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Minke Whale feeding

Minke Whales Hiding Out near Whale Rocks

Haleigh | M/V Osprey | July 3, 2021 | 5:30pm

 

On this evening’s classic sunset wildlife tour, we adventured southbound towards the junction of many channels. The Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait, Rosario Strait, and San Juan Channel are constantly intermixing waters rich with phytoplankton and bait fish. The churning at shallow banks makes for especially abundant feeding ground in the ecosystem that can be filled with wildlife. This was our destination for the evening.

 

As we...

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Bigg's Killer Whale

Bigg’s Killer Whales towards Deception Pass

Maxx K. | M/V Osprey | 07/02/2021 | 5:30pm

 

Osprey slowly turned southbound out of Friday Harbor as the sun set behind San Juan Island off our stern. We motored down the San Juan Channel and eventually stopped at the Whale Rocks off cattle point. Harbor seals seemed to cuddle with one another just above the water’s edge, maintaining that quintessential banana shaped posture as they balanced against the incoming swell. Steller sea lions rested just behind them, their robust beige...

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Great Trip with Brother Transient Orcas Near Lopez!

Jordan | M/V Sea Lion | 07/02/2021 2:00pm

We got so lucky today!

 Captain Pete and I headed out of Friday Harbor and found whales in only a few minutes! This is an incredibly rare occurrence, so we were feeling really excited.

As we slowly approached the scene, we identified the whales as the two brothers: T77C and T77D also known as Neftali and Alcyon! We found then near Lopez Island and they led as all along the coastline down the San Juan Channel. They were cruising along, looking...

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Minke Whale feeding

Feeding Frenzy with 4 Minke Whales, Harbor Seals, and Pelagic Birds!

Haleigh | M/V Sea Lion | June 28, 2021 | 2:00pm

 

Given today was one of the hottest days on San Juan Island, our boat full of passengers stoked to be on the water. The cool breeze hit us as we left Friday Harbor and the chill set in as we traveled southbound through San Juan Channel, passing harbor porpoise along the way. Entering the Strait of Juan de Fuca felt like an entirely new land. It was more than 30 degrees cooler and the hazy sky blurred all of the distinguishing features...

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Humpback Whale surfacing for air

Humpback Whale in San Juan Channel at Sunset

Haleigh | M/V Osprey | June 26, 2021 | 5:30pm

 

The Salish Sea supports an abundant, diverse ecosystem full of lengthy kelp beds, speckled phytoplankton, small schooling fish, and our larger marine mammals! Using our knowledge of the environment, we can predict where certain animals will congregate or where they’ll be moving. Combining this knowledge, we are further directed by visual sightings reporting cetaceans or pinnipeds to the Pacific Whale Watch Association. By sharing...

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Fantastic Friendly Transient Orcas Near San Juan

Jordan | M/V Kestrel | 06/24/2021 2:00pm

Today was spectacular. The gorgeous sunny day filled all our hearts with sunny excitement as we headed out of Friday Harbor. Captain Erick and I sped down the San Juan Channel towards the open waters of the Salmon Bank.

Then, in the distance, we spotted orca whales! Huge fins pierced the shimmering water as they swam towards San Juan Island. They got closer and we counted about 9 orca whales! Upon looking at the dorsal fins we could ID...

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Bigg's Killer Whales South of San Juan Island

Two Families of Bigg's Killer Whales Feed off False Bay

Olivia | M/V Osprey | June 16th, 2021 | 12:30pm

Another clear day graced us with the presence of Mount Rainier beaming high atop the Puget Sound to the south. We set off with the volcano guiding our way, passing Harbor Porpoises swimming outside Upright Channel. Passing Cattle Point Lighthouse and keeping it on our starboard side, we continued around Salmon Bank aiming for False Bay off San Juan Island. 

Not only did we catch a Bald Eagle chasing after a Rhinoceros Auklet upon...

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Humpback Whale showing tail before diving for food

Fluking Humpback Whale and Lunging Minke Whale All in the Salish Sea

It was an awesome wildlife day in the Salish Sea! After a smooth exit out of Friday Harbor, we began our search for wildlife southbound in San Juan Channel. Our first stop was at Whale Rocks to look at two kinds of Pinnipeds: Steller Sea Lions and Harbor Seals! While the Harbor Seals were peacefully hauled out, the hefty Steller Sea Lions splashed around the shallow waters and roared fiercely. Observing pinnipeds cohabitating helped us distinguish their differences in size...

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Lone Bigg's Killer Whale

Lone Bigg's Killer Whale Travels North of Mum and Calf Humpback Whales

Olivia | M/V Osprey | June 13th, 2021 | 12:30pm 

It was a rainy day leaving the dock. We could smell it in the air even if we could not feel it on our skins just yet. One thing I’ve learned is that being in nature feeling all the elements in addition to watching wild animals go about their day, is an entirely different feeling that is truly something special. That is exactly what we got this Sunday afternoon. While there was a Humpback Whale and calf duo in Spieden Channel just north...

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Gray Whale near Cattle Point

Gray Whale Feeding and a Fluking near Cattle Point

Haleigh | M/V Osprey | June 13, 2021 | 5:30pm

 

Our sunset trip began traveling south through San Juan Channel. Visibility was great with the surrounding landscape crisply defined. We could see Koma Kulshan (Mount Baker) off of our Port (left side), Mount Rainier straight ahead down through the channel, and the Olympic Peninsula’s jagged mountaintops following down our Starboard (right side) out towards the Pacific Ocean. 

 

A Gray whale was sighted traveling south along San Juan...

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