Archive for March, 2009

WHERE IS OUR SPRING WEATHER?

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

Even though the weather has been cooler than normal it doesn’t seem to affect our trips. Our Springtime route is very protected weaving through the out islands in search of marine mammals. Spieden Island is a must see this time of year. Steller sea lions gather around it’s southern point (Green Point).  Bald eagles are so numerous we usually loose count after 20. The mouflan sheep, fallow deer and sika deer have little ones running alongside of Mom (very cute). Then we head out to Haro Strait and view Dall’s porpoises. They seem more playful this time of year, maybe because there is hardly any boat traffic. We often go out and don’t see another boat out on the water.  Lastly there is always the chance of seeing orca whales this time of year, but not something we expect. As we get more into April, we should start seeing orca more frequently.

We can do all this and still stay in nice calm, protected waters. And when that yellow thing in the sky comes out, we have a real bonus. I do expect more Sunny, warmer weather soon. I can always tell when Spring is here. The frogs wake up and start their mating calls. At some places on Orcas, near wetlands,  it sounds like being next to JKK airport. Very loud!

Also, towards the end of March, we should start seeing hummingbirds that come back from down south. Some are migrating through, some will stay and nest here. I can’t wait to see them again.

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L Pod a long way from home!

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Just a quick note to inform everyone that a report (and photos) came in to the Center For Whale Research (www.whaleresearch.com) that some, if not all, of L pod have been sighted in Monterey Bay, Calif. on 3 March. What’s interesting is that L pod was here in the San Juan Islands approximately ten days before they were sighted in Monterey Bay. 800 miles in ten days averages 80 miles a day! Let’s hope there is abundant salmon there for them.
 
Quite a bit of orca news lately.
 

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ANOTHER NEW BORN IN J POD!!

Friday, March 6th, 2009

It’s too early to celebrate, but the Center For Whale Research has confirmed the sighting of a second newborn in J pod.
 
The newborn J-44 is J-14’s, (Samish, born in 1974) new calf and J-45 is J-17’s (Princess Angeline, born in 1977) new calf. The whales were seen around the San Juan’s on Monday.
 
J-17, Princess Angeline has two surviving offspring’s, J-28 and J-35, both females.  J-14 has four offspring’s, J-30, J-37, J-40 and J-43. J-43 was born in 2007 so is a fairly new one. She is in busy whale.

Both moms are over 30 years old which is still within their child bearing years.

 
That is three newborns this winter including the unidentified calf in L pod, to the southern residents. L pod hasn’t been around lately to get an ID on who the mom is. Unfortunately an adult L pod whale, L-57, Faith, is listed as missing. I am hoping that L-57 is still alive and will be back here in the spring.
 
Let’s hope for the best.
 
 

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