Whale Watchers Hit ‘Grand Slam’ Mother’s Day Weekend
Pacific Whale Watch Association Members Spot Four Whale Species On One Trip
Humpback mother “Slate” and her calf were seen on Mother’s Day as part of a “Grand Slam” of four whale species sighted on one whale watching trip.
Photo by Brooke McKinley/Outer Island Expeditions/PWWA
FRIDAY HARBOR, WA (May 11, 2021) – For professional whale watchers, hitting a “Grand Slam” is a rare treat that doesn’t happen often, but when it does it’s cause for celebration. A Grand Slam refers to sighting four species of whales during one whale watching adventure.
The Pacific Whale Watch Association announced that on Mother’s Day Sunday, at least two professional whale watching companies each hit a “Grand Slam,” sighting a minke and a gray whale in Rosario Strait, a humpback mom and calf near Waldron Island, and several Bigg’s killer whales in the area.
With the arrival of gray whales to the region in early Spring, an abundant population of Bigg’s killer whales throughout the area year-round, and humpback whales just starting to return from their winter migrations, the Salish Sea abounds with marine mammals this time of year.
“It doesn't happen often, but we had a Grand Slam whale watch today!” said Captain Matt Stolmeier of Outer Island Excursions. “A gray whale, minke whale, several matrilines of Bigg’s killer whales, and we wrapped it up with a perfect Mother's Day treat, a mom and calf humpback pair. It was a beautiful day on the water, and I even got to stop offshore at my parent’s house to wave and yell happy Mother’s Day to my mom.”
“This is my 15th season working on a whale watching boat and yesterday was only my 8th Grand Slam ever,” said Naturalist & photographer Brooke McKinley, “and we were elated to have BCX1210 ‘Slate’ and her new calf on Mother's Day. It was a glorious day, sunshine, flat calm waters and whales everywhere!”
In the past some whale watch companies have celebrated a Grand Slam by handing out trophies to the crew, while other crews take the plunge in the cold waters of the Salish Sea after their trip. Regardless of how individual whale watch companies celebrate a Grand Slam, the fact that there are so many whales to see this time of year in the Salish Sea is something to celebrate in and of itself.
