Posts Tagged ‘Steller Sea Lion’

Minkes and a Humpback!!!

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
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Tons of whale action today; three Minke Whales and even a Humpback!!! (Salmon Bank, 48°25.01N 122°59.19W)

Humpbacks typically don’t come this far inland, to San Juan Island, so it was a great treat! These whales couldn’t be more graceful raising their fluke entirely out of the water and slowly diving down without a splash. They are THE true mermaids of the sea.

On our way in we saw tons of other wildlife including Bald Eagles, Harbor Seals, Steller Sea Lions, and Harbor Porpoise.

What a wonderful day to be a member of  Team San Juan Safaris!

Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris

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Minke Whales!

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012
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Today we got to experience something a little different, but fun! It appeared as though the Southern Resident Killer Whales had left the Salish Sea for the day, so we went out looking for our other year-round residents, the Minke Whales. We headed south of Salmon Bank, eyeing each bait ball we passed, looking for that mysteriously small dorsal, yet long, almost ancient-looking body. We saw our first one a couple miles offshore (48.24.14N 122.57.78W) and within minutes saw another about 1000 yards in the opposite direction. We eventually designated that there were 3 different Minkes in the area.

The small dorsal of the Minke Whale is very misleading to its size and often the species is underappreciated. Today however, they really got to shine, and our guests couldn’t have been more thrilled. Part of the fun in watching these whales is not knowing when or where they will come up next. We got a lot of great looks though, on all sides of the boat, and we even got to see a few birds fly……not by choice that is……a Minke Whale had come up and lunged right at their bait ball, taking away the fish they had accumulated for lunch. Smart whale :)

On our way back in, we saw 2 more Minke Whales near Cattle Pass along with a Steller Sea Lion who had climbed his way up onto a rocky islet. So great to see the Sea Lions returning! 

Another great day on the water!

Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris

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A Marine Mammal Thanksgiving!

Sunday, June 3rd, 2012
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Unfortunately there were no reports or sightings of Orcas whales in the region today, but we did get to see an amazing amount of other marine and terrestrial wildlife! We traveled approximately 50 miles round trip visiting Spieden Island, Mandarte, Turn Point (Stewart Island), and Patos Island. On Spieden we found some Mouflon Sheep and a couple Bald Eagles along with numerous Harbor Seals hauled out on small, rocky islets. At Mandarte, we engaged in hundreds of Cormorants building up their nests right on the cliffs, just overlooking the water, creating the ultimate penthouses.

We then headed towards East Point (Saturna Island) where we would soon find ourselves in the midst of a marine mammal gathering. This area, between East Point and Patos Island, is commonly known for its productivity and foraging value due to all the rip tides, upwellings, and different currents coming together. So when we reached the scene, we were immediately indulged in a marine mammal thanksgiving. Everywhere we looked, we saw different animals getting together for their share of fresh fish including 3 Steller Sea Lions, multiple Harbor Seals, Harbor Porpoises, and large swarms of Sea Birds hovering over each group for any left overs. Man was it a sight to see! Who knew marine animals were so similar to humans? Just lure us in with a little bit of food and sure, we’ll come together!

But speaking of food, its dinner time!

Signing off,

Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris

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Going the Distance

Saturday, May 5th, 2012
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The sun was shining high in the sky as we left Friday Harbor this afternoon. We headed south, far south, enjoying the natural beauty of the islands along the way. At 48o 10.80’N 122 o 59.70’W, off shore between Dungeness Spit and Port Angeles, we spotted our first blow. It was the Southern Resident killer whales. The Orcas were spread out all around us. We watched as they milled around in groups of two to four individuals, diving and blowing, their dorsal fins cutting through the water. What a sight! After spending some time with the whales it was time to make the long journey back. But time did not stop us from viewing two bald eagles on Long Island, a group of Steller sea lions on whale rocks, and gulls and cormorants on Goose Island. We couldn’t have asked for a better day!

Kristen, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris

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Slight chance of wind with heavy marine mammals predicted

Friday, September 2nd, 2011
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The sun may have been shining today, but it was raining marine mammals!!! Shortly after leaving Friday Harbor and heading south we saw a large group of Harbor porpoise. We cut the engine and the miniature Cetaceans that are famously shy were all around the boat and even porpoising out of the water, exposing much of their flanks. Then once in Salmon Bank a Minke whale’s long back broke the surface and was soon followed by its small hooked dorsal fin.

As we entered Cattle Pass back toward the harbor, we received the exciting call that there were orcas beside Lopez. Captain Mike quickly maneuvered the boat in a 180 and we were back out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Four to five orcas, one a juvenile, were seen cruising around the rocky outcrops near Iceberg Point. They were of the transient community with solid saddle patches and wide dorsal fins that angled further toward their posterior than the residents. We left them as they slowly started making their way north.

On our way back, we noticed that Whale Rocks were crowded with gigantic Steller sea lions and encircled by a few harbor seals. This happened to be not far, and in the same direction the transients were moving towards. We wondered if a pinnipede smorgasbord was in the making.

Kirsten, naturalist

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West Side Whales

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
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As we headed south through Cattle Pass a grizzly-like head broke the surface with a large fish dangling from its mouth. The snorting and huffing creature was a male Steller sea lion, the largest of all the sea lions and the third largest species within the Pinnipedia suborder. The silhouette of another gigantic bull that had claimed his throne atop Whale Rock protruded from the outcrop.

Once traveling along San Juan Island’s west coast, the black dorsal fins of orcas appeared everywhere. The pod was widely dispersed along and from the shoreline in smaller groups of two to four. There were many mature males and a calf among the many we saw, leading us to believe it was L pod. J,K and L are the three pods which compose our Southern Resident community of killer whales. L pod is the largest with over 40 orcas and whose member Nugget (L-55) also has a calf this past year.

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