Today was more than adventurous, as we find ourselves in the midst of two families of Transient Orca whales hunting for their next meal. The kill takes about two hours. The result? One Steller sea lion snack for 7 - 10 Orcas. After all, if sharing, one 1,500 - 2,000 pound sea lion between calves, juveniles and adult whales, the average is only 150 - 200 pounds of meat per whale. Not enough for daily calorie requirements!
Leaving the dock today, the report is of two sightings in Canada three hours earlier, and more recently, some Orca whale vocalizations from the hydrophones on the west side of San Juan Island. Vocals are good....way better than no vocals...but the hydrophones track sounds from many miles away...and which way? No clue.
Two hours on the water and we must make a decision about which way to go in order to keep within our trip time. Just as we decide to go north...a boat from Victoria locates Transients Orcas! And, they are only several miles south of our location! We're off!
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| Transient Orca with flipper of prey by the whale dorsal fin! |
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| Group work! |
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| Cartwheel tail stock slap! |
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| Look to the left for part of the sea lion body. |
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| Steller sea lions |
This kill continues for an hour while we watch the hunting strategy of this group of whales. There are two families here, the T-65's and the T-49B's. There are several calves joining in and several juveniles as well as adults. Before we leave, the Steller sea lion floats up on the surface, but no longer moves. Mission accomplished.
On our route back to Friday Harbor we cruise by a Harbor seal haulout. I count over 25 Harbor seals resting on the rocky outcropping. Such drama happening just a few miles away, and while this animal is on the grocery list for Transient Orca whales...perhaps not today.
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| Happy Harbor seals....no worries...right now. |
Passing Spieden Island I notice several immature Bald eagles. They pay careful attention to the grassy slopes of this neighboring island. Rodents beware!
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| Immature Bald eagle |
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| Landing gear down.... |
A stop at another haul out area finds seven Steller sea lions perched on the shore. There are another six or seven cruising in the water. Amazing to think about these massive animals being less than a meal for several adult Orcas!
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| Just "thinkin' it over"....all of it? |
Pulling away from Green Point and heading down San Juan Channel, everyone has a little time to think about the "wildness" of this afternoon. What an experience: to witness all the beauty and bounty of wild creatures....living life...in their home, the Salish Sea waters. A National Geographic film, playing before our eyes...and the staging is Real Life in Real Time. You can't put it on replay...but the memory is forever.
Another great day on the water!
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