Posts Tagged ‘Cactus Islands’
Wednesday, September 19th, 2012
Today’s tour was a bit different than usual, yet so refreshing! With no whale reports since the night before, we took our tour to the inner islands.
Sure the San Juan Islands are home to one of the most charismatic animals in the world, the Killer Whale, but that is not the only thing that makes them beautiful. Often times the inner beauties of these islands are overlooked, but today we allowed our guests to discover these beauties. We toured along Flattop Island, the Cactus Islands, through Johns and Stewart Island, then into Canada to see Moresby and Mandarte Island, and back into the U.S. to finish with Spieden Island.
The abundance of wildlife inhabiting these islands and the channels between is nothing short of remarkable, including those we saw today such as dozens of Harbor Porpoise, dozens upon dozens of Harbor Seals, Bald Eagles, Cormorants, Sika Deer, Fallow Deer, Mouflon Sheep, Great Blue Heron, Gulls of all shapes and sizes, and Steller Sea Lions.
Animals aside, these islands standalone in their natural beauty. Glaciation has carved this area into one of the most majestic places on earth; the geology, the vegetation, simply awe-inspiring.
And if you haven’t seen enough then consider this, there are hundreds of islands that make up the San Juans and every island has a story of its own. From the coastal Sammish, to the Spaniards, to a one room school house, no plumbing, no electric, to the richest of summer homes, to marine state parks, to national wildlife refuges, to a war almost started over a Pig, to even owning an island yourself. These islands are something worth seeing and we can give you this experience.
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, Coastal Sammish, cormorants, Fallow Deer, Flattop Island, Great Blue Heron, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Johns Island, killer whale, Mandarte Island, Moresby Island, Mouflon Sheep, san juan islands, Sika Deer, Spainiards, speiden island, Steller Sea Lions, Stewart Island
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Tuesday, August 7th, 2012
Fantastic wildlife viewing today! Caught up with Southern Resident Killer Whales off East Point, Saturna Island, BC (48°27.25N, 123°02.35W). Viewed a large group of tightly packed members of J Pod, with J-37 (Hy’Shqa) and new baby tucked in between, moving westerly off Saturna Island at a slow pace. Lots of tail slapping, lob tailing, breaching, spy-hopping. Saw Bald Eagles in the trees and sitting on the rocks off Cactus Island. Guests witnessed a breathtaking dive bomb to the water by an eagle, who successfully emerged with a fish, then landed on a rock and started eating. Excellent wildlife viewing, warm weather, and mellow seas made for another amazing day on the Salish Sea.
Shelly, Tara, and Jenny, Naturalist for San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, friday harbor, Harbor Seals, j pod, killer whales, Orca whale, orca whales, Orcas, salish sea, san juan islands, Saturna Island, Southern Resident Killer Whales, whale watching near seattle
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Monday, August 6th, 2012
Exciting day on the water! Leaving the harbor under rainy skies, we traveled north around San Juan Island. Happily, the skies dried and the sun soon came out just as we caught up with members of the Southern Resident Killer Whales in Haro Strait. Traveling along the west side of Stuart Island and milling in the Turn Point area (first sighted at 48°40.67N 123°14.92W) were: Onyx (L87), along with Slick (J-16) and her calf, Echo (J-42), Mike (J-26) and Alki (J-36). Our next sighting include Granny (J-2) along with Tsuchi (J-31), and Mako (J-39). The orcas were active and didn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave the area. Plenty of shots of tails waving, pectoral fin slaps and the occasional spy hop. On the way back, we heard a rumor that there might be a new calf in J Pod?
Shelly and Tara, Naturalists for San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, friday harbor, Harbor Seal, Harbor Seals, Haro Strait, j pod, killer whales, L pod, Orca whale, orca whales, Orcas, San Juan Channel, san juan island, San Juan Safaris, Southern Resident Killer Whales, whale watching near seattle
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Friday, August 3rd, 2012
We headed north to Canadian waters today; calm waters and warm sun made for a wonderful boat ride. As we approached Saturna Island, we saw the spray…the spray of the humpback whale. We observed this marine mammal feeding in Boundary Pass (48°43.982N, 123°08.698W), and had the opportunity to watch the fluke dip into the water. As this type of whale has baleen plates, it was likely feeding on krill or a variety of small schooling fish. Several rhinoceros auklets were around, hoping to join the feeding frenzy. After viewing the humpback for several minutes, we turned south and passed the east side of Stuart Island, noting some harbor porpoise along the way. A bald eagle was standing guard! We had the opportunity to view a large nest on Cactus Island. We concluded our tour with a passing of Spieden Island. Mouflon sheep were grazing in the shade. Several harbor seal mothers and pups were out on the hunt too! What an incredible day on the water.
SJS Naturalist Jenny
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cactus Islands, Harbor Seal, Humpback Whale, Mouflon Sheep, Saturna Island, Stuart Island
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Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
With reports of Resident Orcas on the west side of San Juan Island and Transient Orcas north of Stuart Island, it was a tough call on which direction to take. Fortunately, heading north to search for Transients turned out to be a great choice! At Blundand Island (Gulf Islands, BC) we caught up to about 8 or more tightly grouped whales (48°43’86N 123°10’9W), including T102, that seemed to be slowly moving along the island until something kicked a pair into action and they repeatedly porpoised along the island, took a long dive, then surfaced along with the rest of the group.
Harbor porpoises were everywhere today – milling in San Juan Channel and in Boundary Pass.
We also watched Bald Eagles perched, as they kept an eye on their territory at Cactus Islands, along with one spotted on the flag pole at the end of Stuart Island, and another 2 at Flat Top Island. One was even perched on top of the National Wildlife Refuge sign. We also saw two Great Blue Herons at John’s Island.
Another great day on the water; sunny skies, glass-like seas, and excellent wildlife viewing!
Naturalists Tara, Kristen, and Shelly; San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, killer whales, Orca whale, orca whales, Orcas, san juan island, San Juan Safaris, seattle whale watching, Stuart Island, Transient Orcas, Turn Point
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Monday, June 11th, 2012
It was another beautiful day on the water. The sun was out in full shine, the water pure glass. Out in Haro Strait at the very northeastern tip of D’Arcy Island we found two Transient Orcas (48°35.77N, 123°15.61W). We identified them as male T20 and female T21. Fortunately we were able to watch them hunt for a while.
We then continued our way around Mandarte Island, through the Cactus Islands, and back home. We saw all kinds of wildlife including Cormorants, gulls, Pigeon Guillemots, Harbor Seals, Harbor Porpoise, Bald Eagles, Fallow Deer, and Mouflon Sheep. Couldn’t ask for much more on a day like this!
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, cormorants, D'Arcy Island, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Haro Strait, Mandarte Island, Mouflon Sheep, pigeon guillemot, Transient Orcas
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Thursday, June 7th, 2012
Today we shuffled around Spieden, Stewart and some of the inner islands. As we boarded the boat we prepared for a wet day, but it actually turned out to be very nice. On the south side of Spieden we saw at least 30 or so Mouflon Sheep and got to see the very first Mink of the season, scurrying along the shoreline. We then made our way around Stewart, through John’s Pass, and through the Cactus Islands seeing numerous Harbors Seals hauled out on small rocky islets and a lone Bald Eagle guarding its nest.
This trip was unique among others because we were able to really dig into the history of some of the smaller, inner islands which can often be overlooked. We even got the chance to make our way between Shaw and Orcas Island, to check out the cool summer homes, each passenger claiming one as their own.
It was a very fun, secret-revealing, yet relaxing, day on the water!
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cactus Islands, Harbor Seals, John\'s Pass, Mink, Mouflon Sheep, orcas island, Shaw Island, Spieden Island, Stewart Island
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Monday, June 4th, 2012
Salmon Bank was the place to be today. We headed south out of Friday Harbor, prepared for rain but pleasantly surprised that it stopped just as we left our boat slip. Along our way we stopped to view a large group of harbor seals hauled out. A few gave us a demonstration of how phocids, true seals, move around on land without being able to rotate their hind flippers under their body by scooting off the rocks into the water. Continuing south, we slowed by Goose Island to watch and learn about the pelagic cormorant. Then, as we reached Salmon Bank, it took only a few minutes to spot a minke whale in the distance. As we slowed, we noticed that there was more than one minke around. Two surfaced at the same time, giving us an amazing look of their blowholes and bodies. But the minke whales weren’t alone. There were harbor seals all around! They would poke their heads out of the water then dive back down. Also in the area were lots of harbor porpoise! We saw their small fins break the water surface in every direction off the boat. Sea birds were around too; gulls, cormorants, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, and even a pacific loon!
After watching the minkes surface one last time we circumnavigated San Juan Island. At Lime Kiln a large, male California sea lion was foraging in the water and a bald flew behind our stern on its way to land. At Spieden Island the mouflon sheep and sika deer were everywhere, even on the rocky shoreline. Finally, before getting back into Friday Harbor we saw four more bald eagles perched at the top of trees; two on Spieden Island and two more on Cactus Island. Truly a spectacular day!
~Kristen, naturalist, San Juan Safaris
Tags: auklet, Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, California Sea Lion, Cormorant, friday harbor, goose island, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, lime kiln, minke whale, Mouflon Sheep, murre, pacific loon, Phocids, Salmon Bank, san juan island, Sika Deer, Spieden Island
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Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
Another great day out on the water! Following a similar route around Spieden Island, through the Cactus Islands, and channel between Stewart and John’s Islands we saw a lot of great wildlife! Stellars were enjoying the sun, belly up in the water at Spieden point, and numerous Harbor Seals were catching the rays on any rock space available between Spieden and Mandarte. We also saw about 5 or so Bald Eagles along the tops of the tree line. Once we came around the northwestern point of Stewart Island our Captain caught a quick glimpse of what appeared to be a porpoise, so we cut the motor and were able to catch a good showing of about 3 or 4 Harbor Porpoises milling around. We then rounded Mandarte to check out the gulls, geese, and Cormorants and headed back along the southern side of Spieden. There we found multiple Sika Deer and Mouflan sheep. As we were passing back by the point, the Stellar Sea Lions appeared to be in the same location we left them so this time we were able to get an even closer look. On our way home it seemed as though the Harbor Seals couldn’t get enough of us as we continued to see them swimming nearby all the way into Friday Harbor.
Naturalist Tara
Tags: Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Mandarte, Mouflon Sheep, Sika Deer, Spieden Island, Steller\'s Sea Lion
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Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
March 27, 2011
The first charter of the season
Today was the first official charter of the 2011 season! Captain Mike Kramer along with naturalists Colleen, Laura, and Mike took 22 brave passengers out in the cool temperatures and overcast skies.The group arrived from Seattle in style on the Kenmore Air Whale-Plane around 10am and we got underway shortly after. As we headed out of Friday Harbor the passengers bundled up in warm jackets and blankets and kept their eyes on the water for wildlife.
We encountered a couple shy Harbor Porpoise just off the west side of Yellow Island in the middle of San Juan channel in the first 20 minutes of the trip. We also found dozens of Bald Eagles and a few Harbor Seals both hauled out and bobbing in the water.
Speiden Island was teeming with Mouflan Sheep which were a treat for the group. And Stewart Island revealed one of the most exciting finds of the day, a Peregrine Falcon!
Even though it was a little chilly and wet everyone had a great time searching for all kinds of wildlife. It was a great start to the season, and we are all excited to start running regular trips in the next two weeks. We hope to see you out here soon! And be sure to check back for more sighting updates as we await our first Orcas of the season!
Naturalist Mike Oster
Sleepy Harbor Seal by Herb
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cactus Islands, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Mouflon Sheep, peregrine falcon, san juan island, Sika Deer, Spieden Island, Stuart Island, yellow island
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