2012 May 14 | The Captain's Whale Blog!

Monday May 14, 2012 2:30 pm Trip

The afternoon tour started off in the Oak Bay area as we slowly cruised through the Chain Islands to see lots of lazy Harbour Seals, a pair of mature Bald Eagles sitting on the rocks, loads of Pelagic Cormorants, small groups of Pigeon Guillemots and two Black Oystercatchers feeding in the inter-tidal zone. From Oak Bay we traveled Southeast towards Hein Bank where we found a very elusive Minke Whale !!! We had two or three brief glimpses of the animal and heard three or four breaths in the distance…. and that was the extent of the viewing After Hein Bank we ventured Northeast towards Colville Island and Davidson Rock and cruised through the gap at Castle Rock. Very scenic !!! A brief stop at Long Island to see the Bald Eagle’s nest was brilliant as we could see and hear the little Eaglets !!! From Long Island we skipped over to Whale Rock to see a very large Steller Sea Lion basking in the sun. Great visual After hanging out with the Sea Lion at Whale Rock, we ventured back into Juan de Fuca Strait to continue our search for Minke’s or Orca’s. We traveled a total distance of 75 miles (120 km) this afternoon. Sunny skies, warm temperatures and flat calm water – great day for touring the Emerald Seas of the Pacific Northwest !!!!