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Captains Log - July 2005
If you have been on one of our tours, we would love to hear from you. Please give: date, tour time, what you saw. If you have photos send them. They could be placed on this page and could win our Photo Contest. One winner for kayaking and one winner for whale watching by boat
July 29, 2005 Friday
The Orca whales were north just south of Pender Island (Canada) This brought the tour in almost a full hour late, but they all did get to see whales. The 1:00, 3:00 and 5:30 sunset whale watching tours all saw whales. The group up north started to head south by 3:00. The afternoon kayaking tour not only saw orca whales, but guide Brian Goodremont reports that three Harbor Porpoise were swimming around the kayaks. They were a bit north of Roche Harbor when they encountered the orca and porpoise.
July 28, 2005 Thursday Our morning 9:00 AM saw whales down toward the south end of San Juan Island. 11:00 Tour went up north to Stuart Island and slowly followed the whales to Pender Island. Later the 1:00, and 3:00 boats all saw a 'super pod' which is all three pods of Orcas. Derin Ross, naturalist, said the were very spread out. This evening on the 5:30 sunset whale watch, Derin says that they are outside of Roche Harbor near Kellets Bluff watching whales. She hasnt had a chance to ID them yet.
July 27, 2005 Wednesday 11:00 Whale Watching boat saw J &most of L pod up north just south of the bluffs at Point Roberts, heading North &very spread out. There was lots of action from the whales, with porpoising, breaching and spyhops. Seems they were riding the incoming tide and cruising with the current. Ruffles and Faith were offshore quite a ways on their own.
July 26, 2005 Tuesday Today the 11:00 whale watching boat went up north to Stuart Island then gently followed the J pod all the way up north to Pender Island. Later the 1:00, 3:00 and 5:30 whale watching boats went to the southern part of San Juan Island between Eagles Cove and False Bay.
July 25, 2005 Monday The 11:00 and 1:00 Whale Watching Tours saw L-12's and L's near the south end of San Juan Island near Eagle Cove. Derin Ross, naturalist, reports see a Bonapart Gull (black head) and a Pintail in San Juan Channel. The 3:00 and 5:30 whale watching tours also went to the south end of the island, near Eagle Cove and False Bay.
July 24, 2005 Sunday The 11:00 and 1:00 tours saw a Gray Whale that was feeding off Lopez Island. The J &L pod were too far north for anyone to catch. Later that day the 3:00 and 5:30 Whale Watching tours saw L-12's and some L's as they were headed east from Discovery Island. The boat met up with them near False Bay, on the south end of San Juan Island.
July 23, 2005 Saturday Days like this are extremely rare, but do happen. None of the whale watching boats got to orcas today. The J pod was so far north that noone could get there. The K's and L's too were out of range - mostly likely west. No boats saw orcas today from any company. This happens about 7% of the time. We did see some great wildlife and it was a beautiful day around 80 degreees.
July 22, 2005 Friday The 11:00 boat went way south past cattle point where the whales were milling in the AM.
The 3:00 whale watching boat went to see whales to the south end of San Juan Island also. The 1:00 whale watching tour just came back in after circumnavigating the entire island. The whales were still on the southern most end of the island and then gradually started north. The Sea Hawk drifted along north with the whales. It was J pod with the L-12's.
July 21, 2005 ThursdayWe added an early morning 9:00 AM whale watching tour today. That boat saw J pod on the south end of Lopez. The 1:00 boat saw L's down on the southern end of San Juan Island near False Bay. Captain Cal says the whales were spread out over about a five mile area. We had a low, low eversolow tide today. Minus 3. Going out against a strong tide like that slowed the boat to around 6 knots. The 10:00, 10:30 &11:00 kayak tours were in about 1 inch of water by the docks. Everyone made it out just fine. 11:00 tour was in the False Bay area with the L-12's and J pod coming through - milling and feeding. The 3:00 tour is right now in Andrews Bay, between Lime Kiln and Roche Harbor, with most of L pod. Some are sleeping. Some are breaching. The 5:30 sunset whale watch boat is getting ready to board their guests and head out to the west side of San Juan Island north of the lighthouse.
July 20, 2005 Wednesday Today was a L-12 day. This is a sub group of the L pod. The 11:00, 1:00, 3:00 &5:30 whale watching boat tours were all on the south end of San Juan Island today. As naturalist Derin put it, today they were just milling. No big breaches, not as active as our residents can be. Derin did see a harbor porpoise as the boat was passing the south end of Henry Island. With the whales so far south today, kayakers did not see whales, but did see lots of other wildlife.
July 19, 2005 Tuesday The 11:00, 1:00 &3:00 whale watching tours all saw L-12's down on the south end of the island, mostly near Eagle Cove. The 5:30 Tour is with the whales now near the light house. It is the J pod and L-12's. From the sound of the guests, the whales were performing. Captain Peter Albert said the J's were doing quite a bit of breaching, tail lobbing and are in general, very active this evening.
Thank you for an awesome adventure last Monday 7/18. My daughter and I had so much fun on the tour.
We saw tons of ORCAS…They are now my favorite animals….
I will pass the words along to friends and families.
Nancy Skanchy
July 18, 2005 Monday The 11:00 started north of Lime Kiln and traveled north with them to Henry Island - J pod and L 12's.1:00 Turn point with J pod and L 12 feeding and lots of breacing and tail lobs. Mt Baker out. Lots of Bald Eagles. 5:30 tour is going to False Bay- the L12 group. 3:00 Tour went north of Turn Point then the L 12's wents south and the boat trailed them. Margo reports lots of breaches, lots of tail lobbing and they were traveling close together. The 5 Hour Orca Search by Kayak also saw whales today. Amy Molsberry said it was an awesome day on the water. The whales were near Battleship.
July 17, 2005 SundayAll Whale Watching Tours saw whales today. The west side was popular especially down by False Bay.
July 16, 2005 SaturdayIt was a super day - SuperPod or all the whales, J, K and L pods got together on the south end of San Juan Island. All four of our whale watching boat tours saw whales today and two saw super pods.
July 15,2005 Friday It was a J pod day. All tours say whales today. K's and L's were completely out of the area.
July 14, 2005 ThursdayThere's a rumor. . . that J pod may have a second baby! Brent Molsberry report today fresh off the 5-hour Orca Search by kayak that they saw the orca whales today. It was J pod. They were kayaking on the west side of Henry Island near Roche Harbor when J pod came by. Little J 41, the new baby came faily close to the kayaks that were grouped together stopped. That same kayaking tour saw two surf scotters on the north side of Pearl Island. There were plenty of seal moms and pups about. Our 11:00 whale watching boat, the 3:00 whale watching boat and the 1:00 whale watching boat all saw J pod today too. J pod seemed to be hanging around the west side of Henry Island all the way to the north side and back south.
July 13, 2005 Wednesday Wow a Humpback right near Roche Harbor! Do not get many Humpbacks through the San Juans. Our 11:00 Whale Watching boat went over to the east side of Lopez Island and watched a GRAY whale feeding. Even more unusual, it BREACHED! That same boat went out at 3:00 way up north to Point Roberts (almost in Canadian waters) in the Strait Of Georgia to be with J pod. They saw lots of Dalls porpoise and the J pod baby orca too. The 1:00 whale watching boat did not see orcas today but did see two seals eatting an octopus! What a sight. The 5:30 whale watching vessle is headed up north to see if they find J pod. The 5-hr Orca Search by Kayak did not see whales today (see 3:00 report), but guide Amy Molsberry says they saw lots and lots of baby seals. When they passed by Snooze Rock there were many moms with babies.
July 12, 2005 Tuesday The 1:00 Boat saw J pod by Discovery Island. The 3:00 whale watching tour spent time with J pod off the west side of San Juan Island. They were about half way down the island near Lime Kiln headed north. The pod had just been sleeping and woke up to spy hopping, breaching and tail slapping.
July 11, 2005 Monday The 11:00 whale watching boat from Roche Harbor didn't have to go far. The whales were on the west side of San Juan Island about half way down headed north.
July 10, 2005 Sunday It was a J pod day today along the west side of San Juan Island
July 9, 2005 Saturday The 1:00 whale watching boat today say a Gray Whale. It swam right under the boat. They also saw a Tufted Puffin! There were numerous baby eagles about too. This tour was off the east side of Lopez.
July 8, 2005 Friday The 11:00 boat saw whales toward the south end of the island at False Bay. The 1:00 whale watching boat just docked and they saw a dalls porpoise, J pod with spy hopping, some breaches and tail lobbing. One of the whales was rolling on it's side, playing in the water. J41 (baby) was seen keeping up with the adults. They were mostly fishing. Lots of harbor seals, double crested cormorants many of them were juvenilles, pigeon guillmots, rhinocerous auklets, common murres and bald eagle off of Eagle Point. It was sprinkling today - eveyone had a great time.
July 7, 2005 Thursday A note from Ami Vaughn on the 11:00 Whale Watching boat: Did you hear how close the whales visited us? We were all looking at Mom &baby when we heard a loud breath &a rush of water at the back of the boat. The whale was so close, it sprayed people on the inside of the boat. Ali got a kick out of it…. We had a great time.
Note: once we are anywhere near whales, we shut the engine OFF)
July 6, 2005 Wednesday The 11:00, 1:00 &3:00 whale watching boats saw the orcas in Rosario Strait.
July 5, 2005 Tuesday The 11:00 whale watching boat was with J pod down south near False Bay, by 3:00 they were all the way up to Stuart Island. The 11:00 Orca Search By Kayak also saw whales today. The 1:00 &5:30 sunset whale watching boats both saw whales.
July 4, 2005 MondayThe 11:00, 3:00 and 6:30(charter) boats from Roche Harbor &the 1:00 &5:30 boats all saw whales today. It was a K pod &L pod day. In the AM they were south near the county park. By 3:00 they were just outside of Roche Harbor on the south side of Henry Island. Then in the evening they were back south all the way down to Eagles Cove. The 11:00 Orca Search by Kayak saw whales today too.
July 3, 2005 Sunday
Both the 11:00 &1:00 &3:00 whale watching boats saw K &L's midway on the west side of San Juan Island near the county park. Later that day, the 5:30 &6:30 whale watching boats saw K &L's at Eagle Cove.
July 2, 2005 Saturday
The 1:00 boat was just with K pod who is currently headed southbound. A few whales are still at the west end of Speiden Channel. The boat is starting back home. They saw quite a few Rhinocerous Auklets today.
The 11:00 boat was with the whales by Stewart Island, (north of San Juan Is)and it was J pod with a few of L pod. At 3:00 The were in on the south end of Henry with J's right outside of Roche Harbor.
July 1, 2005 Friday
The 11:00 Whale Watching Boat saw J's by Stewart island. The Orca Search by Kayak tour also saw J's. A whale breached fairly close to them. They were just outside of Roche Harbor at the south end of Henry Is. The 1:00 and the 3:00 boats both saw K pod. They were at the south end of San Juan Island around Eagle Cove and as far out as Pile Point. Towards late afternoon, the weather was not a great (the way a normal summer day is). The wind kicked up.
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Naturalist Margo Thorpe helping guests off the Kittiwake on July 25, 2005. Yes, They saw whales.
Bucket Of Octopus - As Capt. Brian, Guides Gene &Deborah take a peek out at Roche Harbor, San Juan Island.
I'll kill you Colleen if you put this up on the web! (Dont tell him it's here)
Captain Peter and Naturalist Margo tie up the boat after circumnavigating the entire San Juan Island. A perfect whale day with J pod and some L's
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Guests on the Sea Hawk back from an afternoon of whale watching
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July 21,2005 Guest deboarding in Friday Harbor. This boat is back in time for the 5:00 ferry departure. We do not promise that we will be back in time for this one. If the orca whales are far, the trip will go longer. No matter, catch the 6:55 ferry
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The Sea Hawk, one of our whale watching vessels with a walk around deck, enclosed cabin &bathroom. It lives in Friday Harbor. You can almost touch it when pulling in on the ferry.
Ruffels, a mature orca male whale, taken by Claude Steelman
Guests receive a kayak lesson at the dock at Roche Harbor, San Juan Island. Note the easy entry finger docks.
Families and Whale Watching-
a perfect outing
Kayaking along the shore line of San Juan Island, near Friday Harbor
More shoreline of San Juan Island, near Friday Harbor
We take only 10 guests maximum on our kayaking tours
Our guides emphasize the entire eco system of the San Juan Islands
This is a typical shoreline around San Juan Island
We also offer family kayaking tours for children down to six years of age
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