas Island we heard news that J Pod was heading north. Although we didn't see whales today our guests enjoyed the beauty of the islands along with Black Oystercatchers, Harbor Seals, Pelagic Cormorants, Harbor Porpoise, Pacific Madrone Trees, Harlequin Duck, Bald Eagles, Double-crested Cormorants, Dall's Acorn Barnacles, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, Ochre Sea Stars, Pacific Rockweed, and California Sea Lions!" - Naturalist Kate Janes
posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 6:52 PM
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