Over the past seven years our whale watching area has become a feeding area for humpback whales. In the past we were lucky it see one whale on a viewing day while now if we do not see to eight or ten different whales we think it is a slow day. The feeding aspect means there is also lunge feeding, much diving with good tail shows as well as breaching that is very hard to catch on camera.
Humpback whales migrate to tropical or subtropical water in the winter to breed and give birth in February and March. By the time the whales return to our viewing areas the calf’s are close to four months old and still on their mother’s milk. This calf is a larger and therefore in it’s second year. These calves are normally very active frequently seen breaching and lobbtailing.
Two incredible photographs the first being a humpback whale lunging through a ball of herring directly toward the boat. A perfect photo showing the herring in the spray, the baleen along the lower jaw and the growth on the pectoral fins. The second shows a female orca coming out of the water on its back with a calf on its belly. A unique photo that I have never seen duplicated or heard of from another guide in the area. Comparing the two photos one would say the humpback is much clearer, more close-up and would win as a photo until you were told that the orca photo was taken twenty of more years ago on 35mm film. So no second chance or multiple digital shots just a once in a lifetime photo.
This humpback is close when you consider that in the corner of the photo is a guest’s tablet. This post has the excitement of a whale close to the boat but yesterday’s post is hard to beat. As a guide the plan is to make sure you get both.
A scenic picture of three humpbacks provided by Australia’s Gary Wilson is hard to beat unless you want a close up. Yes there are three. Look closely to the right of the second humpback you can just make out the hump of the calf as it surfaces beside it’s mother thus the “thicker” breath. Close up in tomorrow’s post….
And later in the day after a stop at Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island to use a “civilized” bathroom we were visited by some humpback whales. I try and eat our picnic lunch is an area where the humpbacks are feeding and wait to see what “pops up”.
This view of a humpback whales lunge feeding is from the top of it’s head. One can see the baleen hanging down over the lower jaw. As the mouth closes the water is forced out through the baleen and the herring are trapper inside to provide another meal. These whales have become common in out viewing area so we often see eight to ten different whales on a viewing day.
In this case the boat’s antenna helps to obscure the humpback whale fluking, however the intent of the photo is again to show that on occasion we do get close to that we are viewing. As the guide and picture taker it is often a “shot from the hip” rather than a planned and timed photo. Guest safety is number one priority over a good photo.
I counted nine breaches during that half hour. Some of the photos were only splashes but some were excellent breaches. As a guide I say “Luck is better than skill” and this was one of those lucky days. But I had a guest say: “The skill puts you in the right place so the luck can happen.”
I remember this whale watching tour in August of this year because we followed this humpback whale for at least half an hour as it traveled down Blackfish Sound. It would spend time on the surface slapping its pectoral fin, rolling on its back and then lobtailing as shown in the above photo. After all that it would take a deep dive and we would be treated with tomorrow’s post photo….
Bald Eagles are frequently sighted in our area. At times they can be seen in large numbers. This is usually where food supplies are high. For example this could be in areas with high concentrations of baitfish or along the rivers in the fall when the salmon are spawning. They are not migratory, but do move around with the food supply. As mentioned earlier when the salmon are spawning we often see many along the rivers, while there will be fewer along the coastline. With little need for camouflage their white head and tail feathers can be spotted easily. The female is slightly larger and her white head extends down a bit farther onto the body, but it is subtle. It takes these birds 4.5 – 5 years to acquire this unique plumage. As juveniles they are a brown colour. With exceptional eyesight and the ability to view 270 degrees they are understandably often seen in high perches and in trees near points and passageways.
Visit our Blog