It’s been an awesome first couple of weeks back on the water in Port Angeles, and our May 21st trip was definitely a highlight! It began with reports of a breaching humpback just north of Ediz Hook, and luckily, we were there to catch some of the action. Better yet, this turned out to be our good friend BCX2046 Pinnacle, our most-seen HB of 2025! Once Pinnacle returned to resting, we headed up to the Vancouver Island Shoreline to visit Race Rocks, where we hit the pinniped “grand slam” by seeing all four species of seals and sea lions found in our waters. A little to the west in Becher Bay, we caught up with a sea otter as it fed on clams and groomed at the surface. Finally, we turned home, but the wildlife wouldn’t stop coming! Once inside Port Angeles harbor, we saw something breaching in the distance… Pacific white-sided dolphins! These amazing critters are not regularly found in the southern Salish Sea, but these two have made a home in the area for the past several months. We can only hope they stick around for the summer! – Naturalist Rachel R.
