Whale update

This forum is for all other types of chatter, including non-SCUBA stuff.
Post Reply
User avatar
oldsalt
I've Got Gills
Posts: 1061
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:02 am

Whale update

Post by oldsalt »

Being Covid cautious, most of our whale watching this year has been from home. This means we see the same gray whales that have been bottom feeding for years, the venerable "Sounders". Their feeding strategy seems to have served them well. The experts, observing them with drones, noticed they have fattened up while here in Puget Sound, and they have all survived two mortality events when large numbers of the greater gray whale population perished from malnutrition.
Sounder from home.
Sounder from home.

This year we noticed something different. Sounders have been arriving at their normal feeding grounds accompanied by newcomers, sometimes a couple. I mentioned this to a professional naturalist on a whale watching boat, and she noticed the same thing. Here are a couple of examples. In the first picture you can see the pectoral fin of one whale feeding on its side while a second is blowing close behind it.
Two whales
Two whales
The next photo shows how close they can be to each other.
Close whales
Close whales
This may be fanciful thinking, but I can't help but wonder if the Sounders are showing the newcomers new feeding grounds, like an old fisherman letting a youngster in on a secret fishing hole. The feeding whales stir up a lot of stuff, attracting seals and birds.
Whale with birds
Whale with birds
The next picture shows a gray whale with a characteristic "heart shaped" spout.
Heart spout
Heart spout
We celebrated our vaccination by going out with Westport Seabirds. The whales appeared as expected, gray whales near shore and humpbacks farther offshore. Dall porpoise provided a treat for me as they schooled around the boat. They are so fast that I usually only get a photo of a splash. These little black and white beauties
look like mini orca.
Dall porpoise
Dall porpoise
Here is a pair.
2 Dalls
2 Dalls
-Curt :rawlings:
Last edited by oldsalt on Wed May 19, 2021 4:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Happy to be alive.
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whale update

Post by Jan K »

Interesting. After all the bad news about starving whales ending on beaches, it is great to hear that "our" Sounders are doing OK. And sharing their good fortune with new ones ...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
YellowEye
I've Got Gills
Posts: 3234
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:08 am

Re: Whale update

Post by YellowEye »

Very cool!
Visit pnwdiving.com for viz reports, slack planning, galleries and more!
User avatar
ScubaJess
NWDC Moderator
NWDC Moderator
Posts: 2681
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 3:56 pm

Re: Whale update

Post by ScubaJess »

So amazing! I love the heart spout :luv: :eric: 💖😍🐳
Live Long And Prosper!!!

Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions. :luv: :partydance: :eric: :taco:
Post Reply