Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

J-pod off the West side of San Juan Island near Lime Kiln State Park. J-pod was fairly spread out but great to watch. We took a trip past the North side of Spieden Island and the Cactus Islands. The North side of Spieden is very different from the south side. There is more shade, less evaporation and has evergreen trees. We encountered some Mouflon sheep, a non-indigenous animal to the island that are believed to be the ancestor of all modern day sheep breeds. We saw them near...

A couple photographs from today:

Ashley, Naturalist San Juan Island near Seattle: Home to the Southern Resident Killer Whales

Although summer doesn't technically start until the Summer Solstice on June 21st, Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning to summer. It sure does feel like summer has reached Friday Harbor! Town was bustling today, people in tank tops, t-shirts, and shorts wandered the streets and the Farmer's Market displayed tasty looking vegetables, baked goods, local-raised meat, garden starters, pesto, and other glorious goods. With the sun shining and the sky clear enough to see Mount Baker...

What a day for whale watching. Today was one of those days that we dream about here at San Juan Safaris. The waters were calm and the sun warmed our faces as we watched individuals from J and K Pods swim along the southern and western sides of the island. Our group of guests joined Capt. Pete, Jeanette and myself on the MV Sea Lion from all over the world for a beautiful time on the water. In Cattle Pass Capt. Pete stopped the boat so that we could all see and feel the...

Today was a beautiful day, we had sunshine and smooth water. We took a trip around the South side of Spieden Island. Bald Eagles were out flying, some very nice lady's got some amazing pictures of two bald eagles flying together. One lady even got a great picture of a bald eagle in its nest. We then ventured through John's Pass, this is always a beautiful trip. We then got news of J-pod near Turn Point of Stuart Island. We found them and watched as they traveled through the Har...

The MV Sea Lion departed Friday Harbor washed with sunlight, ready to chug on up to Canada to try to catch up with J Pod. Our first report was that J Pod was up by Point Roberts headed south. The boat caught up with J Pod members north of East Point on Saturna Island. It was off of East Point that the first whale to be placed successfully into capitivity was captured. In 1964, Samuel Burich, a sculptor, was hired to kill a killer whale to use as a model for a life size killer whale...

Having heard an early morning report that J Pod was milling around the False Bay area, I left the office this morning giddy to get aboard the MV Sealion. The clouds in the sky may have dampened San Juan Island, but they sure weren't dampening our spirits! After coming through Cattle Pass, passing by False Bay and reaching Lime Kiln State Park, we started to see dorsal fins. We travelled slowly on scene because the orcas were spread out all over the place.

As we sat in placed and...

It is good to live in the islands these days. Capt. Pete, Nan and I welcomed a diverse and friendly group onto the MV Sea Lion today and we were able to show them the islands in all of their glory. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and the water was calming. The Orcas seemed to have moved off to parts unknown overnight, but that did not stop our guests from spotting some great wildlife.

There were more Harbor Seals than you could shake a stick at and we saw almost every color pattern...

Boy, did we have a great day out on the water today! A boatload of guests, Captain Pete, naturalist Tristen, and I departed Friday Harbor with the sun glistening on our faces. The weather today was warmer than the past few days, it is really starting to feel like summer is coming to the islands. Captain Pete had heard that J Pod was up by Point Roberts in Canada - so northward we went!

As we cruised up toward Canada we pasted many, many harbor porpoises porpoising (because the...

With the sun shining and the water sparkling, Captain Nancy, the other naturalist Tristen, a group of (as always) enthusiastic and eager guests, and I took off from Friday Harbor with the hopes of meeting up with J pod. To the excitement of guests, naturalists, and captains alike, J pod (the most resident pod [pod = family unit] from the Southern Resident Community) has been in the area almost every day for the past couple weeks. Captain Nancy heard word that the group was moving...