Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

Sarah | 06/20/2020 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

We had an excellent, albeit the moody weather, out on the water. On my first tour back on the water this season, we got to see so much wildlife, and enjoyed some stunning scenery.

We left Friday Harbor and headed north through San Juan Channel, and took a right up President’s Channel. While we cruised through the impressive channel with the tall hills and bluffs of Orcas Island and Waldron Island on either side of us, we got to see some...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 6/13/2020 | 5:30pm

This evening's sunset whale watch was spectacular!  We headed southbound through San Juan Channel towards Cattle Point.  We passed some fun pelagic bird species along the way, including pigeon guillemots, rhinoceros auklets, and cormorants.  After reaching Cattle Point, the seas were a little rough but passengers were excited for the adventure!  We received a report of Bigg's killer whales (historically called transients) along the west side...

Laura / M/V Sea Lion / 6/10/2020 / 12:00pm

    Today I am thrilled to report a most fulfilling whale watch after a long sabbatical due to recent COVID regulations.  Captain Pete and I dusted off our binos and set off into the Salish Sea on M/V Sea Lion!  She seemed just as happy to be back out on the water as well and cruised through the seas like a well-oiled machine.  Our first tour is officially scheduled for this upcoming weekend, Saturday June 13th as well as Sunday!

    After...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 3/12/2020 | 12:00pm

It is always fun to report when passengers find whales from the sky as they arrive to San Juan Island via sea plane!  Two passengers had an early morning flight to Friday Harbor and sighted four orcas from above while flying over the San Juan Channel.  We boarded as quickly as possible to leave the dock with hopes of seeing these whales again!

M/V Sea Lion cruised up the channel and into Boundary Pass as everyone anxiously scanned for...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 3/10/2020 | 12:00pm

Today was such a fun day to be out on the water!  M/V Sea Lion left the dock of Friday Harbor and headed north.  Moments after we left the dock a large common loon came right by our boat and surprised all the passengers!  He was sporting some gorgeous spring breeding plumage and this sighting was the closest I have ever been to a loon!

We continued through the San Juan Channel and stopped at Flattop Island to watch a juvenile bald eagle take...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 3/8/2020 | 12:00pm

    What a gorgeous day to spend out on the water!  I was so excited to head south through the San Juan Channel in glass calm seas, with blue skies and clear visibility!  Cattle Point is one of my favorite viewing spots for a multitude of pelagic birds readily seen diving in the area for small schooling fish.  Today there were pigeon guillemots, common murres, cormorants, and grebes in abundance!  The lighthouse along Cattle Point added...

Laura C. | M/V Sea Lion | 11/29/19 | 12:00pm

Today was so much fun out on the water!  We boarded M/V Sea Lion and headed north into the San Juan Channel.  Our first wildlife sighting was a bald eagle on Flattop Island, sitting out in the open on a large boulder.  It was an awesome experience to see it take off from the rock and gently land into a tree branch above.  Across the way, we stopped to view a large congregation of harbor seals.  There was a beautiful white harbor seal...

Laura C. | 11/30/2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

Waking up this morning was bittersweet, as I knew it would be the last trip of the season, but I was equally excited to get out on the water to hopefully see some whales!  Today could not have more perfect, with orcas graciously providing a grand finale!  This is the last blog of the season as it is our final whale watch of the year!  Eleven passengers eagerly boarded M/V Sea Lion and greeted Captain Pete with enthusiasm.  After...

Laura C. | M/V Sea Lion | 11/24/2019 | 12:00pm

Sunshine radiated throughout the Salish Sea today!  The seas were beautiful, surrounded by crisp clean air that provided miles of visibility.  We headed north in the San Juan Channel, through President’s Channel and past Patos Island into the Strait of Georgia.  Patos Island is home to a bald eagle’s nest, and it was a great first stopping point to larger wildlife, as their nests can weigh up to 1 ton each!  Passengers assisted in a...

Laura C. | 11/23/2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00

The seas were rocky today in the Salish Sea!  Grey clouds blanketed the sky above swirling whitecaps in the San Juan Channel.  Captain Pete was in his element behind the helm as we stoically ventured north through the deep sloshy seas.  Days like this are my favorite because you really feel connected to the marine environment and feel that there is a greater force out there determining your impending voyage.  We first stopped near Waldron...