T011A "Rainy"

September 20, 2017

Magical September Whale Watch in the San Juan Islands

[Naturalist Sarah M. – 09/20/2017 – M/V Kestrel – 02:00pm] Today was the embodiment of a perfect September day in the San Juan Islands. The clouds were high and we had periodic sun with some of the smoothest water I’ve ever seen in Haro Strait and in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Sea Lions Captain...Read more
Transient orcas travelling together in their family pod.

September 9, 2017

Tufted Puffin + Orca Whales = Great Day in the Salish Sea

[09/08/2017- M/V Kestrel- Kelsey, Naturalist- 2:00PM] Today brought some drizzle, fog, and cloud cover (which has brought the smoke down quite a bit, yay!), but by the afternoon we had some better visibility and could forge our way south to an orca whale report! M/V Kestrel zipped down to Port...Read more

September 4, 2017

Orca Invasion Continues in the San Juans!

[Naturalist Sarah C. 9/3/17 M/V Sea Lion 1:30pm departure] Transient orcas have been spotted in the dozens around the San Juans this week. It's not always the case that we get to choose which whale sighting we pursue on our daily departures from Friday Harbor. With multiple families spotted within...Read more

September 3, 2017

Take Me to the Islands...To See Transient Killer Whales!

[Lauren Fritz, M/V Sea Lion, 09/02/17, 1:30 pm Tour] Island life is paradise - especially here in the San Juan Islands during a summer like this one. There have been some truly incredible transient killer whale sightings in the last few weeks, and every single day brings new surprises! Naturalist...Read more

August 30, 2017

Orcas Make for Happy Days in the San Juans

[08/29/17- M/V Sea Lion- Kelsey, Naturalist- 1:30PM] Smoke returned slightly to the San Juan Islands today, but that didn’t get us down on our whale watch and wildlife tour on M/V Sea Lion! We departed Friday Harbor in high spirits, ready to see what would await us as we trekked through some of the...Read more

August 19, 2017

Whoa, Orcas AND River Otters??

[08/19/17- M/V Sea Lion- Kelsey, Naturalist- 1:30PM] We had quite some luck today! We had some transient, or mammal-eating, orcas juuust off the north end of San Juan Island near Henry Island just as we were departing Friday Harbor. We had them easily within reach, and we decided to take our time...Read more

August 13, 2017

Double Trouble- Two Transient Orca Families Visit Friday Harbor

[8/12/17- M/V Sea Lion- Kelsey, Naturalist- 1:30PM & 5:30PM] Some days are just so perfect it doesn’t seem real. And when not one, but TWO trips turn out to be beautifully perfect, it’s a pretty surreal day! Both trips saw some transient killer whales (or mammal-eating orcas), but there were...Read more

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