Washington whale watchers report 'grand slam' sightings of four species in one day
A few lucky Washington whale watchers got a Mother's Day treat over the weekend: a coveted "grand slam" with sightings of four different species in a single day.
The Pacific Whale Watchers Association reported that two professional whale watching companies had grand slams on Sunday, spotting a minke and a gray whale in Rosario Strait, a humpback mom and calf near Waldron Island and several Bigg’s killer whales.
"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."
Gray whales are annual visitors in these waters: from March to June, approximately 18,000 gray whales migrate north from their breeding grounds in Baja California up to the Bering Sea with several groups turning off into the Salish Sea to rest and eat.
https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/wash-whale-watchers-grand-slam-four-species-16168776.php