lime kiln « Whale Watching Blog Friday Harbor San Juan Island

Posts Tagged ‘lime kiln’

Amazing Whale Watching Today!!!

Saturday, August 11th, 2012

Busy Saturday on the water today, but the whales didn’t seem to mind!!! Members of Jpod had spread out almost half the length of San Juan traveling south in Haro Strait between Lime Kiln and False Bay (48°32.15N, 123°00.87W). The first whale we encountered was Doublestuff (J34) rolling around and traveling amongst a few females enjoying the sunshine and family time.

The next group we came across was Hy’Shqa (J37) and her VERY new born calf J49 with Grandma Samish (J14) monitoring close behind. What a blessing to see the little one so healthy and keeping up right alongside mama!!!

Then we ran into Onyx (L87) foraging by his lonesome and out of nowhere popped up Blackberry (J27) right off our stern. I swear he has a “thing” for the Kittiwake because he always pays us a visit on that boat!

The last family we encountered were the J16s; Mama Slick (J16) leading her offspring and Big Mike (J26).

What an amazing day for whale watching! And the night cruise is yet to come…

Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris

Tags: False Bay, Haro Strait, Jpod, lime kiln, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Amongst the Residents

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

Today we headed out in full force with both boats, the Sea Lion and Kittiwake. We heard a few rumors of Big Black Fish milling around Lime Kiln so we headed in that direction. As we passed South Beach we saw our first group of dorsal fins break the water surface ( Haro Strait, 48°26.27N 123°01.48W).

Big “Mike” (J26) somehow made his way into a group of female K’s including “Raggedy” (K40) and seemed to be looking for a hot a date! He was definitely showing off what he’s got, wrestling around, and strutting his stuff. We figured we’d let him continue his pursuit and head west into open water to catch up with Cappuccino (K21).

We rode alongside Cappuccino (K21) for a bit. He was just chillaxin’ by his lonesome, milling around, doing his own thing. His pace was great for us though! We were able to cut the motor, watch him slowly emerge from the water, releasing large, exuding blows, and glide back slowly into the water. His actions were so smooth it caused passengers to grow silent, awestruck by the size and serenity of this amazing creature, living and breathing beside them.

There were also a number of other groups both from J-pod and K-pod spread out in the surrounding area fishing and what not. The Kittiwake got to ride with both Blackberry (J27) and Polaris (J28). We ended up leaving the whales still milling around in the same area at approximately 3:30 PM.

All in all, it was another unbelievable day amongst our Southern Residents!

Naturalists Tara and Shelly, San Juan Safaris

Tags: Haro Strait, j pod, K Pod, lime kiln, Milling, san juan island, South Beach, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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FIRST SUNSET TOUR…AMAZING!

Saturday, June 9th, 2012

We had our first sunset tour of the season tonight and the only way to describe it was AMAZING! We had a small intimate group as we headed north out of Friday Harbor and quickly made our way to the west side of San Juan Island. The water was a bit choppy as we rounded Roche Harbor, but it made for a very adventurous and exciting boat ride! Just north of Lime Kiln one of our guests spotted a dorsal fin close to shore. Then we all spotted a lot more dorsal fins and misty blows. The killer whales were spread out from the shoreline, out. There were at least eight resident killer whales together in that area. It was difficult to identify individuals because of the waves, but the choppy sea seemed to bring out their playfulness. Many of the whales were spy hopping far out of the water; one whale came out three times in a row! We also witnessed one whale breach, and we also caught glimpses of the white underside of their flukes as a few lob tailed. All of this going on with the sun getting lower towards the horizon behind us. Like I said, AMAZING first sunset trip, with many more to come!

~Kristen, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris

Tags: friday harbor, killer whales, lime kiln, Orcas, Roche Harbor, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Sea Life on Salmon Bank

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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Playful Pod

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

The sun was shining and the waters were calm as we headed north in search of wildlife. Just as we left Friday Harbor, we spotted a harbor seal poking his head out of the water and slowed down to get a better look. We continued our journey enjoying the beautiful day and the sites of the surrounding islands. As we reached the west side of San Juan Island north of Lime Kiln, we saw what we were looking for, killer whales! Lots of them! The pod was spread out so we didn’t know which direction to look; whales were breaching to our right, some were lob tailing to our left. They were all being super playful, it was quite a view!

After spending some time with the whales we decided to circumnavigate the rest of San Juan Island. On our way back in we spotted some harbor porpoises and stopped because the water was absolutely calm and beautiful, plus we were able to admire the views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker off in the distance. Excellent day full of wildlife!