Posts Tagged ‘Cattle Pass’
Monday, August 29th, 2011
Today we traveled all the way to Victoria to see one lone transient. He was magnificent. It was a long haul but when we arrived he appeared to be patrolling up and down the rocks. He has one of the broadest dorsal fins I have ever seen.
The word on the street was that he had been harassing a sea lion prior to our arrival. When we got there he was just cruising, back and forth along the rocks, occasionally rolling slightly on his side as if he was looking up toward the rocks to see what was on the lunch menu. It was pretty cool. After a bit of whale watching we began the long journey home. Thanks to a ripping 5-6knot tidal flood, we made it there in record time. We stopped for a group of Steller’s Seal Lions hauled out on whale rocks and in the water below. On the way home the clouds parted and gave way to sun and flat water. Seals were lounging. Porpoises were frolicking. Fantastic.
Laura, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Cattle Pass, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Orca whale, Orcas, san juan island, San Juan Safaris, Steller\'s Sea Lion, Transient Orcas
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Friday, August 12th, 2011
Southward from sunny Friday Harbor quickly led us to dense fog with visibility at maybe 100 yards (maybe) just before Cattle Pass. Armed with radar, the captain navigated us through the pass and over to Whale Rocks where we found seven large stellar sea lions and numerous harbor seals hauled out, warming up and napping. Even in fog, the air was warmer than the 50 degree waters around the San Juan Islands!
Battling our way through more fog, with other boats appearing and disappearing into the mists, we made our way along the west side of San Juan Island. Finally, we could make out just the top of the island. As we continued on, we searched the waters for signs of life. Suddenly, someone shouted, “There!” The boat slowed, we turned, we looked, we waited and then: ORCA! One dorsal and then two appeared. They were traveling north so we meandered along with them; they led us to more whales and less fog, perfect! We started seeing more and more; we were able to identify many from K-pod including K-27 “Deadhead” (referring more to a dangerous vertically-bobbing log than a music groupie) and her baby, K44 (yet to be named). Lots of whales in the common hunting formation of trios, pairs and loners.
The whales dropped us off at Mosquito Pass, at least that’s where the end–the trailers–of the pod was. This allowed us to cut through between Henry Island and San Juan, pass Roche Harbor and ultimately circumnavigate San Juan Island (no more fog on this side!). Along the way, we stopped by O’Neal Island to see a bald eagle and its nest.
Serena, Naturalist
San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cattle Pass, friday harbor, Harbor Seal, K Pod, Orcas, san juan island
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Monday, August 1st, 2011
Today, even the Kittiwake had an adventure! We traveled over to Orcas Island to pick up a family of ten for a private charter and from there on, we were surrounded by a continuous showing by Pacific Northwest wildlife!
First, it was a little harbor seal between Lopez and Shaw Islands. Next, it was one then two stellar sea lions (BIG ones too–they can weigh up to 2,200 pounds and be ten feet long!) swimming in the currents between Lopez and San Juan Islands. Further into the Cattle Pass, we discovered two bald eagles perched side by side above a water-front home.
Out into the waters off Salmon bank, where the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Haro straight meet, we found exactly what we were still holding our breaths for: L-pod of the Southern Resident Killer Whales! The pod was spread out near and off shore and from Cattle Pass up towards False Bay. It was every whale for itself, with a few being social and in pairs and trios. Some seemed to be traveling, others hunting and one frisky pair may have been mating (was he an outsider from J or K pod?). They were heading south but after thirty minutes of viewing, they all of a sudden went offshore and started traveling north. At this point we decided to test our wildlife luck and moved on away from the orcas.
The visibility was excellent (we could see Mount Rainier and Mount Baker!), the wind was a mellow breeze and the ocean was flat: a rare and perfect combination for Minke whale searching! We found “bird balls” (high densities of birds sitting on the water, potentially on a ball of bait fish like herring). One bird ball took off all at once and minutes later, we found out why: a minke whale had come in to eat their herring! We watched it for about twenty minutes and then moved on.
On the way back to Orcas Island, the wildlife continued to appear! More stellar sea lions and harbor seals swimming and sunning at Whale Rocks; and our finale of harbor porpoises between Lopez and San Juan Islands. Whew, we were exhausted after that (as evident by the six passengers–teenagers–napping on the ride back in)! A truly wonderful day on the water. Big thanks to the Lower family!
Serena, Naturalist
San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagles, Cattle Pass, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Haro Strait, L pod, Lopez Island, minke whale, orca whales, orcas island, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales, Stellar sea lion, Strait of Juan de Fuca
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Tuesday, July 26th, 2011
Right out the gates, we headed south and just before Cattle Pass we encountered a harbor seal munching on a salmon it had just caught! At first, two gulls were interested in the seal’s catch but each time it surfaced, another gull and then another and then another came on until there were ten gulls fighting for a piece of the salmon prize. Wait a minute, did the gulls even do any of the dirty work to catch that salmon?! Oh, scavengers.
Around the west side of San Juan Island, we started to see the tell-tale dorsal fins of the orca whales! We saw a cow-calf pair, two females and then a lone male traveling south along the island. Eventually, we saw three females/juveniles playing pass-the-bull-kelp! One animal had the kelp crossed over its dorsal fin while the others swam around in random directions to potentially catch it as the first orca dropped its “toy”. Among some of the vessels offshore, we saw another eight whales in a closer group. Based on the vocalizations we heard on the hydrophone, we were seeing a very spread out resident pod of orcas.
As we continued around the northern part of San Juan Island and then Henry Island we saw more bald eagles on Henry and Battleship islands, both perched at the tops of their respective trees scanning the sea. At O’Neal Island, we saw one more bald eagle and then headed for home.
Serena, Naturalist
San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cattle Pass, Harbor Seal, henry island, orca whales, san juan island
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Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
J pod porpoised north along the west coast of San Juan Island, as each breath exposed most of their flanks. Traveling at great speeds, the orcas manipulated the drag of water to propel their colossal bodies forward and out into the frictionless air. The pod was separated into smaller groups which were in tight formations. We identified Riptide (J-30) in the first trio and later saw a group of four which included Mike (J-26).
The excitement continued as we entered the narrow chutes of Cattle Pass on our return to Friday Harbor. Within the strong currents our boat strained through, there were over thirty harbor seals enjoying the food it transports. Once back in calm waters, we were suddenly surrounded by numerous harbor porpoises which are normally elusive and seen individually or in small groups. We turned off the engine and listened to their exhales as they passed in front and behind our boat.
Kirsten, naturalist
Tags: Cattle Pass, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seal, j pod, Mike, Orcas, porpoising, Riptide, san juan island
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Sunday, July 10th, 2011
Another beautiful day as we motored south down the San Juan Channel toward Cattle Pass. It was slightly overcast but we could see Mt Baker standing tall to our east. We stopped to look at a juvenile bald eagle sitting atop a rock otherwise covered with seals and had an “awwww” moment when a tiny seal pup surfaced behind his mom, looked at us with his big, brown eyes and then did a crazy little half breach dive.
We rounded Cattle Point and cruised west, toward False Bay. In the distance we could see a handful of boats scattered over miles. As we drew closer we could see dorsal fins here and there. We sat, turned off the engines and observed whales in every direction. We were watching a female moving along our port side when we spied a mini dorsal fin on the other side of her. It was the smallest orca I have ever seen.
When we dropped the hydrophone our suspicions were confirmed. We heard the familiar kitten-like calls of K pod. It could only have been the new baby K I have heard so much about over the last few days. The mom and calf moved but we sat and observed other individuals moving through the area. We listened to faint calls and it was even calm enough to hear echolocation noises.
Laura, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cattle Pass, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seal, Orca whale, orca whales, Orcas, san juan island, San Juan Safaris
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Sunday, July 10th, 2011
Last night brought one of the nicest evening tours I can remember. I decided to ride along as a passenger and try getting some pictures of Orcas. As we cleared Cattle Pass we headed up the west side of San Juan Island looking for any members of the resident pods. It didn’t take long to see a blow, and then another, and another. Stretching from shore to about a mile or so out were groups of fours and fives traveling mostly south.
The water was glassy flat and we were literally the only boat there. Just the M/V Sea Lion, about 20 Orcas, and 40 very happy passengers. We shut down the engines and watched the animals slowly moving down island. We even had a chance to drop the hydrophone and pick up some incredible vocalizations. Its hard to describe the over all feeling on the water. But with no wind, no waves, no other boat noise, the backdrop of the olympics, clear views of Mt. Rainer as well as Mt. Baker, good Orca vocals on the hydrophone, and the sound of whales breathing, the first word that comes to mind is peaceful. We even saw some breaches, some porpoising, and some tail slapping.
Then, on the way home, we saw a single Minke feeding around whale rocks, as well as a dozen harbor seals hauled out and lazing in the water.
But don’t just take my word for how beautiful the evening was, come see for yourself.
Mike – Naturalist
San Juan Safaris
Tags: Cattle Pass, Harbor Seal, Orca whale, Orcas
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Saturday, July 9th, 2011
Last evening I got out from behind the computer and went out on the whale watching tour that departs at 5:30.
We went out of Friday Harbor, then south down the east side of San Juan Island.
About 1 mile off the south west side of San Juan Island there were many, MANY whales.
It was an exceptionally active bunch of whales that we viewed for about 40 minutes. The energy! Breach after breach. Slap after slap. Even the youngsters were getting into the act.
I have a new camera. A splurge. 70 X 300 lens. Fast. But I am so new to it, I did not even get 1/10th of what these photos should have been. I took video. Yep. 1 second each. Gotta work on that. DARN IT! I wanted to show you just how much they were cavorting!!!
Well . . . here are the photos that I did not delete.
Kristen Dom - Marine Biologiest and Naturalist
Hop! Resident Orca Whale Off South West Side of San Juan Island 7 PM
Mesmerized Guest on the 5:30 Whale Watch Tour
Photographer on the 5:30 Sunset Whale Watching Tour
Flip Flip Flipper S.W Side of S J Island 5:30 Sunset Tour
2 Mature Bald Eagle on the 5:30 Sunset Tour
Lighthouse on the South End of San Juan Island around 6:00 PM
Pensive Guest on Sunset Whale Watching Tour
Jump! Resident Orca Whale off South West of San Juan Island 7 PM
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cattle Pass, friday harbor, Orca whale, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales, whale watching near seattle
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Saturday, July 9th, 2011
Southbound from Friday Harbor, we went in search of Pacific northwest wildlife. Along the way, we saw harbor porpoises just in the San Juan Channel north of the harbor. A few harbor seals were spotted frolicking in the waves, perhaps foraging or playing. As we rounded Henry Island along the northern end of San Juan Island, we headed south along the Haro Strait and began to see boats in the distance spread out over several miles. Upon closer viewing, those boats happened to have numerous southern resident killer whales around them! We saw some orcas tail slapping or tail lobbing and one even tail slapping on its back! At one point, we had a large male swimming straight for us! We pulled forward to give him some space and eventually he turned towards another boat; was this a curious whale investigating his surroundings? Over the radio we heard that we were seeing a mixture of J and K pods. On our return trip, we passed by Cattle Point and saw countless sea birds including cormorants, gulls, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots and rare heermanns gulls. Whale rocks had harbor seals warming up and drying off with some playing in the water. And to top it off, we found an eagle perched on a branch just south of the harbor and we were fortunate enough to see it leap off and take flight!
Serena, Naturalist
San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cattle Pass, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seal, henry island, j pod, Orcas, San Juan Channel, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Saturday, July 9th, 2011
There’s a theory among whale watch captains that whales breach more when the waves are choppier. Last night’s trip was definite proof for that theory!
We left the harbor southbound, searching for our earlier super pod. As we peeked out of the safety of the islands at Cattle Pass, the wind was blowing down from the Olympic Mountains, creating a fierce chop in the water. As we traveled northwest, sea spray was blowing over the bow and the port side of the boat; everyone took shelter. But then finally, our efforts paid off and we began to see dorsal fins and whale breath about 400 yards off our starboard bow: L-pod. We came about to travel behind the southbound killer whales. The chop and wind continued but the whales seemed to love it because just then, the breaching began! And I don’t just mean one or two breaches, I mean forty to fifty over the course of thirty minutes! We had baby orcas breaching, whales breaching in call-and-response style, three whales breaching in a row, two whales breaching simultaneously, three baby whales breaching side by side, on and on. And then, the ultimate: a large mature adult male fully cleared the water in a breach! Was he showing the whale calves how it’s done? Were we witnessing a teaching seminar on the how-tos of impressive breaching? We were surely impressed as humans watching!
Alas, the best whale watches often mean we have to pay for it somewhere and on the return trip to the harbor, we got a solid dousing from mother ocean! As we returned to Cattle Pass, we saw two bald eagles perched on a rock eying the water for delicious fishes; one even swooped down at the ocean’s surface but then, at the last minute, thought better of his attempt.
Epic day on the water! Will you be joining us for the next breach-fest?!
Serena, Naturalist
San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cattle Pass, L pod, Orcas, san juan island
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