3 Very Friendly Minke Whales
Stay tuned for updates from on board the Island Explorer 3 from Naturalist Kate Janes as they are on scene with 3 very friendly Minke Whales at Hein Bank! "Our journey today lead us to the south end of Lopez Island and out into the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca! It was at Hein Bank that we found not 1 but 3 Minke Whales! We were slowing coming on scene with one when it disappeared with a long down time then in the distance a Minke appeared! Thinking it was the same whale we made our way over and then discovered that there were 2 feeding on the shallow shelf! We stayed with the second Minke as it became increasingly more comfortable with the boat! On more than one occasion the Minke was right along side the boat giving our guests fantastic looks! There was even one pass just off the bow that made a few passengers jump at its exhalation! Eventually we had to depart and that is when the third Minke Whale appeared for a brief visit! We began the return back to the dock stopping to visit with hauled out Harbor Seals, swimming Pigeon Guillemots, fishing Rhinoceros Auklets, and gently rolling Harbor Porpoise! The afternoon brought increased winds and as we ventured south down Rosario Strait we realized that the Strait of Juan de Fuca was going to be out to the picture as it was only building! We retreated in the calm waters of Rosario Strait in the search of wildlife! It was in Lopez Pass that we found a Bald Eagle's nest nestled in the beautiful pass! We continued northward keeping close to the shoreline as we took the pass between James & Decatur Island! At James Island we found our first of many Bald Eagles, and just across the pass yet another eagle sat. Stopping off at Peapod Rocks we visited with hauled out Harbor Seals, seals swimming among the Bull Kelp and a perched Bald Eagle took flight showing off its large wingspan! We then searched Alden Bank resulting in no whales. Unfortunately this trip was one of only 4% of all trips that didn't see whales, as a company we love sharing & showing whales to our guests and when we don't see one we give our guests another opportunity to come with us again to see whales for free!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes
posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 10:22 PM
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