====== Bellingham (and nearby) Waterway Wild Life ======

{{:wildlife:orcas_bellingham_bay-45.jpg?direct&224x150|Rhys Logan Photo - Bellingham Bay}}

[[https://www.rhyslogan.com/|Rhys Logan Photo]]

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===== Ancient Murrelets =====

A small, friendly migratory sea-bird that makes its appearance in PNW waters during the winter surfing season. Beloved mascot of the over 60 age group paddler.((See  [[:terminology#barnacles|Barnacles]]))
  * [[:stories:ancient_murrelet_sighting_2015|Return of the Ancient Murrelet 7/07/2015]] ((Howat, D. Phd Emeritus 2015, "  [[:ancient_murrelet|]] "))

===== Sea Lions =====

  * [[:california_sea_lion_2016|California Sea Lion 5/23/2016]]
  * [[:sea_lions_other_beasties_2018|Sea Lions and Other Beasties 10/21/2018]]

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{{https://surfski.wiki//lib/plugins/ckgedit/fckeditor/userfiles/image/wildlife/sea_lions.jpg?direct&200x191  |surfski.wiki_lib_plugins_ckgedit_fckeditor_userfiles_image_wildlife_sea_lions.jpg}}

Sea Lions Photo: Kitsap Sun

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===== Whales =====

  * [[:stories:easter_whales_2008|Easter Whale Adventure 3/23/2008]]
  * [[:whale_watch_2009|Whale Watch Guidelines 7/29/2009]]
  * [[:gray_whales_5_17_2018|Barnacle and Whale Run 5/17/2018]]
  * [[:whales_4_20_2019|Whales at Wildcat 4/20/2019]]
  * [[:stories:dn_grey_whale_escort|DN's Grey Whale Escort 5/28/2020]]
  * [[:stories:humpback_whale_fairhaven_2022|Whales at Community Boating Center 3/19/2022]]

===== Orcas =====

  * [[:orcas_2007|Orcas in Bellingham Bay 9/02/2007]]
  * [[:stories:think_slowly_2008|Paddle Quickly, Think Slowly (Puget Sound Orca History) 8/25/2008]]
  * [[:orcas_2010|Orcas Off Lummi 12/26/2010]]
  * [[:orca_bay_visit_may_2016|Orca Visit Bellingham Bay 5/04/2016]]
  * [[:bham_orcas_2020|Orcas in Bellingham Bay Socializing at A Distance 5/27/2020]]
  * [[https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/01/orcas-killer-whale-resident-transient/617862/|A Group of Orca Outcasts Is Now Dominating an Entire Sea 1/29/2021]]
  * [[:bham_oracas_2024|Oracas 3/15/2024]]
  * [[:bham_orcas_2024_b|Orcas 4/7/2024]]
  * [[:pugetsound_rules_orcas_2024|New Puget Sound Boat/Orca Safe Distance Rules Jan 1, 2025]]
  * …

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(following movie from Bellingham Fire Boat that is closer than it is supposed to be to the orcas, but we believe the orcas approached the boat rather than vice versa)

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**Orca Pod (transient?) Visit March 17, 2023**

{{:locales:bellingham:orcas:orcas2023.mp4|:locales:bellingham:orcas:orcas2023.mp4}}

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===== Other Waterway Life =====

  * [[:river_otters_2011|River Otters 1/15/2011]]
  * [[:stories:morning_paddle_2011|Morning Paddle Wildlife 6/03/2011]]
  * [[https://youtu.be/h-lNTIN91xk?t=65|Birch Bay Crab Pot Video with Dogfish 2014]]
  * [[:zebra_mussels|Zebra Mussels 4/25/2018]]
  * [[:barnacles_bumblebees|Barnacles and Bumblebees 6/14/2018]]
  * [[:algae_bloom_7_12_2018|Algae Bloom 7/12/2018]]
  * [[:hooded_nubibranches_5_23_2019|Hooded Nudibranchs 5/23/2019]]
  * [[:new_zealand_mud_snails_2019|New Zealand Mud Snails 6/19/2019]]
  * [[:bonaparte_gulls_2020|Bonaparte Gulls 4/13/2020]]

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