I recently returned from Sitka where we attempted to photograph Humpback whales bubble-net feeding on herring. But the whales finished up in Sitka pretty much on the day we arrived.
We made the best of it and were still able to photograph whales. In fact, there was a double breach very close to us. And no, the curse continues, and I didn’t get the picture. It seems I’m always looking the wrong way, or fiddling with my camera, or putting food in my face when it happens. But at least one person in our group got it!
We did see a few Gray whales and even a Minke whale. And once we saw some porpoises “playing” with a Humpback. Playing may be a stretch. They could have been chasing it out of their own feeding grounds. There were also many commercial fishing boats to photograph in various phases of catching fish. These boats, for the most part, were purse seiners. These are very colorful boats: the nets, the buoys, the crew’s rain gear. They make great subjects, especially if you have great mountain scenery in the background.
We saw bald eagles, sea lions and more. And the scenery was stunning. The first two days had beautiful blue sky spring weather. The snow on the mountains was breathtaking.
There was more than the usual number of herring in Sitka Sound, so all of the boat captains (with boats full of photographers and other whale watchers) were perplexed since the whales typically stay in Sitka sound until the end of the first week in April.
The main difference between this year and a normal year is that the herring had already spawned and apparently, the whales prefer fish that still have those yummy and nutritious eggs.
The good news is that our boat captain, Gary of Capt. Gary’s Sitka Adventures, did find some bubble-net feeding whales the following week. They were about three hours from Sitka as the whales were making their way north. The herring in that area had not spawned yet so the whales feasted.
The lesson here is that Mother Nature always has the last word and you need to be flexible with your expectations. Fortunately for us, the Sitka area is rife with outstanding nature to see and photograph. Plus, it's always a treat to be on the water. I never seem to tire of it.
Next year’s bubble-netting tour in Sitka is set for March 23-27, 2025. We’ll be on the water for the days of the 24th, 25th, and 26th. Contact me for more information.
