By Captain Ken Rea
I started south this morning heading for a pod of ORCA that was heading for the USA border.
We had an amazing day with T18s and many other sights. On the way, I stopped off to see some HARBOR SEALS and stumbled upon one of Mother Nature’s more gruesome events.
A BALD EAGLE had nabbed a seal pup and had it atop a rock. The pup was still alive and glancing our way as if pleading for help. I have kept the most gruesome pics back, but you can still see the pup looking at us for help and the BALD EAGLE looking at her/her catch.
Then we moved on to view the STELLER SEA LIONS and on to the T18 pod of ORCA that had just crossed into USA
Black Oystercatcher chick
waters. We viewed them for a while then tried (unsuccessfully), to find a HUMPBACK WHALE that had been spotted.
The afternoon tour was more of the T18s as they passed through Mosquito Pass into Roche Harbor and into Spieden Channel.
I discovered another fuzzball of a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER chick with mom and dad. Will have to start following this one’s journey into adulthood now too.
Eagle nest
After spending much time with them on a private 6-hour tour, we headed south to see the STELLER SEA LIONS and more. We saw the CORMORANT colony, viewed the ginormous BALD EAGES nest down that way and found a bait ball to view.
A gorgeous day on the water with some amazing animals to view.
Captain Ken Rea
Ken Rea, owner and operator of the Spirit of Orca, is also the tour guide, photographer and naturalist on his Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours in the Salish Sea, San Juan Island, Washington.
Photos by Ken Rea
To learn more about Captain Ken, visit https://spiritoforca.com
