Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Wednesday, August 14, 2026 | 12:30 pm
Today’s classic wildlife tour departed from Friday Harbor and made its first stop at White Rock after transiting north through San Juan Channel. Here, we enjoyed views of rock sausages, AKA harbor seals, a pinniped of the Salish Sea that is thriving at carrying capacity, eating over 60 species of prey, and satiating the hunger of the Bigg’s ecotype of killer whales here.
The journey ahead across Boundary Pass and along the northern edge of the Gulf Islands was a long one, but it was certainly worth it; moments after approaching the scene of a humpback whale, more than half of its body emerged from the water, starting at the posterior end of the body. This move is what we call a peduncle throw, in which that muscle that connects the fluke (tail) to the whale’s main body thrusts itself forwards out of the water, almost like a cartwheel. The splash that this ~40 foot and ~40 ton animal made was enormous! We were treated by a look at that humpback’s fluke before it descended down into the ocean’s depths.
"Kaju" (BCY1424), Hawaii, first seen 2021 in B.C.
The transit home through Active Pass and Navy Channel was stunning, with emerald green eddies circling and quick currents pulling the ocean in all directions, mixing the ocean fertilizer that fuels the entire marine food web.
Check out the photos from today at: https://sanjuansafaris.smugmug.com/
More information on the Pacific Whale Watch Association: https://www.pacificwhalewatchassociation.com/