Prime time to see gray whales off Oregon, Washington coasts

Late March through April is prime time to view migrating gray whales off the Oregon and Washington coasts.

Many of the Pacific Ocean whales are migrating with their young of the year from Mexico waters to their summer feeding pastures near Alaska.

As they breach, surface to blow, or flip their huge tails above the water in a dive, the behemoths can take a viewer’s breath away.

Several spots offer unique viewing opportunities along their way.

Whale-watching boats running out of South Whidbey Harbor in Langley, Washington, take in the “Saratoga grays” that feed on ghost shrimp off Whidbey and Camano islands during annual visits to the Saratoga Passage and Possession Sound.

“This is a unique, tiny micro-population of gray whales that have come every year since their first appearance in 1991,” said Howard Garrett, co-director of Orca Network in Langley. About a dozen Saratoga grays come into the area to feed from March to the end of May.

The whales have learned special techniques for disturbing the muddy bottom to flush shrimp and worms into the water for consumption.

“No other micro-population to my knowledge specializes in hunting specific food in a specific area,” Garrett said.

The public can book whale-watching tours out of Langley with Mystic Sea Charters (mysticseacharters.com).

The annual Welcome the Whales Festival in Langley set for April 16-17 includes a Saturday parade and presentations by researchers studying the Saratoga grays. Info: visitlangley.com/lp/whale-parade.

Deception Pass Tours offers gray whale-watching tours this month out of Oak Harbor, Washington.