Port Angeles
Highlights:
Two humpbacks at Sooke inlet
J16’s swimming west of Sooke inlet
Brief encounter with some Dall’s porpoise
Naturalist Log:
When the morning began the previous days smoky haze was replaced by a thick fog that blanketed the Salish sea. Canada was hidden away, as were the Olympic mountains, and the rest of the peninsula. A light wind blew through the air and you could see the sun high up above trying hard to burn through the fog and show itself. A large group of Heermann’s gulls sat at the end of Ediz hook, squeaking at each other and waiting to brave the rising seas.
after rounding the hook captain Scott turned west into the thickest part of the fog. Soon reports of clearer weather began coming through and little by little the fog began to recede. By the time the Island Explorer 4 reached Beechey head visibility was outstanding. The Olympic peninsula came back into view and even some foothills were visible. Soon the sun joined in and began to shine down finally able to warm up the day.
When the IE4 reached Sooke inlet it came across its first whale. It was a humpback whale!!!! It was a decent size animal and was pointed east giving the boat some real good looks before doing a deep and long dive. In the distance another whale swam and followed suit breathing multiple times before taking a long deep dive. With reports of orcas around the IE4 departed scene and headed further west in search of the black and white whales.
Not far passed Sooke inlet the IE4 joined up with a group of orcas known as the J16’s made up of J16(Slick) J26(Mike) J36(Alki) J42(Echo) and both J50 and J52!!!! It was good timing to as they were headed out of range. The IE4 got sme amazing looks as they swam off her starboard side when suddenly they went on a deeper dive and disappeared. As the boat waited in wonder the whales were about to surprise everyone. There’s was a large blow just off the stearn if the IE4 and suddenly the whales appeared right next to the boat. Swimming along without a care in the world that we were around.
After getting a few more great looks it was time to head east again as the whales had made some headway in the hour we were with them. As the IE4 neared the Olympic side of the Straits of Juan de Fuca, there was a white flash under the surface!!!! Then another and another, captain Scott realized they had stumbled into a group of Dall’s porpoise. After make 2 course changes and briefly watching the Dall’s it became clear that they were busy fishing and not wanting to interact and so again the 4 headed east.
Reaching the hook in no time at all thanks to the winds and able to ride home ontop of the chop made for a smooth return. The harbor was busy as the boat maneuvered back to the marina, tankers coming and going left and right. By the end of it all it turned out to be a great day on the water. The fog finally clearing and the weather holding out just at the brink of becoming nasty. Getting to see two species is always a bonus in my books as well!!!!
T.R.
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