Transients for the fourth day in a row...

It's unusual to see Transient Orcas (the mammal eating Orca) four days in a row. It's especially unusual to see the same Ts four days in a row, but that's been the case here on the West Side. Again today we saw T14 and the T36A's and the T49A's. What's even more unusual is to see the big male T14 with other Ts for even one day and he has been with these others since Friday. It will be interesting to see if he's seen the next time by himself, or with these other Ts.

T14 use to travel with his mom and sister, but they disappeared a few years ago, and he's traveled by himself since then. Very sad for these human eyes to see. But for the last four days, he's been a very social guy. Since Orca mate all year long, not just during a mating season, like some baleen whales, he may be motivated by lust. Orca are called the "humans of the sea".

It's late, and it's raining like mad here on San Juan Island's West Side. Off to bed.

Capt. Jim

Maya's Westside Whale Charters

mayaswhalewatch.biz

Mammal Eating Orcas, the Tranisents

And a good Monday morning to all. It's foggy for the first time in  while, but we will go out twice today.

The weekend was wonderful for watching Orcas. We saw 7 Transients Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and twice saw them go after Steller Sea Lions, once right in front of the boat. My passengers were in awe!

In this part of the world, Northwest Washington and Southwestern British Columbia, we see four different cultures of Orca. By culture, I mean the same species of mammal, but with different languages, family patterns, hunting habits, eating habits, breathing patterns and seemingly different values. 

For the last three days we saw Transients, as opposed to our Residents, or Off Shores or Northern Residents. The latter two I have seen only three or four times in my 1100 hours  with Orcas in this area.

So, we will go out again today and try and find them, or perhaps the Js, one of our local pods which should be showing up on a regular basis around this time of the year.

Have a great week.

Capt. Jim

mayaswhalewatch.biz

April 23rd on the water...Great time, but no whales.

The  24th was a windy and raw day on the water of the San Juans. We went out twice, and had a great time and saw lots of wildlife. Mink, River Otter, Dall's Porpoise, tons of Bald Eagles, Harbor Seals, (OK, tons of Harbor Seals, and lots of Eagles) Steller Sea Lions, Harlequin Dukes, Bufflehead Ducks, Loons, Surf Scoters, and lots of other birds.

My boat is a 30' Glacier Bay Catamaran, and is great in rough seas. The passengers were fine once they got use to the seas.

We are out again today, and I sure hope that we see Orcas. It's been five days. 

The weather is warming up, so it should be a good weekend...

Captain Jim

April 24, 2008

This is a first! Captain Jim blogging. You have to remember that Captain Jim has a college degree, from Indiana University, '62, with a "PWP" behind it. PWP? Pre-word processor! No spell check, no grammar check! Only a typewriter with a ribbon, and I cut and pasted with scissors.

After teaching for 35 yrs., I'm now a whale watch captain on beautiful San Juan Island, WA. I take folks out to see whales and other wildlife on our boat, "Peregrine," My wife, Mrs. Capt. Jim, and I run our little business out of our home, and have a great time doing it.

I think this blog will be a running commentary on sightings. (We saw one Orca on Saturday, and seven Orcas on Monday, and none for the last three days. We did see river otters, Steller Sea Lions, Dall's Porpoise, Bald Headed Eagles yesterday, but no whales.) I might write a bit on the grandchildren, the weather, life on an island, and other topics. I think I'll stay away from God and politics. (Being an environmentalist, you might guess what the color of my blood.

So, there it is. Blog #1. There it goes, up the flagpole.

Capt. Jim