I keep whale journal, kind of like a dive log. Virtually every day this year, I have an entry of seeing gray whales from my home at Tulalip. I have ventured out from my Covid hideaway a couple of times. Once was to watch orca in Saratoga Passage near Camano Island. By now, most of you know we encounter two populations of orca in the Salish sea. One population, commonly called "residents" eat salmon. ^The other, labeled "transients", eat mammals. They were named that by Dr. Michael Biggs who identified individuals and recognized that there were distinct populations. The ones I saw were "transients" which are now the more commonly seen animals locally because we have more seals and fewer fish. They shared a kill while I was watching them. Here are some photos.
![DSC_4812.JPG (487.21 KiB) Viewed 3233 times Mother and daughter](./../download/file.php?id=35339&t=1&sid=54562f634aa0f8497f17d8fdb7d7b65e)
- Mother and daughter
![DSC_4831 (2).JPG (661.4 KiB) Viewed 3233 times spyhopping](./../download/file.php?id=35340&t=1&sid=54562f634aa0f8497f17d8fdb7d7b65e)
- spyhopping
![DSC_4843.JPG (2.64 MiB) Viewed 3233 times pair](./../download/file.php?id=35341&t=1&sid=54562f634aa0f8497f17d8fdb7d7b65e)
- pair
![DSC_4850.JPG (1.48 MiB) Viewed 3233 times trio](./../download/file.php?id=35342&t=1&sid=54562f634aa0f8497f17d8fdb7d7b65e)
- trio
My other outing was with Westport Seabirds. We saw humpbacks, orca, Dalls porpoise and the ubiquitous harbor porpoise. Dall's porpoise are so fast, that getting a picture is difficult. This shot gives an idea of their speed.
![DSC_4896.JPG (117.88 KiB) Viewed 3233 times Dalls porpoise](./../download/file.php?id=35343&t=1&sid=54562f634aa0f8497f17d8fdb7d7b65e)
- Dalls porpoise
We also saw mola mola or ocean sunfish. One individual topped five hundred pounds. Also lots of blue sharks and fur seals.
Still watching the sea, Curt
![:rawlings: :rawlings:](./../images/smilies/oldtimer.gif)
Happy to be alive.