Whale and Wildlife Photos from Guest: Cheryl Hartley

Orca Breaching

Orca Breaching

Two Harbor Seals

Orca Spy Hop
From a whale watching trip on July 2009 from Cheryl Hartley
Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Peaceful Wanderings

As the orcas sought food and adventure in the waters of the pacific, so we sought peace and relaxation amongst the islands. We were without whales today, but our guests did not suffer for it. Capt. Nancy took the MV Sea Lion, guest naturalist Russell and me on a beautiful wildlife cruise under warm sunny skies.

Harbor seals with pups were on every corner and I lost count of all of the bald eagles that we saw. Mouflon sheep, along with sika and fallow deer, were all out on Spieden Island and the humped back and dorsal fins of harbor porpoises could be seen all around us. Even our tans were enhanced by the clean air, clear skies and golden reflections off of the calm waters.

At Turn Point on Stuart Island we were alerted of a peregrine falcon nest and fledgling, but were unfortunately unable to find them in the trees. Russell treated us to the stories behind some of the unusual homes found on the island though and I stunned the crowd when I told them about the one-room schoolhouse. The islands never cease to amaze and they rarely fail to impress. Such is life in this gem of the Pacific Northwest.

So, until the next time that you visit, thank you from all of us at San Juan Safaris and we will...

See You In The Islands!
~Tristen, Naturalist


Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Canada Here We Come!

The whales were proving that they are the dominant marine species today. While we were rocking and rolling through the waves and being whipped by the wind, the orcas were effortlessly swimming along through the Canadian Gulf Islands. After we took the MV Sea Lion out of the dock today we headed for Turn Point on Stuart Island. The last orca report that we had had said that they were already past Lime Kiln and were headed North. At Haro Strait we gave way to a huge ocean-going liner from China and then motored across the strait into Canadian waters where we met up with other whale and wildlife watching boats.

The sun was quite warm and helped to take the chill off when the salt spray from the waves would catch us unawares. As striking as the orcas are though, it was rare that we noticed anything other than their antics. Spyhops were abundant when we first saw the whales off of the coast of South Pender Island. While swimming across the opening of Plumper Sound the tail slaps and cartwheels started. It definitely seems as if J pod has an abundance of energy these days, as we have seen them several times this week and they have been very active each visit.

While Jeanette talked with guests on the front of the boat and I entertained at the back, Capt. Craig maneuvered us through the day and at Saturna Island turned us around and drove us back towards San Juan Island. We made a quick run past the Cactus Islands so that our guests could see bald eagles and harbor seals, and then over to Spieden Island to see some exotic deer and sheep. Finally, all of our sleepy kids (and adults) were ready to see Friday Harbor again and our day was wrapped up a relaxing cruise down San Juan Channel to home.

Our day was lovely, as were our guests. So, from all of us at San Juan Safaris to all of you island trippers, thank you and we will...

See You In The Islands!
~Tristen, Naturalist


Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Never Give Up. . .

With no reports of whales our safari started by heading South out of Friday Harbor. We passed Whale Rocks and encountered Steller's Sea Lions and Harbor Seals. I am always impressed with the size of Steller's Sea Lions around 1500 pounds! Pupping season for harbor seals is mid June and I can't wait to see all the baby seals.

We also took a good long look at Goose Island on the southern tip of San Juan Island and saw the Cormorant rookery. Fishermen from China historically had used cormorants for fishing. (We will tell you the whole story on the boat, just ask)

As we came around the southern corner of San Juan Island into the Strait of Juan De Fuca, we ran into some rough waters. So - we decided to turn north and go up the west side of San Juan Island. This ended up to be a fantastic decision... We found J-pod near Lime Kiln State Park heading North. We were able to identify J-1 "Ruffles", the eldest male of all Southern Resident Killer Whales. His dorsal fin is about 5 feet tall.

We ended the tour by taking a quick peek at Spieden Island. The Mouflon Sheep were out grazing and a Bald eagle was sitting in its nest.

Our trip may have started with doubt and rough seas, but we never gave up.
We ended up seeing orca whales and some great wildlife.


Naturalist,
Jeannette Miller


Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Touring the Islands with the whales!

There's nothing like being onboard a boat with the sun shining and a cool breeze blowing while circling all of San Juan Island and watching the Orcas travel along the entire west side of the island! We had a very peaceful and relaxing day on the water.

Met the members of K-pod out on the southwest side off of False Bay and got some great looks at that cute little baby again! Little K-42 (first spotted in just the beginning of June) was moving quickly, porpoising out of the water, trying to keep pace with the grown-ups!

The Orcas hugged the island's coastline the whole way, with onlookers from shore and kayakers getting great views too! The guests onboard were really impressed that we do stick to the whale-watching regulations and maintain the required 1/4 mile between ourselves and shore to give the Orcas their space. The pods were spread out traveling the whole time....a few occasional breaches and tail slaps and a wave of a flipper from a male! Moving offshore we sped up (we move away from the Orcas when we speed up as not to disturb them with extra engine noise) and caught up to a few of the trailing members of J-pod.

Once the whales passed we made our way around the north end of San Juan Island, past Roche Harbor took a look at a few harbor seals and soaring eagles near Speiden Island. Rounding to the east side of the island we felt a warm breeze blowing and checked out one last bald eagle perching at the top of a tree before arriving back in Friday Harbor. :)

Think Positive Thoughts

Today began with no confirmed orca reports and rumors that J Pod was hanging out closer to the Pacific Ocean. Our guests were told to remain optimistic because we have a variety of marine mammals in the islands and we never know what could pop up.

The positive thoughts must have paid off because we got a report of a group of Transients hanging out near Iceberg (Lopez Island) and heading northwest towards us. We scooted down the west side of San Juan Island, after getting a quick look at the Mouflon Sheep on Speiden, in pursuit of the Transients.

We arrived on scene just south of Cattle Point to see four Transient orcas: one mature male, two females, and a calf. The group was later identified as the T30s being the mother T30 and her three offspring: T30A (the bull), T30B (the other cow), and the calf T30C. They were swimming around pretty eratically; chaging direction, grouping up, and splitting apart in no predictable fashion. They were swimming at about 4mph and were surfacing in intervals of about 7 minutes.

We observed the Transients for about 1/3 of our trip and spent the rest of the time looking at Mouflon Sheep, Dall's Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Pigeon Gillemots, Glaucus-Winged Gulls, Cormorants, and Bald Eagles.

This trip goes to show that good things come to those who wait....

Megan, Naturalist

Info on Transients from Orca Lab:

The Transient population of the Pacific Northwest has been identified as a distinct race. Their range encompasses the same waters as those used by the Resident Communities of Washington State, British Columbia and Alaska. No one understands how these two races developed, but most likely they have been genetically separated for many years. Physically, the two races are very similar but there are some differences. The top of the dorsal fin of Transient orcas tends to be more pointed than that of Resident orcas. Less obvious, the saddle patch ( the grey pigmentation along the side & behind the dorsal fin ) is further forward on Transients.

The real difference between the two races is in their behaviors and habits concerning their food preferences. Resident whales prefer a diet of fish, and in the summer months almost exclusively salmon. This is why we can predictably watch the Resident populations in key locations along the coast during the salmon season (when the salmon are travelling to the rivers to spawn). Transients, however, prefer to eat marine mammals. The Transients cruise the coastal waters in search of their prey. Transients have been known to feast on Harbour seals, Sea lions, Dall's porpoises, Harbour porpoises, Pacific Whitesided dolphins, Gray, Minke and other whales.

As the rain falls down

Today it lightly drizzled on our wilderness trip. The mist flickered and lifted off of small islands, with the sun gently hazed over. Our guests were enthusiastic and often remarked about their own experiences in the Pacific Northwest.

The bald eagles gave us quite a show! They were close to the boat, and one called out to us. We were able to see porpoises, and it was remarked on and debated about their intelligence level. Many of our guests were curious, and we were delighted to be able to help and try to make their time as enjoyable as we could.

Unfortunately, the whales were too far away for all the boats in the area today. We had an excellent adventure anyway, and the only thing that would make life better would be some hot chocolate!

-Sarah 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

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

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!!!

Be Optimistic

Transient Orcas in the Haro Strait. Photographed by Mark Malleson of Vancouver, B.C.

Yesterday began without an orca sighting, but this didn't discourage our optimistic guests. They truly understood how unpredictable wildlife can be and we believe it was this understanding and optimism that gave them their sighting.

We began our voyage heading north toward Speiden Island. We saw a few Mouflon Sheep, but there was a dense covering of sea smoke, making wildlife difficult to spot. The porpoises were swimming about, but didn't seem to be in a playful mood. The crew was determined to find our guest whales and darted over to Gooch Island in search of them. Although we saw no whales near Gooch, our guests refused to get discouraged. They had an insatiable desire to learn about our wildlife and we think the whales caught on. As soon as we left Gooch we heard reports that Transients were spotted near Cattle Pass, a few miles south of our position. We booked it down the west side of San Juan Island and showed up just in time for our guests to get some great shots of T-14 and friends. We hung out with the whales and then went back to Friday Harbor via Cattle Pass. On our way we saw some Stellers hauled out on the rocks as well as a few Harbor Seals.

Our experience yesterday proved good things come to those who wait. Until next time...