During Labor Day weekend, we took a roadtrip to British Columbia, Canada. On the way, we stopped just north of Seattle for a half day whale watching tour. The skies were so blue that everything, even the snow-topped Mt Baker, appeared to be shades of blue.
Mt Baker
We found a group of Orcas (killer whales) within 30 minutes of being out to sea. I was surprised at how close to the shoreline they stayed. They moved so fast; I have all new respect for those National Geographic photographers. I had to burst shots as fast as my Canon would allow and sort through for the few good ones at the end. I was lucky to catch a few of them in the air as they jumped out of the water. They put on quite a show for us:
We caught up to a group of Orcas hunting sea lions. They encircled two of the sea lions and the violent thrashing that ensued was an amazing spectacle. The captain of the boat said that in the 12 years he has been doing these tours, this was one of the top 3 days ever. To be able to see them hunt in the wild was a testament to their unbridled power. They killed one sea lion, while the other sea lion made it safely to the nearby shore. I was surprised it was able to get away from their speed and agility.
a seal rests safely on a buoy
the Orcas head back out to sea in search of their next meal
an immature bald eagle (no white plummage on his head yet) eating a baby seal on an island
bald eagle perched in a tree
bald eagle in nest
bald eagle soaring overhead
We finished the drive across the border and into the lovely city of Vancouver...stay tuned for the next post about our adventures in Vancouver...
