We spent a couple of hours on our boat today enjoying the sunshine and calm water.  While we were out we spotted three humpbacks near the backside (west side) of Douglas Island.  Two appeared to be traveling together, while one was on its own.  The pair disappeared before we could get any photos.  While we were searching for the pair, the third whale surfaced right in front of us.  I do wonder if these are the same whales we saw from shore yesterday and that we have seen out in the same general area for the last couple of weeks. 

​We also spotted a distant spout near North Pass.  

Four humpbacks were observed (from shore) on the back side of Douglas Island.  Two of the whales appeared to be traveling together, while the other two were alone.  The two that were together were very active.  We saw several breaches, tail slaps, and pectoral slapping.  The whales were quite far from us, so getting photos was difficult.  I was able to get a few fluke shots of one of the whales, and possibly a fluke shot of a second whale.  Although it is difficult to determine due to extreme distance.  One of the whales might be #1783, aka Tucker.  However, I am not absolutely positive of this.  

We spent a couple of hours searching for whales today and found four near Fritz Cove and the west side of Douglas Island.  Two appeared to be traveling together.  While we were watching those two, a third whale popped up in front of us.  The water condition was very choppy, therefore, our encounter with these whales was brief and getting photos was nearly impossible.  As we were heading in, we spotted a fourth whale just outside of the Fritz Cove/Auke Bay area.  It was in the same general area that the whale we observed yesterday from false outer point was in.  I did manage to get a fluke photo and positively identified it as whale #1879, aka Sasha.  Although my photos from yesterday's sighting were shot from a great distance, I believe it was Sasha that we saw yesterday from false outer point. 

One of the whales appeared to have some scarring on its back.  On May 27, 2018, I took a photo of a whale that appears to have similar scarring.  I cannot help but wonder if it is the same whale.    

A lone humpback was observed approximately a half mile to one mile away from where I was standing on shore.  It appeared to be feeding in a manner I have not observed since we left Ketchikan.  I refer to it as the side lunge super scoop, although I am sure there is a more scientific term(s) used to describe it.  While feeding this way the whale appears to slightly lunge out of the water, while on its side, with its mouth agape.  A pectoral fin and half of the whale's fluke sticks out of the water.  I have photos of whales doing this in Ketchikan on April 27, 2016, and October 31, 2016.  Although I was a great distance away from this whale, I could clearly see through my camera that it was feeding in this manner.  It was exciting to see as I have not observed this feeding style here in Juneau. 

​Based on an observation made on 11/12/18, I believe this is whale #1879, aka Sasha.