Minke Whale

K Pod members

June 26

 A special day as we were privileged to have 4 year old Colin, his family, supporters, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation aboard. Colin had become fascinated with Orcas that he saw in the ocean scenes at the hospital he has spent many days at in the last 2 1/2 years. Hopes were high as we headed west of Salmon Bank. We were all delighted to watch K-11, K-13, K-25, K-27, K-34, K-20, and K-38, from 2:10pm until 3pm, in close family groups foraging as they headed northwest toward Eagle Cove, and two groups of other whales along the shoreline. It was that wonderful time of slack ebb tide, calm water, great visibility, sunshine, and hearing the powerful blows of the whales carry across the water as they swam past. We were all so happy Colin got his wish, when we came across two Minke whales foraging at Salmon Bank! The first Minke looked like an adult, the second a juvenile with a very curvy-hooked dorsal fin and a small white spot on the left flank. Both whales surfaced more often than we normally see, and close distance to each surfacing, so not so elusive and everyone saw them, along with rafts of marine birds! Topped off the trip with Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Oystercatchers, harbor seal sightings at Long island and Whale Rocks, and harbor porpoise in San Juan Channel. A truly magical trip and the diversity of wildlife a reminder of what a unique place is the Salish Sea, an honor to share and experience through visitors eyes!

Caroline Armon, San Juan Excursions