Eagles, and Dolphins, and Whales... Oh My!

Today, although a bit chilly on the water, was quite fulfilling as we saw seals, eagles, J-Pod, and even a Minke Whale. As stated previously, the orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family and are often referred to as whales. This confusion is caused by their other name, Killer Whale. Many times we have a dolphin encounters (seeing orcas), but very rarely is it actually a whale watch. The great Minke sighting allows us to say we saw dolphins AND a whale today. Minkes are preyed upon by Transient Orcas, but have been seen swimming in the midst of Resident Orcas. Today the Minke was just south of Cattle Pass, a few miles south of False Bay where J-Pod was foraging. The guests seemed to enjoy picking out little J-42 as she surfaced, face exposed, next to her mom, J-16. J-16 is easy to pick out due to her bright open saddle on the right side and bright saddle with a finger on the left side. She is made even easier to ID with a calf at her side.

All in all it was a fascinating trip with great views of the variety of life we have here in the San Juans. Until tomorrow....

Megan, Naturalist

Guest comments on our orca whale watching tour

Comments: I took your trip last Tuesday, May 27th and wanted to let you know what a great time we had. I appreciated taking the long trip all the way up to Point Roberts to see the whales and it was great to see the map posted on your blog afterwards of where we were. Also, Megan did an excellent job presenting information on Killer Whales.

I am actually a biology professor and found her presentation on Killer Whale natural history and conservation accurate, informative, and balanced. Plus, her passion is infectious. Thanks for the great and memorable trip!
Kevin Burns
San Diego, CA

Take Me to Your Leader

Today's trip took us back to Point Roberts to spend time with J-Pod. We had an interested group, calm seas, and sunshine to make the day even better. We spent about an hour with J-Pod watching them forage as they headed south towards Rosario. They were all spread out and we began our encounter with J-8, Speiden, and then moved on to view J-1, Ruffles, and J-2, Granny. Granny is the matriarch of J-Pod and estimated to be nearly 100 years old!!! Granny is the one in command and what she says goes. She's a fascinating animal and it makes you wonder what she thinks when she sees us. She's been around since 1911 (estimate) and has seen many changes in the Salish Seas. I wonder if she passes down all this knowledge to little ones like J-40, Suttles, who is her great-granddaughter and one of the orcas we confirmed a sighting of today. Each day we see different behaviors and it's just as exciting to see the guests react to their breaches, spy hops, and unique stories. Each animal is an individual and has their own personalities and it's fascinating to see how these personalities and roles are played out in their societies. Until tomorrow....

Megan, Naturalist

Ruffels is star quality again today

Another beautiful day in the San Juan Islands as Sea Lion, crew and guests drove up San Juan Channel at 1:00pm. J's were reported heading toward Turn Point on Stuart Island from Boundary Pass. As we motored into Haro Strait from Speiden Channel, J pod was spread out and traveling very quickly southward. We got a great extended view of J1, Ruffles off of Henry Island and and a family group closer in shore. Over on Speiden Island on our return trip, we saw two eagles soaring high above. Anothe great day on the water!

Nancy, Naturalist

Close Encounters with a Star

As a Naturalist, I've been told not to get too attached to the orcas. However, this is difficult when we spend so much time observing them and when I've spent the majority of my life fascinated by them. I must admit that I have a favorite and her name is J-28, or Polaris. She is easy to identify by her bright, closed saddle patch and a nick halfway up her dorsal fin. I've been hoping to see her on each trip, but this trip was the best viewing of her yet. J-28 initially surfaced just off the starboard beam of our boat. She stayed near us in a regular 2-minute interval surfacing pattern and then began spy hopping, as if she wanted to get a good look at us too. After spy hopping twice, she disappeared and made us wonder if we'd lost her. Just as we were about to move on to another group, Polaris began kelping (playing in kelp) just a beam of us! She put on a fabulous show, as did her family about a quarter mile off False Bay on the west side of San Juan Island. Our guests seemed to love her as much as I do, which gave us all something to chat about on our way up island towards Speiden to see the Harbor Seals, Bald Eagles, Mouflon Sheep, Fallow Deer, and one Sika Deer.

The trip was great, as usual, and held special meaning for me since I got to see Polaris. I saw little J-28 when she was almost a year old in 1994 and I was eight, making her the first wild calf I saw. Since then, I've kept up on Polaris and her family and every day with the whales is special for me and it's my goal to make it special for our guests as well. Today was a special trip and everyone had the time of their lives. Thanks Polaris!!!

Megan, Naturalist

Alone Time- With Orca Whales

Here is a map showing just how far from San Juan Island we went to view orca whales.

Today was an absolutely incredible trip! The Sea Lion and crew departed at 1:30 (to better accommodate our guests this trip) and headed straight for Point Roberts in hopes of meeting J-Pod who was at the coal docks and travelling south towards the Rosario Strait. We had to move full speed to get to J-Pod in time, and since we couldn't stop, Megan and Nancy (the naturalists for the day) answered orca and other wildlife questions. Our crew couldn't have planned a better encounter because as we approached J-Pod the sun came out and the other boats had to leave the scene to get their guests back in time. This meant we had J-Pod to ourselves! The water was flat calm and the orcas glided past us effortlessly, their blows being the only sound besides the water lapping softly against the Sea Lion. We got positive ID's on J-1, J-2, J-16, J-42, J-26, and J-11. J-26, aka Mike, also breached over five times right in front of us!!!!! They were spy hopping, pec slapping, tail lobbing, breaching, and cartwheeling about. They literally put on one of the greatest shows to date and we were the only ones watching... it felt like we were spying on them. The guests were thrilled with the experience and they weren't alone, our whole crew was moved by the experience as well and look forward to seeing J-Pod again.

The more time we spend with the orcas, the more fascinating they become. It almost felt like today they were just as interested in us as we were in them. Maybe they do more people watching than we think. I wonder if they are trying to ID us as well....

Megan, Naturalist

Here Kitty Kitty Kitty

Today was a great day for both the Sea Lion and the Kittiwake. The weather was perfect and the majestic Olympic Mountain Range was the perfect backdrop for our J-Pod encounter. Both the Sea Lion and the Kittiwake went out today, the Sea Lion at 1:00, the Kittiwake at 1:30, and the Sea Lion is going out again tonight at 5:30 for our first sunset tour of the season! The whales were in top form, gracefully maneuvering together in the water. They appeared to be quite interested in our boat the Kittiwake and made many passes of our boat on their way north up the west side of San Juan Island. (It was almost as if they were enjoying our guests cheering them on.) Our encounter began just south of Cattle Pass and we spent 1/3 of our trip with the whales as they approached False Bay. We were able to ID many individuals including J-16, J-42, J-1, J-2, J-8, and J-27. The whales seemed to be travelling two by two in the beginning and then a large group about eight abreast took up the rear.

As said before, J-Pod has been very good to us lately and we have seen them almost every day for the past two weeks. Our guests love learning about the orca and things they can do to help our wildlife here and the critters in their own back yard. Until next time....

Megan, Naturalist

Orca Paradise

Today was the Kittiwake's (our other boat's) first day on the water. The Kittiwake departed at 12:30 and the Sea Lion at 1:00, so we had both our boats on the water today. J-Pod was foraging on the southwest side (near salmon bank) and both boats got an incredible show. The sun was shining, the air was warm, the sea was calm, and J-Pod was active! It was orca paradise out there on the water and our Memorial weekend guests had a one-of-a-kind experience.

The Sea Lion began our encounter watching three females, but then turned closer to shore to be with the Kittiwake and a group of orcas they were observing. J-28, J-26, J-14, and J-42 were all confirmed in this group and just as we were approaching the Kittiwake an orca exploded out of the water in one of the closest breaches we've had yet! The whale conveniently jumped right off the port side of the Kittiwake and in front of the Sea Lion, so all the San Juan Safaris guests got a great show!!! We believe it was J-26 who breached, but it happened so suddenly that we didn't get the greatest look at who it was. Like all SJS trips, we want our guests to gain an appreciation for our other wildlife as well as the orca. So after spending about 1/3 of our trip time with the orcas, we took our guests to Long Island to see a Bald Eagle nest, which the female was sitting in. We also took them to Whale Rocks to see Harbor Seals and Goose Island to see both varieties of cormorants and the gull's nesting grounds. All in all the trip was another success and we look forward to the three trips going out tomorrow. J-Pod has been good to us and we send them many thanks for such a great show!

Megan, Naturalist

More Orca Whales off San Juan Island, WA

J Pod spent most of the day off of the southwest side of San Juan Island. The animals were very spread out and often making deep dives. Viewing was excellent with absolutely flat seas and overcast skies. We also had a great view of a female bald eagle in a nest on the north side of Long Island. Her mate hung out close by in a nearby tree. Another great day in the San Juan Islands.







Nancy, Naturalist and Captain

Really a terrific day on the water. J Pod spent most of the day on the west side of San Juan Island. They were very spread out, fishing and traveling north slowly although they turned around several times. We got great view of Ruffles, J1 and and Slicks family, including the one year old and Mike. The water was perfectly calm and while we were stopped, it was warm enough for tank tops. Lots of seals today at Sentinel Rock, also enjoying the sun and we saw several eagles soaring over Speiden Island. A low flying eagle on Speiden apparently scared several dozen mouflon sheep and they took off running at a very high speed for a sheep.
Nancy, Naturalist

Sticking Together

Today was yet another wonderful encounter with J-Pod. The whales were sticking together and swimming relatively slow at about 2-3mph. The water was a bit choppier than usual, and our guests were able to gain their sea legs in a hurry. Generally, the waters here are quite calm, but every now and again we get a blustery day.

We got positive IDs on J-1, J-8, J-16, J-42, J-26, and J-27. It was much easier to see them today because they were traveling together and moving slow. We began our encounter at 2pm about 1/2 mile off Lime Kiln Lighthouse and traveled with them for a while heading north, up the west side of San Juan Island. Little J-42 proved to be a favorite again as she popped up frequently in the middle of the pack. Our guests learned all about the laws surrounding the orca and why we must say 100yds away from them. It is our goal at San Juan Safaris that our guests have a fun encounter, while learning about the orca and the ecosystem they are an integral part of. We learn about geology, history, eagles, orcas, salmon, our variety of bird life, and how we, as humans, interact with and are affected by them.

Our guests even had the treat of going through Mosquito Pass (northwest end of San Juan Island) and admiring the real estate while catching their bearings.

A point of interest: We learned from Gato Verde, the Beam Reach boat, that the orcas were not very vocal today (an unusual occurrence). There were no calls or clicks, which proved curious to the Beam Reach group. Like I've said before... every day is a new experience and we've barely scratched the surface of all there is to learn.

Megan, Naturalist

Sad news about Keikos Champion

Stephen Claussen, age 41, skilled whale biologist and care-giver from Seattle, was killed in a plane crash in New Jersey Saturday afternoon while conducting a wildlife survey. Stephen was an important and trusted friend of the famed orca Keiko throughout his rehab and release program.

Stephen was also a member of the team that transported A73 Springer from Vashon Island to Johnstone Strait BC, among other rescues.

Stephen once attended Orca Network's Ways of Whales Workshop to hear a talk about Keiko. He was easily convinced to tell the audience about his times with Keiko and answer questions, and filled us in on Keiko's intelligence and sense of humor. He was one of those who you know really cared about the whales....

Hey Mom, Check this Out!!!

Today, although a tinge rainy, was flat calm on the water and the lighting couldn't have been better for seeing black dorsal fins against the white sky. We left Friday Harbor heading south towards Hein Bank, where J-Pod was reported to be foraging. Our guests, many of which hadn't seen orcas in the wild, were pleased to see J-Pod swimming south towards Puget Sound with the lovely Olympic Mountains serving as the backdrop. The family was spread out over a few miles, but we were treated once again with J-16, Slick, and her year old calf J-42, who has yet to be named. Calves are not named until they turn one year old due to our high infant mortality rate. Our whales harbor toxins, from pollution, in their fat. Orcas are mammals and feed their offspring milk. This milk is a toxic cocktail and many times calves don't make it past their first year. J-42, however, looked quite happy and playful as she breached multiple times in front of our boat. She must have loved all the humans cooing over her and continued to put on a show. She should be receiving a name soon and our guests like Andromeda... so we'll see how that turns out. (Members of the Whale Museum can vote on a name for the calves this summer.)

We look forward to our trip tomorrow at 1pm, and maybe, if we're lucky, J-42 will give us another show. Until then...

Megan, Naturalist

Travel Buddies

Today was nice and sunny and J-Pod graced us with their presence once again!

We left Friday Harbor for Village Point, which is on the north end of Lummi Island in the Rosario Strait. J-Pod was heading south from Village Point at a good cruising speed of about 8 mph. They were spread out front to back and surprised us when a Minke Whale popped up with them. This is a RARE occurrence and our guests had the privilege of seeing not only J-Pod, but also the smallest baleen whale. We found this ironic because the Transient Orcas have been known to eat Minke, so this particular whale must have known he was in safe fish-eating company. A group of about 7 J-Pod members were seen surfacing right next to the Minke, with no negative interactions.

Orca are the largest members of the dolphin family and are not "whales" from a scientific perspective. (Although this confuses many since they are often referred to as the Killer Whale.) So our guests got to see eagles, seals, dolphins, and a whale!!! What a treat and what an incredible day. The air is warming up, J-Pod is back, and the flowers are in bloom. It's a perfect time to be on the water! Until next time...

Megan, Naturalist

We Are Family

Well, it appears that J-Pod has officially returned to the water. We've had them in the area the past few days and we'll cross our fingers in hope the salmon is good enough for them to stick around. We've been able to observe J-1 the past few trips, however this trip was a perfect opportunity to view J-26 and J-27. We began our orca encounter by spending some time with J-27, Blackberry, and then moved south to J-26 and family. J-26, also known as Mike, is a 17 year old male (as is Blackberry) and his dorsal is easily distinguishable by its lean to the left. Our guests were fascinated by the orcas' family lives on the way to seeing them and got to observe a nuclear orca family with Mike, his mother J-16 (Slick), and his new sister J-42 (to be named). J-26 was foraging about 100 yards off our portside (left) and his mother and sister were closer to land (about 300 yards away). The encounter proved touching for our guests as they got a chance to see the bond between mother and calf, even if that calf is grown up and 17 years old. Mike, although an adult male, still sticks somewhat close to mama.

Our orcas are the stars of the wildlife show, they are not the only creatures we want our guests to experience. So much of our wildlife goes hidden because they end up being the back-ups to the whales. However, our guests were able to gain an appreciation not just for orcas, but for Bald Eagles and Harbor Seals. We got some great looks at Bald Eagles as they hung out on the rocks near shore and as they sat in their nests on Long Island (not in New York, but south of San Juan Island). The Eagle eggs are laid now and we look forward to watching them with chicks.

If you are interested in more info on our trips, please feel free to give us a call and we'd be happy to share our adventures with you!

Do You Want to See it All?

Below: J-1 on May 9, 2008 taken by Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research

Today was a spectacular trip! The weather was phenomenal, perfect for being on the water and the rumor of the whales was true!!! We took off straight out of Friday Harbor to bring our guests to East Point on Saturna Island in Canada, where J-Pod was reported to be. On the way we learned about the orcas, specifically J-Pod and their fellow Resident families. We also learned that East Point, where we were headed, was the scene of the first orca capture. Moby Doll was harpooned off East Point while swimming with her family so an artist in Canada could make a life size model of an orca for the Vancouver Aquarium as realistic as possible. We've come a long way since those days and continue to learn more about the orca and their lives. Our guests got a great look into this lifestyle as we watched them foraging and playing a few miles off Saturna heading eastward towards Point Roberts. We got great looks at J-1 and J-26 as well as a group of unidentified J-Pod females. They seemed to be in high spirits and breached and spy hopped multiple times. Our guests even were able to catch some pictures of those breaches, spy hops, and tail slaps.

But wait, there's more! We even got looks at a dozen Steller Sea Lions hauled out on Boiling Reef as well as Harbor Seals hauled out nearby. We even had time to head over to Speiden and see the Mouflon Sheep and Fallow Deer as well as a Bald Eagle sitting on its nest. The trip was fabulous and our guests and crew had a really great time. See you all tomorrow!!!

Megan, Naturalist

Plenty of Sun Shine Headin' Our Way

Below: J-1, Ruffles, taken by Traci Walters (a past naturalist) on one of our trips

The past few days have been wonderful on San Juan Island... the season is well under way and J-Pod appears to have returned for the summer. Yesterday we got a great tip from a friend that the J-Pod was travelling near Cattle Pass (The southern end of San Juan Island) and we headed south the meet up with them. They were spread out over a few miles and appeared to be foraging around. Of course, the first animal in our sights was J-1 and he gave us a nice show off the port side of the boat. We stayed with J-1 for a while, giving the guests a perfect opportunity for pictures since it's much easier to time a shot when the animal has a 6ft dorsal fin that gives away its position. We left J-1 to take a look at J-26 and what appeared to be J-16 and her calf J-42. We could positively ID J-1 and J-26, but the female and calf were a guess based off them travelling with J-26. J-16, Slick, is J-26, Mike's, mom and J-42 is his little sister (who will receive a name later this summer). Our passengers were thrilled to see the orca as well as the animals on Speiden, a cormorant rookery on Henry, and some Bald Eagles soaring above us.

The trip was sheer perfection and the weather couldn't have been better. We are heading out today at 1pm. The sun is shining and there's a rumor that J-Pod is nearby. It won't be long until K and L Pods return and the season reaches its high. Make your reservation today!

Megan, Naturalist

Fairy Tale Trip

Once upon a time in a land far, far, far, far, far away... there was a group of Transient Orcas. The crew of San Juan Safaris knew they must voyage long to see them, however their guests were willing to take the risk and travel all the way to Albert Head, west of Victoria Harbor. J-Pod had traveled too far north, but the Transients were in reach.

Ater a perilous, and by perilous I mean super calm, journey across the Haro Strait, past Discovery Island, and beyond Victoria Harbor, we made it to our prince charming (a large Transient male) upon our trusty steed the Sea Lion. Our guests got some amazing views of the group of T87, T88, T124, T124D, T124E, T90 and T90B , which included multiple females, a juvenile, a sprouter (juvenile male), and an adult male. The orcas appeared to have caught a Harbor Seal because there was an oil slick in the water just behind them and the sea gulls were going nuts, diving in and out of the water. The orcas gave us some fabulous views as they surfaced just off Albert Point, providing the perfect backdrop for photos.

Although the fairy tale trip with the Transients had to come to an end, that didn't mean the beautiful trip was over. We trekked back to Lime Kiln Lighthouse and gave our guests a real estate tour of the west side of San Juan Island. We also were able to take them back into Roche Harbor through Mosquito Pass, which gave us lovely views of homes, still water, and some Harbor Seals.

The lighting was perfect, the water calm, and the clouds low; which completely set the stage for a trip so amazing it sounds make believe!

Above: The group of Transients photographed by Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research. The Center Reports that the juvenile male seen was T73B, who hasn't been seen in years. What a treat!!!

... and they all lived happily ever after.

Megan, Naturalist

Whale of a Tale

Below: J-1, Ruffles, an adult male member of J-Pod and one of the most photographed whales in the world... he's pretty much a celebrity around here.

I know we often say every day is amazing, and that is quite simply because every day the animals and the group dynamic is different and all together amazing. However, today's experience was incredibly moving for everyone on board. We had an intimate group and we also had some great looks at J-Pod. This group was especially touched after hearing the plight of our whales on the way to Bird Rocks (off Lopez Island in the Rosario Strait). They learned about the toxins, captures, and depleted salmon runs and were motivated to take action, even if it meant on a small scale level at home.

As soon as J-Pod was spotted, our guests were so overcome with emotion that they couldn't help but tear up. Seeing the orca in their natural environment with their families really pulls at your heart and makes you want to protect our resources. The whales must have been in tune with our groups emotions and gave us some great looks at tail slaps, spy hopes, and breaches about 100 yards off our bow. One individual breached five times right in front of us!!! Every day is a learning experience and the more we at San Juan Safaris witness the positive impact these trips have on people, the more fulfilling the job becomes. J-Pod's males really gave us a show and of course Ruffles was looking as wonderful as ever as he spy hopped and breached in our midst. Despite the rain, we couldn't have asked for a better day and look forward to sharing our love of these orca with future guests!

Megan, Naturalist

Did Somebody Say Dolphin?

Below: A photo of two Pacific White-Sided Dolphins taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These dolphins are known for their playful nature and acrobatics.

Yesterday began with no word on the orca, however, that didn't mean the trip wouldn't have a surprise. Captain Mike got word that a group of Pacific White-Sided Dolphins were hanging out at False Bay. These dolphins are 7 to 8 feet long and weigh just over 300lbs. They are often seen in the open Pacific and rarely make their way in to inland seas. Yesterday we got lucky and were able to play with an animal we rarely encounter. The small group was pretty active and seemed very interested in the boat. As a result of their inquisitive nature, we decided to shut the engine down and let them play near the boat. The dolphins came right up to the boat as if to introduce themselves to our guests and invite them to join in their games. The games reached a high point as we left them to head north along the west side of San Juan Islands. Apparently, the dolphins weren't ready to let us go and caught a ride in our bow wave as we proceeded north. What a great encounter!!! Our guests couldn't get enough of the dolphins and had great questions which made the trip even more fun. We saw a variety of birds and all the Speiden fauna on our way back in, but it appeared as if those dolphins stole the show.

Silver and Family

Below: a Dall's and Harbor Porpoise. Harbors have extremely high testosterone levels and have been known to interbreed with Dall's.

Yesterday was another sun shiny day on the water. Each day's weather conditions seem to be improving and we look forward to have 70 degree weather and sun for each trip. Although yesterday didn't yield orcas, nobody reported a sighting of J's or Transients, we did get some great looks at Dall's Porpoises as well as a few hybrids. The crew has noticed a particular hybrid in the past because it has exceptionally white sides, almost appearing like a Pacific White-Sided Dolphin from a distance. However, we've come to a conclusion this guy, named Silver, is a hybrid between a Dall's and Harbor Porpoise. Harbors, although shy, are not too shy when it comes to reproduction. Their high testosterone levels cause them to seek out females of their own species, as well at the Dall's Porpoise. Because these animals stay with their mothers, we never see hybrids with the Harbors. (Male Dall's don't breed with female Harbors.) Our staff enjoys seeing Silver because he/she was so easy to identify. However, due to yesterday's high concentration of Dall's in the Haro Strait, we quickly learned that Silver has a few twins and therefore may not be so easy to identify. Our guests enjoyed spending time with our playful porpoises and then got some amazing views of Eagles, Mouflon Sheep, Sica Deer, as well as the Fallow Deer. With perfect weather and the diversity of life we saw, we couldn't have asked for a better day.

We have another trip today and will keep our eyes peeled for J-Pod!!!

Curious George

Below: Male Steller Sea Lions hauled out on the rocks south of San Juan Island.

Yesterday was probably one of the best showcases of Steller Sea Lions we've had yet. We decided to head to Yellow Island, Flattop Island, and eventually to Saturna Island in Canada. We learned all about seals, porpoises, and we may have gotten a look at some river otters swimming around near Orcas Island. Our guests got some great looks at playing porpoises, the geology of the islands, and Bald Eagles. However, the best look was our encounter with a male Steller Sea Lion off Boiling Reef near the east tip of Saturna. There were a dozen Stellers hauled out on the reef, tons of Harbor Seals, and four Bald Eagles all hanging out in the same spot... talk about an awesome photo opp!!! But wait, there's more! We caught a glimpse of a Steller swimming around about 200 yards from the reef and decided to check out a water view of a Sea Lion. We drifted over to him and turned the engine off to watch him swimming about from a distance. However, Mr. Steller, or Curious George, as we decided to name him, had other plans. Apparently he had booked a people watch tour and decided to come in for a better look. We spent fifteen minutes drifting while George swam around and under the boat, checking out our guests the entire time. What a thrilling encounter!!! Needless to say, George stole the show, as his buddies cheered him on from the rocks with their loud moans.

J-Pod was sighted way north in Canada, but they were too far for any of the Friday Harbor Whale Watch fleet to reach them. Keep your fingers crossed in hopes they decide to head south today! Luckily, we have such an abundance of wildlife here that there's never a dull day... even if we don't see whales.

Welcome Back J-Pod!!!

Below: Orca tail slap photo by one of our guests, Sarah Nylander.

Today was a fabulous day out! We encountered J-Pod foraging just west of Lime Kiln Lighthouse. The group was spread out over a few miles and we were able to identify J-35, J-26, J-11, and J-27. In fact, J-11, aka Blossom, came in relatively close to our boat and gave the guests a great photo opp. We also saw some breaching and tail lobs off the bow of the boat. All in all J-Pod gave us a great show making for an incredible trip. (Not to mention the sun was perfect!) We are crossing our fingers in hopes that this is J-Pod's return to the Salish Sea for the summer, meaning we will be seeing them more often now. We have another trip going out tomorrow afternoon at 1pm, so if you're in the area you should give us a holler! Until tomorrow...

Eagle Eyes

Yesterday was one of the best eagle viewing days we've had this season! We saw at least over a dozen Bald Eagles, many of which were juveniles. However, the adults seemed to know we were watching them and put on quite the show for us. They were perched regally on trees and rocks in plain sight, perfect opportunities for pictures.

The day began quite rainy, but we had a great California Sea Lion sighting on the buoy just outside the harbor. As we continued past Speiden the weather cleared up and people were able to get some postcard worthy photos of the clouds surrounding Salt Spring Island in Canada. Although there were no whales, we really got some great looks at the Glaucus Winged Gulls, Cormorants, and both types of sea lion: California and a Steller hauled out on Green Point. We had a talkative and inquisitive group, which heightened the atmosphere and made for an even better voyage.

Another beautiful afternoon in the San Juan Islands with very little wind. Captain Craig took us northward to Speiden Island, Haro Strait, Turn Point and then a short trip into Canada via Boundary Pass. A year old juvenile bald eagle was spotted on Speiden Island by one of our eagle eye passengers. He or she was a very mottled color but those bright yellow feet can't be missed. We also saw several Dall porpoises, a stellar sea lion, many harbor seals and mouflon sheep and fallow deer on Speiden Island. A great day on the water!