A Mother’s Day Gift – Biggest mother in the Salish Sea breaches with her calf. A pioneer, “Big Mama”, returned to these waters after 90 years without humpback whales. Historically 150 humpback whales returned to Georgia Strait each year and whale watching trips departed from Vancouver in the 19th century. That ended abruptly in 1907 when the Pacific Whaling Company began operating in Nanaimo. Capt Cates and his whale watching business took the matter to Parliament without success. The Politicians ignored his pleas and within 3 years humpbacks were extinct in our area. Big Mama was first photographed by Capt Mark Malleson in 1997. Since then she has returned each year since 2003 with a new calf roughly every other year. This year with her 6th known calf. We’re all excited about the “Humpback Comeback”! Photos taken 4/30/16 in Haro Strait from S/V Peniel
Harbor Seals watch us sail out through Cattle Pass after leaving Port of Friday Harbor
Harbor Seals watch us sail out through Cattle Pass after leaving Port of Friday Harbor
Steller Sea Lions of Whale Rocks
Humpback whales ‘Big Mama’ BCY0324 and her calf, we believe to the 6th she’s returned with since 2003
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island. Sequence 1/11
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island. 2/11
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island. 3/11
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island. 4/11
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island 5/11
“Big Mamma” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island 6/11
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island 7/11
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island 8/11
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island. 9/11
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island 10/11
“Big Mama” (BCY0324) Humpback whale breaches at Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait West of San Juan Island. 11/11
Big Mamas 6th known humpback whale calf breaches, Haro Strait San Juan Island 1/6
Big Mamas 6th known humpback whale calf breaches, Haro Strait San Juan Island 2/6
Big Mamas 6th known humpback whale calf breaches, Haro Strait San Juan Island 3/6
Big Mamas 6th known humpback whale calf breaches, Haro Strait San Juan Island 4/6
Big Mamas 6th known humpback whale calf breaches, Haro Strait San Juan Island 4/6
Big Mamas 6th known humpback whale calf breaches, Haro Strait San Juan Island 4/6
Inverted Tail Lob Big Mama Humpback whale
Breach, Big Mama’s calf, San Juan island
Humpback whale breach
Humpback whale breach
Tail Lob, Big Mama Humpback whale BCY0324, Haro Strait, San Juan island
Humpback whale calf breaches next to Vancouver whale watching tour boat
Harbor Seals
Bald Eagle in nest
BBQ salmon supper
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon and cormorant, Kellet Bluff, San Juan Island
peregrine Falcon
Mouflon Sheep
Bald Eagle, Spieden Island
Steller Sea Lion, Spieden Island
Nob Island in Sunset light
Couple at sunset
End of the day, Sunset sail San Juan Island
Sunset sail San Juan Island