Can you believe it? Winter is gone and we are back on the water again!
Hello all, it is me, your intrepid marine naturalist here to guide you, teach you, entertain you and celebrate with you all things orca and wildlife. It was a wet but mild winter and now we have graduated to a cool blustery spring. The skies are happy, the plants and wildlife are happy and we salty dogs are happy to be back at what we love. Traveling the waterways of the San Juan Islands.
Today we took our first trip of the season out for a wonderful wildlife tour. It was a little hectic to start as there was a torrential hail storm just before we boarded the guests. Once it stopped though, and the boat was ice free, we did not get another drop of rain or hail throughout the trip. The M/V Sea Lion was in good shape and ready to go and so were Capt. Craig, Lauren and I. Nothing could keep us back from the tour that we had all been anticipating, and of course the islands did not disappoint.
There were spotted harbor seals on every rock and eagles on every island. Sea gulls, cormorants, auklets and a flock of Bonaparte's gulls all whisked by us on the breezes. Spieden Island is green once again and the herds of mouflon sheep and fallow deer were spread along the prairie right down to the water. Our highlight by far though, was seeing an adult peregrine falcon perched on a cliff side on Stuart Island just below Turn Point Lighthouse. It seemed to be surveying Haro Strait from its seat keeping track of the comings and goings of boats.
It was a great first day back out on the water and I am excited for this season. New babies, old friends and the excitement of time spent on the Salish Sea. So, from all of us here at San Juan Safaris, thank you and we will...
See You In The Islands!
~Tristen, Naturalist
Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©
San Juan Island near Seattle: Home to the Southern Resident Killer Whales