June 22, 2018

Humpbacks Near San Juan Island

It was humpback whales galore today near Friday Harbor. We saw one humpback whale just outside of the harbor in San Juan Channel. We then decided to head south and stop to see some harbor seals and Steller’s sea lions at whale rocks. Steller’s spend their summers on the coast and up in Alaska for...Read more
Seattle Orca Whale Watching

March 29, 2018

Orca Whales in San Juan Channel

Naturalist Rachel, M/V Sea lion, March 28, 2018 Today we were lucky to find an abundance of wildlife in the San Juan Islands. First we headed to Spieden Island where we saw a large haul out of Steller’s Sea Lions. We also spotted some non-native sheep as well. We then went up to Canada where we saw...Read more

October 4, 2017

Mysterious and Magical Minkes

[Alexandria – 10/01/2017 – M/V Sea Lion – 12:00pm] Magical and Mysterious Minkes Minke whales are perhaps one of the more mysterious cetaceans in our oceans, and it is always a rare treat when we are able to see them out on the water… but on this trip we were treated to two different Minkes and...Read more
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

September 13, 2017

Trifecta with Residents and Transients

09/04/17- M/V Kestrel- 10AM & 2PM Today was by far one of the best days out on the water for me this season. On our first trip we had a whale watching trifecta, which is when we see all three main species of whales that we watching this area; minke, humpback and orca. On our second trip we got...Read more
A minke whale has a very characteristic crescent-shaped dorsal fin.

September 5, 2017

Minke Whale Makes an Appearance at Salmon Bank

[09/5/17- M/V Sea Lion- Kelsey, Naturalist- 1:30PM] Smoke and clouds were overcasting the skies today, but luckily that provided for some awesome whale watching! The seas were glassy, there was no glare from sunlight, and looking for dark whale bodies surfacing for air against a light gray sea was...Read more
minke whale

August 9, 2017

Minke Whales, Steller Sea Lions, & Phalaropes

[Naturalist Erick D., M/V Sea Lion, 8/8/17, 5:30PM] Yesterday, Captain Pete and I embarked on a beautiful sunset cruise. It was a beautiful evening. The water as we left Friday Harbor was flat calm and almost looked unreal underneath the orange sunlight of late afternoon. We’ve been having some...Read more

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