Olivia Esqueda | May 26th, 2026 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:30pm
Today was genuinely such a beautiful day on the water, especially after a rainy morning! The sun came out as we headed north through San Juan Channel and made a brief stop at Spieden Island to check out some Steller’s Sea Lions. After watching these giant Pinnipeds roll around in the water, we continued on into Canadian waters following up on a report of orcas.
Transiting past Moresby Island and ending up northwest of Sidney, near Salt Spring Island, we came across the T086A’s! This family of six were curious today, hugging shorelines, swimming around moored sailboats, and scoping out rocky reefs. We encountered amazing looks at how distinct their dorsal fins really are before heading back towards U.S. waters, passing Harbor Seals along the way!
Re-entering Spieden Channel, we came across many birds of prey foraging on the island’s shoreline. On today’s trip, not only did we count upwards of 25 Bald Eagles (adult and juvenile), but we also saw a dozen Turkey Vultures! On our way back to the harbor, we even scooped marine debris out of the water, making sure to always help take care of the Salish Sea. What a fun day with lots and lots and lots of wildlife!
Wanting to see more photos from our trips? Visit our SmugMug page at: https://sanjuansafaris.smugmug.com/
More information about the Pacific Whale Watch Association: https://www.pacificwhalewatchassociation.com/