With early arrival of 'sounders,' gray whale watchers chase a mystery

LANGLEY — Rachel Haight’s shift with the Whale Sighting Network on Monday started with scanning Saratoga Passage, between Whidbey and Camano islands.

She was looking for North Puget Sound gray whales, and Wateredge Drive offers an elevated view of Sandy Point — a hot spot for the “sounders” who feed on ghost shrimp along the cove. Haight parked her gray Honda Civic on the side of the road and periodically checked her phone for potential updates from fellow whale chasers.

Haight patiently waited for the brigade of fog in front of Camano Island to lift, while she peered through her binoculars for whale spouts, or what seem like puffs of smoke on the water.

“There’s a blow,” she said, shortly after starting her stakeout.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/with-early-arrival-of-sounders-gray-whale-watchers-chase-a-mystery/