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2 male Bigg's Orcas

We found Killer Whales in San Juan Channel!: T101 and T90 Bigg's Orca families hunt near Friday Harbor

Erick | Wednesday, March 13, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion| | 12:00 

 

This Wednesday was one of the first days it really has felt like spring here in the islands. The sun was out and there was only a slight breeze in the air. Captain Pete and I took a good-sized crew out to go see what wonderful wildlife was also out enjoying the sunshine. We headed south after we left Friday Harbor. We rounded Turn Island and just as we made our way into Griffin Bay we saw some blows just ahead in San Juan...

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Bigg's male orca

A Sunny Tour around the Gulf and San Juan Islands: The T137 Bigg's Orcas hunt among the islands

Erick | Sunday, March 10, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00 

 

Today we were fortunate enough to have another beautiful, sunny day. Captain Mike and I headed out with a small crew to search for the whales and other wildlife of the Salish Sea. We first dipped a little bit south around Turn Island to scan around Griffin Bay. Here, we saw a wonderful Bald Eagle perched high up in a gnarled Douglas Fir. Underneath him amidst the glassy upwelling next to Turn Island we saw a few young Harbor...

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New calf in the T124A family

Sunny San Juan Islands: Two Families of Bigg's Killer Whales get their babies to play!

Erick | Saturday, March 9, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00 

If you can imagine a perfect March day, then that day was today. The sun was shining bright, there were a few fluffy white clouds hanging out above the islands, and the breeze was slight. Captain Mike, Sarah, and I took a pretty large group out aboard M/V Sea Lion. We left from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. And headed south into San Juan Channel. The channels in between the main islands of the San Juan Islands are not very...

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T123A Stanley

Last Minute Report of Orcas! Bigg's killer whales spotted in the Salish Sea

Sarah | 03/08/2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

Wowza what a day whale watching in the San Juan Islands. March is one of my favorite times to be out on the water because there is just so much wildlife that can be found in and around the islands while there is always the possibility of finding whales. Leaving Friday Harbor we experienced all of the possible weather conditions we could think of - flurries, a drizzle, clouds, and then bright sunshine – and we found amazing wildlife!

Based...

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T046's near Victoria

Whales and Wildlife Spotted in the Salish Sea

Sarah | 03/07/2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

Today we had a marvelous day exploring the Salish Sea. The day was full of wildlife and beautiful cloudscapes.

This time of year we often do not have any reports when leaving Friday Harbor, but as we left the mouth of our protected home Captain Mike steered the M/V Sea Lion south towards Cattle Pass. I poked my head in the wheelhouse… a report of orcas near Victoria! This time of year a report is kind of like a rumor until we put our eyes...

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Male Steller Sea Lion

Snow Falling on an Island-Filled Sea: Watching Salish Sea Wildlife Have a Snow Day

 

Erick | Wednesday, March 6, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00 

This Wednesday, Capt. Brian and I took a small group out on a brisk, cloudy day. It looks like this year winter is sticking around a little bit longer in Washington State. We were on the search for some local wildlife among the many islands of the San Juan Archipelago. We started north into a slight breeze from the northeast and traced our way up through San Juan Channel. We searched from Friday Harbor up through and into...

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T046's in Saratoga Passage

Bigg's Killer Whales in Saratoga Passage

Sarah | 03/02/2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

Captain Mike and I had a whirlwind of a trip on Saturday that was so incredibly wonderful. Leaving the dock here in Friday Harbor there was a whisper of the potential of some whales spotted from shore far to our south. We decided that it was worth the trip, and pointed in their direction! Traveling down San Juan Channel we stopped to check out some bald eagles and harbor seals before continuing to travel south.

We rounded the bottom of...

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Southern Resident Orcas of J pod

Wildlife Winter Wonderland: J pod Orcas spotted in Haro Strait!

Erick | February 23, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | Noon

As the short month of February approaches its end we do our last weekend-only trips from Friday Harbor. Once March starts we will be starting daily trips aboard M/V Sea Lion departing from Friday Harbor at noon. This Saturday, Captain Mike and I had a wonderful trip with a very small group of passengers. I think folks were afraid of the cold so it ended up being only two hardy folks aboard wanting to go out and see what was out there in...

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Steller Sea Lion

Winter Wildlife Wonderland: Wildlife Watching Trip from Friday Harbor

Erick | February 17, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00

'Twas a gloriously bright and sunny winter day in the San Juan Islands. Capt. Mike and I set out with a small and cozy group of folks. We headed south through San Juan Channel until we reached Cattle Pass. Here, where San Juan Channel empties into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, currents swirl around many jagged and bird covered islets. The rocks here are a favorite place for Steller Sea Lions to hang out and sun.  Today there were around...

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