Maya's Westside Charters...Whales, Wildlife and Photo Expeditions

Maya Newsletter by Captain Jim Maya Spring 2008

jim maya & carolee - Maya Westside Charters

What color. If you're a westerner and you think you've seen color out here, you really never have seen color, not like in New England in the fall. Or southern Indiana in the fall. (Go IU!)

Dear Friends and Past Passengers,

Capt. Jim here. Ahoy from San Juan Island. I hope this letter finds you and yours healthy and happy and sassy...

Well, the first daffodils are out, the tulips are up, and the sun is shinning, and the seas are calm, and we're home from our winter travels.

We had a fine winter, starting with a wonderful three weeks last fall in New England. We did Boston, Salem, Plymouth, Vermont, and then went to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by way of Maine and Bar Harbor. Yes, we spent a good deal of the time on ferries and along rocky sea shores. You would think we would go to the desert, but no, more ferries, more salt water, more boats, and more wildlife. We loved it.

We are seeing whales every week, (J Pod and some Grays) though the peak season is perhaps six weeks or so away. We also saw a young Humpback last month. I have a dandy new photo of the aforementioned humpback. Drop me an email if you would like it. (I would also be happy to send some pics of the new grandson, Ike who is now almost 14 months and is close to walking. I think he has been slow to walk because he crawls so well. What a handsome boy!)
Every day we are seeing lots of Eagles, just back on their nests, seals and Steller Sea Lions. The Dall's Porpoise are the superstars this time of the year, especially when they come and play along side the boat. By May we should be seeing Orcas every day.

Maya's Westside Charters...Whales, Wildlife and Photo Expeditions

The perengrine - Mayas Westside Charters

So far we have seen only J Pod this winter, which is usual for the winter, although some members of L Pod we seen last week out at the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, near the Ocean.

Sadly, not all of J Pod has been sighted. David Ellifrit, from the Center for Whale Research, was out with me in early February as J Pod came by the West Side. He thought all members of J Pod were there, but since then young J43 has not been sighted and is most likely dead.

I've listed some interesting links below, including one to a recently spotted "white" Orca up in the Aleutians. http://www.komotv.com/news/local/16382071.html

Also, check out the cool sites for The Center for Whale Research,www.whaleresearch.com

The Whale Museum, www.whale-museum.org and Orca Net, www.orcanetwork.org

Stay well, stay in touch, be kind, and come see us sometime.

Capt. Jim

Snug Harbor Marina - San Juan Islands : 1997 Mitchell Bay Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Copyright 2008