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Amazing Peduncle Throwing Humpback!

Jordan | M/V Sea Lion | 09/14/19 | 12:00pm

Today was unlike any day I’ve had in the San Juan’s!

Captain Pete, Naturalist Olivia and I headed out of Friday Harbor and headed down south through the San Juan Channel on the lookout for any wildlife.

We reached the southern point of San Juan and admired the beautiful Cattle Point lighthouse.

Continuing out into open waters, we found a humpback whale! As we approached, the humpback slapped its tail against the surface of the water...

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A humpback whale surfaces in the Salish Sea

A Mysticete kind of day! Humpbacks and Minkes in the Salish Sea

Sarah | 09/13/2019 | M/V Kestrel | 11:00am

 

Today was just a lovely day on the water! With calm seas and some reports of several baleen whales in our area, Captain Gabe and I were eager to hit the water.

We started our day heading south from Friday Harbor through San Juan Channel towards Cattle Pass between San Juan Island and Lopez Island. We stopped for a brief look at some Steller’s sea lions hauled out on a rocky outcropping known as Whale Rocks. These massive pinnipeds are the...

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Dall's Porpoises in the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Mount Rainier and Dall's Porpoises Return to the San Juan Islands!

Olivia | September 12th, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

What a great day near San Juan Island! Captain Gabe, Co-Naturalist Piper and I headed south through the San Juan Channel to aim for the Strait of Juan de Fuca in hopes of seeing potential whale sightings. We made a stop at Whale Rocks where we were able to view [and listen] to heaps of Steller’s Sea Lions! Loving these large Pinnipeds, it was so great to hear their deep bellows and watch them snooze, play, and swim in the high...

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Humpback Whales in the Strait of Georgia

Three Humpbacks Swimming Near San Juan!

Jordan | M/V Kestrel | 09/12/19 | 11:00am

Today was sure an adventurous day!

Captain Pete and I took the Kestrel out of Friday Harbor and headed south down through the San Juan Channel. Once we reached the southern tip of San Juan, we spotted Cattle Point lighthouse as we neared a rock full of wildlife!

We found Steller sea lions! These 12-foot long 2,400 pound animals barked and crawled around the island as they looked for the best rock to nap on. Some of them splashed in the water...

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Transient Orcas San Juan Islands

Private Charter with Amazing Whales

Olivia | September 11th, 2019 | M/V Kestrel | 3:00pm Private Charter

This afternoon we had a private charter of two book on, which was an absolute delight. These folks were so excited just to be on the water checking out the gorgeous scenery of our many islands. We decided to wave at the Humpback Whale still hanging out in the channel from earlier in the season and attempt to go find something black and white and moving away from us. We boated north through San Juan Channel, cutting...

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Killer whale surfacing

Orcas and Humpbacks Everywhere!

Jordan | M/V Sea Lion | 09/11/19 | 12:00pm

Today was a fantastic day out on the water! Captain Erick and I headed out of Friday Harbor, into the San Juan Channel and up towards the Canadian border.

We crossed under Speiden Island where we saw exotic sheep and deer grazing along the grassy hillside. We even saw an albino fallow deer! It looked supernatural as its pure white fur glowed in the sunlight!

Then we headed up north, across Boundary Pass and towards the Canadian Islands of...

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Bigg's Killer Whales near Saltspring

Family Favorite Whales in the San Juan Islands

Olivia | September 11th, 2019 | M/V Kestrel | 11:00am

Wednesday morning was an exceptional day on the adventure Kestrel trip. It has been a while since both Captain Pete and I have been on our zodiac and were equally excited to hit the water. However, we couldn’t get our boat up to full speed because just outside of Friday Harbor in San Juan Channel was a Humpback Whale! This was personally my first time seeing this type of Baleen Whale in the channel and we spent about a half hour...

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Humpback Whale

Bond, Whale Bond. Humpback Whale 'Bond' (MMX0007) feeds around Spieden Channel

Erick | Tuesday, September 10, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | Noon

 

Today, Captain Pete and I took a fantastic group of passengers out on a noon trip to search the Salish Sea for some fun critters. It was another beautiful day that was the perfect fall temperature. It started out very foggy and dripping and by the afternoon was warm and sunny. Capt. Pete and I went north and immediately saw a how bunch of Harbor Porpoises hunting in the strong currents around Point Caution! As we journeyed...

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Transient Orcas San Juan Islands

Solo Orca and Humpback Whale in the Salish Sea

Olivia | September 8th, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

What a fun day Captain Sarah and I had with all our passengers on M/V Sea Lion! We started off the trip by heading north where we immediately began seeing Harbor Porpoises rounding San Juan Island through Spieden Channel. After taking a quick stop at Spieden Island to see Bald Eagles, Harbor Seals, and heaps of Mouflon Sheep, we continued towards Stuart Island where we ran into our solo Bigg’s Killer Whale, T49A3! This goofy...

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Humpback Whale

A Humpback Whale (MMX0007) and the Goofiest Male Bigg's Killer Whale (T49A3)

M/V Kestrel | Sunday, September 8, 2019 | Naturalist Erick | 11:00AM

 

Sunday morning started out feeling super fall with a slight breeze out of the south. Captain Gabe and I headed out a long with a few other boats to go search for fun wildlife in the crisp and sometimes foggy morning. I personally love mornings like this. Most folks visit the islands in the summer when it is always summer with days that feel like they last forever but never get too hot. As we move into fall, we get...

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