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Blackberry! J27

J & K Southern Resident Pods| 7/25/18 | 2pm

Leaving the harbor with a full boat Captain Gabe and I were looking forward to see what Southern Residents were out on the water today. With a full boat and excited guests to get out on the water we took off South to see what we could find. There had been reports of Resident orca pods coming up the Southern tip of Lopez Island and very spread out. We headed down the San Juan Channel in hopes of encountering these animals somewhere on the south end.

 

As we crossed Cattle Pass, we...

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Whalecome back K-pod!!!

Guests aboard M/V Sea Lion along with the crew had quite a day today!  Heading out Naturalists Piper, Captain Gabe, and I were so excited that the Southern Resident Orcas had not yet left our waters. There were reports received earlier that morning about a group of them spread out on the West side of the island so we were excited to go look at what pod this was. We boarded M/V Sea Lion with the biggest smiles on our face and genuine excitement to see the Residents!

After boarding...

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Bigg's Killer Whales on the Hunt

Captain Brian and I arrived at the docks this morning with no reports of any whales in our area. Both hopeful that we would be able to find our own animals on this rainy and gray morning, we gathered our excited guests and headed out the harbor. As soon as we left the harbor, a couple of killer whales were spotted on the East side of San Juan Islands near Cypress Island. Thankful that we had a lead, we headed that way to see who we could find. As we approached where these individuals...

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Orca sunsets

Captain Pete and I were on our second trip of the day ready to be out on the water during the golden hour and hopefully encounter some animals! With very excited guests, we headed up North to see if we could find the same orcas we were with during our day trip. Apparently, these guys were covering lots of ground and moving North quick. We were worried that they would get away from us but decided to go up that way regardless. We were hopeful that we would get a good look at them...

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Bigg's Orcas

Humpback Whales and Bigg's Killer Whales Around San Juan Island On Memorial Day Weekend

[Sunday, 5/27/18 - M/V Kestrel - 2:00PM - Naturalist Erick]

 

This Sunday was another beautiful, sunny day during Memorial Day Weekend. Captain Mike and I headed out on M/V Kestrel to go find some super cool creatures to watch and learn about. We went north first towards Flattop Island and made a quick stop there to look at some Harbor Seals that were sunning themselves on rocky shoreline. There was a ton of them resting there and a few blinked their sleepy eyes back at us. Then a...

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Transient Killer Whale T123A

Humpback Whales, Transient Killer Whales, and the Last Daily Trip on M/V Kestrel

[Naturalist Sarah – 10/01/2017 – M/V Kestrel – 02:00pm]

Going into October we start to see magical light out on the water and special encounters with wildlife. Leaving the dock in Friday Harbor we didn’t have a report of whales in our area, but at this time of year that rarely means anything for the day’s sighting. Sunday’s trip was a perfect example of how our sighting network, the Pacific Whale Watch Association, works to our customer’s advantage.

Captain Mike steered the M/V...

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Transient Orcas

Transient Orcas (T30's) Coordinate Hunt Near Spencer Spit

[Naturalist Erick D., M/V Sea Lion, 8/17/17, 1:30PM]

 

The weather here in the San Juans has definitely changed for the better. A few days ago the wind shifted and blew the smoky haze away, it rained!, and the temperature cooled down again. On this beautiful, cool, and sunny day Captain Gabe, Rachel, and I all took a full boat on a search for some fun nature!

Bald Eagles

Today we took an inter-island route since there were some whale reports on the other side of the islands. We...

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A Killer whale swims near the San Juan Islands

Transients, Transients! Killer Whales Spotted Near the San Juan Islands

[6/14/17- M/V Kittiwake- 1:00PM]

What. A. Day. When the day started off with a humpback whale IN Friday Harbor AT the ferry terminal, it should have been a sign that things were going to be good today! We departed San Juan Island on M/V Kittiwake and skimmed past the humpback (who was perhaps lost and a tad bit stressed to be where it was) to give it some peace, and we continued out the harbor in search of killer whales. And, along the way, we spotted 5 bald eagles soaring in circles...

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Transient Orcas near Gooch Island

Steller's Delight

It was another hot one here in the San Juan Islands on Monday, especially for May, but that means were get a little bit more sun and after a long, grey winter that is okay sometimes. Captain Mike and I set out with high hopes and headed north with a wonderful group of folks. We headed so far north that we eventually made it into Canada, and soon there they were. You could see the blows first and then large, dark, shark-like fins slicing through the water as this family of Transient...

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Orca whale tale slap near San Juan Island - San Juan Safaris

Spring Orca Whales - J Pod near San Juan Island

Captain Mike and I had the pleasure of taking out a private Whale Watch and Wildlife Tour today for the first day of spring.  With early rumors of whales, we were all hopeful for a sighting.  Captain Mike, communicating with other member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association was able to track down J Pod off the west side of San Juan Island, in Haro Strait, near Vancouver Island.  It was a beautiful calm day on the water and we were able to get many great looks at the group of...

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