EDiF2018 - PNW "F" #05 - FLIPPERS, FINS AND FLUKES

Every Day in February 2018 - "All Effs" - (for me, Washington and the Pacific Northwest, brought to you by the Letter F)  "FLIPPERS, FINS AND FLUKES", Pinnipeds and Cetaceans

Here are some of the Pacific Northwest's marine mammals, Pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) and Cetaceans (porpoises, orcas and whales) found from Alaska, all the way down the coast.
The Grey Whales migrate from Mexico each year, stopping on their way to Alaska to fuel up on Ghost shrimp and other goodies in the waters of the Salish sea, practically outside my front door (well, just down the road in Langley). The fast black and white beauties are the Dall's Porpoises and, of course, the magnificent transient Orcas. This Orca would probably love to get its teeth into the Steller Sea Lions, or, gasp, oh no, the baby Harbor Seal pup on the beach. (BTW, DON'T DISTURB THE PUP. It's mama is nearby and it is just fine.)

Every Day in September 2016, #8 - Environments and Habitats - DEEP OCEAN

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #8 - “Deep Sea”
In March, April and May of each year the Gray Whales migrate back through the deep blue waters of the east side of the Pacific Ocean with their new young to the Salish Sea around Whidbey and Vancouver Islands. They spend late spring and early summer feeding in the murky green, plankton rich waters of Puget Sound before their trip back north to Canada and Alaska. Here in Langley, their return is marked with a parade and festival, and by the ringing of the Whale Bell each time one is seen in Saratoga Passage. They are easy to spot – we can hear them down there in the water, whooshing and spouting, splashing and slapping. Traffic note: ferry captains stop their boats, and we travelling passengers wait, allowing the whales to swim by.