Dall's porpoise in the Salish Sea

September 26, 2017

A Dall-lightful day in the Salish Sea

09/25/17 – M/V Sea Lion – 12 PM Just as the rain showers tapered off to a faint drizzle, M/V Sea Lion made her way out of Friday Harbor Marina south towards Salmon Bank off San Juan Island. Moving though San Juan Channel, little 5-6 foot harbor porpoises broke the glass-like surface before...Read more
L12s Spread out in Haro Strait

September 22, 2017

The September Bounty of Wildlife Continues

[Naturalist Sarah – 09/22/2017 – M/V Sea Lion – 12:00pm] September, September, September! There is a reason that this month is a staff favorite out on the water. Today was just another day that puts a smile on your face that stays through dinner. This afternoon we had a delightful encounter with...Read more
Rainblow

September 13, 2017

Awesome Viewing of Transient Orcas North of San Juan Island

09/01/17- M/V Kestrel- 2PM Today some of our best known transient orcas were on the North side of Orcas Island, not a far boat ride from Friday Harbor. We headed up president’s channel where we looked at some beautiful seaside homes and saw some wildlife including some harbor seals and harbor...Read more
Tail slap

September 13, 2017

Transients North of San Juan Island

08/30/17- M/V Sea Lion- 1:30PM Today we were lucky enough to find some transient killer whales on the North side of Orcas Island. Specifically, we were looking at the T36A’s, a nice group of whales consisting of females and juveniles. People commonly ask the naturalists about the whale’s movement...Read more

August 7, 2017

Humpback Whale Survives Attack from Killer Whales

[Sarah C. 8/7/17 10am and 2pm Kestrel] Humpback whales are probably most well-known for their impressive flukes, featuring complex patterns varying from all black to all white, and everything in between. Displayed on every deep dive, humpback whale flukes are used as their main identifier in the...Read more

August 7, 2017

Humpback Whales Continue to Steal the Show in the San Juans

[Sarah C. 8/6/17 5:30 Sea Lion] Smoky skies continue to haunt the San Juans this week, giving us an eerie backdrop to our whale watches. Paired with the setting sun, the persistent smoke makes for an overwhelmingly orange-pink atmosphere that permeates the sea, sky, and wildlife. And while we hope...Read more
Transient orcas swim near Victoria, BC

August 2, 2017

Transient Orcas- The Light in the Dark

[8/2/17- M/V Kestrel- Kelsey, Naturalist- 10:00AM & 2:00PM] Today presented a blanket of fog in the surrounding waters of San Juan Island, and smoke from wildfires burning up north in Canada was also thrown into the mix of fog. This meant that today’s visibility was less than clear or sunny,...Read more

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