September 5, 2025 (PM)

What a DIFFERENT ocean! Everything you could dream of seeing on a whale watch, we got and MORE! Whales YES plural and hundreds of dolphins everywhere we looked! We got word early that there was a feeding frenzy just a bit south west of the jetties. When we got on scene, there were probably 400 long beaked common dolphins feeding on bait fish with THOUSANDS of birds swarming in the sky and diving to feed on the same fish, just beyong this ENORMOUS biomass was a humpback whale! This humpback was super surface active and stayed up giving us great looks at its fluke! We watched as it followed to dolphins for a time, then it split off on its own, chilled for a bit and began a charge back in the direction of the dolphins! When we caught up with the dolphins, there was also a minke whale near by! TWO species of whales, hundreds of dolphins, sea lions all feeding together in harmony and a stunner of a sunset! A full 360 view of insane clouds and sun rays lighting up the sky!

Get out here while it’s hot!
These have been some of the most stunning nights of the year!
Naturalist, Alison

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Olivia Trahan

Olivia is a senior pursuing her B.S. in Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and brings extensive experience in marine mammal research, stranding response and science communication/outreach. Olivia works with the UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program back home, assisting in responses and necropsies of stranded marine mammals along the NC coast. Additionally, she is completing her thesis in the Ramirez Population & Food Web Ecology Lab, characterizing loggerhead sea turtle growth rates through aging their bones (like counting growth rings on a tree)! Most recently, she served as a Soundwatch Intern at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, WA, where she patrolled both U.S. and Canadian waters aboard a small research vessel, collecting data on vessel activity and killer whale behavior, conducting public outreach on and off the water, and educating boaters on how to reduce disturbances to the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales. In her free time, Olivia enjoys wildlife photography, herping, crocheting, birding, hiking, drawing, and playing guitar. She is excited to bring her energy, field experience, and passion for conservation to the SDWW team as both Naturalist and Deckhand!
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