Sunday morning as we were waiting for our breakfast to finish cooking, this Eagle flew into our backyard and perched on the tree... He was beautiful sitting there.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
An Unusual Occurrence .
It's not too often you see one of the Southern Resident Pods circumnavigate San Juan Island, but it's even more strange they do it twice in 24 hours. A little concerning actually.
This is a small group of members whom belong to J-pod including J-2; Granny. Granny is the oldest living Southern Resident Orca (second from last fin). It is believed that she is 100 years old this year. Yep, 100.
In the background is Roche Harbor on the north end of San Juan Island. The church overlooking the harbor was built in 1892 (Methodist Church) by John S. McMillan. It was a schoolhouse during the week for his employees' children. Then in 1960, it was dedicated as a Catholic Church (Our Lady of Good Voyage), and is the only privately owned Catholic church in the United States today.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Weekend Wildlife Report
Hello,
I just returned from an amazing weekend in Washington. Here are just a few photos from the trip, and wildlife report of what all we saw. More to come including a full report of one amazing encounter with Transient Orcas.
Friday... travel day... 1 Bald Eagle.. Lots of Pelagic Cormorants, Gulls, Deer, Herons, Canadian Geese
Saturday... Lots of Bald Eagles (probably about 6-8).. Lots of Rhinocerus Aucklets, Common Loons, 2 Tufted Puffins off South Beach, J-Pod including J-L 87 Onyx circumnavigating SJI, Canadian Geese, 3 Foxes, Deer, Gulls, Pigeon Guillamonts, Harbor Seals
Sunday... Lot of miles on the water today.... Lots of Bald Eagles (12+), Foxes, Deer, Raccoon, Two separate sets of Transients (a group of 6 in Trincomali Channel off Wallace Island), lots of Harbor Seals in Active Pass (and other areas), 5 Transients (T-10s, T-26, and ?) - Amazing Encounter near Morsby Island. Saw the same 5 T's in the evening following them in Haro Strait to Kelp Reef Marker, Stellar Sea Lion, Harbor Seals
Monday.... Lots of wildlife... Mouflon sheep, Sitka Deer, Canadian Geese (family - adults & chicks), H
arbor Porpoise, Lots and lots of Bald Eagles (10-15), 3 different species of fish (Rock Cod?, Link Cod, ?), lots of Pigeon Guillamonts, Gulls, Cormorants, Rhinocerus Auklets, lots of Harbor Seals... Travel day...
Have a wonderful and safe Memorial weekend!
Michele
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
A few photos from the past week....
American Bald Eagle with what is left of it's meal. This Bald Eagle is a juvenile, and in an Eucalyptus tree.
The view of Prisoners Harbor and beyond from Pelican Bay trail on Santa Cruz Island.
Humpback & Blue Whales... First official whale watch trip of the season with Island Packers . We spent a couple of hours with these whales. Overall, we saw/encountered at least 25 Humpbacks, and 3 Blue Whales, but saw many more spouts in the distance. Humpback and Blue Whales come to the west end of the Santa Barbara Channel late spring through early fall yearly to feed.
Humpback Whale lunge feeding
Humpback Whale tail lobbing
2 Blue Whales with Santa Cruz Island in the background.
Just some fun facts.....
*The Blue Whale is the largest animal ever to in-habitat earth - 100 feet long (equivalent to two city buses)
*They can weigh up to 2 tons (that is 15 school buses).
*Their tongue weighs as much as an elephant (100 people can stand on it. A volkswagon bug can park inside its mouth).
*Their Heart is the size of a Mini Cooper, and a human can easily crawl through its major arteries.
*A toddler can fit in its blow hole.
A photo of a Blue Whale at the end of its blow taken in 2010.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Anna's Hummingbird
Enjoyed a day out on Santa Cruz Island with this little Anna's Hummingbird...
Have a great weekend! :)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Toddler Elephant
There were so many Elephant "kids", and so active... Here is one photo from our spring break outing...
Have a WONDERFUL week...
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