Transient Orcas

August 23, 2017

Transient Orcas (T065A's) Travel South Through Rosario Strait

[Naturalist Erick, M/V Sea Lion, 8/20/17, 1:30PM] On Sunday, Captain Mike, Rachel, and I started on another super exciting wildlife and whale tour. We headed east towards some reports of Transient Orcas (the ones that eat marine mammals) and soon spotted them swimming south around Matia Island. It...Read more

April 20, 2017

Killer Whales Under Our Boat

That’s just how the cookie crumbles . When my granny bequeathed to me this idiom, I understood that sometimes you’re unlucky, and sometimes you win big. Whereas yesterday’s guests rode wild seas and saw zero whales, today’s guests experienced placid waters and a once-in-a-lifetime whale sighting...Read more
Mt. Baker with breaching orca whale

April 20, 2017

Sunny day with orca whales near Orcas Island

Today on M/V Sea lion we left the dock with no whale reports and rain in the forecast. This is not an uncommon start for our pre-season tours; however, today our expectations were exceeded as the day continued. We left Friday Harbor with plans to go to the Canadian Gulf Islands in hopes of finding...Read more
Whale Watching with Humpbacks

June 21, 2016

The Magnificent Humpback, and a Tour Around Orcas Island

Wow, did we cover a lot of water today! We had sunshine above and beautiful weather as we pulled out of Roche Harbor on our whale watch, but had some decisions to make regarding which direction to head today. We decided to seek out some whale activity that had been reported to the south of Orcas...Read more

August 12, 2015

The K Pod Channel - August 10

Days are shortening here as they are everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, and sometimes you can feel a cool, fall breeze as evening approaches. This is good since our summer here has been pretty warm and dry. Since the orcas live in the water, they experience a little bit different than we do...Read more

June 9, 2014

Transients in Rosario Strait

Another lovely day out on the water here in the San Juan's! Today we got to head a bit of a different direction from our normal jaunt along the westside of San Juan Island, and headed through Obstruction Pass, between Orcas Island and Blakely Island. Waiting just outside Obstruction pass, in the...Read more

June 12, 2013

Sea Lion Goes East!

Working on a tip from other whale watching boats, Captain Mike, Naturalists Andrew and Heather, and a hopeful crew, departed the Friday Harbor docks and set course for the northeast tip of Orcas Island. I made it known to our guests that we were embarking on a unique cruise. The majority of the...Read more

June 2, 2013

Southern Residents and a Humpback

Another beautiful day on the water. Leaving Friday Harbor Captain Mike, myself and our guests, once again traveled north along San Juan Island before reaching the west side of Henry Island where we met up with northbound traveling J pod as well as the small group from L pod, the L12s. Right away we...Read more

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