Olivia Esqueda | April 24th, 2026 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:30pm
I know we each say this often as the season goes on- and truly, it’s never a lie as people, weather, and wildlife are ever changing- however, today was one of my favorite trips of the entire season. Our whole passenger group was phenomenal, with backgrounds in biology, ties to the island, newcomers who have been waiting and working hard to see whales, and a constant curiosity for not just one thing, but everything. That is what’s special about the environment as a whole; without everything, you wouldn’t have that one thing, as it is all interconnected either directly or inadvertently. And today’s trip felt like a reflection of the everything that made our one trip feel incredibly uplifting. Extra special shout out to our two kiddos on board who asked remarkable questions and had an immeasurable amount of curiosity for ALL of it. I think it’s safe to say they brought so much joy to everyone on board and were a humbling representation of the next generation.
After watching a Harbor Seal swim around by the docks, we headed out of the harbor and turned left to travel towards Boundary Pass. Shortly after crossing into Canada, we were at the southern shoreline of South Pender Island and caught our first glimpses of the T090’s. This matriline of Bigg’s Killer Whales [the most common ecotype we see in the Salish Sea that feed on marine mammals] has been hanging around this spring what feels like more than I have ever seen them. After spending some time with them, we popped down to Turn Point Lighthouse which rests at the northwest point of Stuart Island and looks down at one of the deepest areas in the Salish Sea. With Mount Baker [aka Koma Kulshan, the volcano in the North Cascades] standing tall and crisp on the horizon behind the lighthouse, this left a truly aesthetic backdrop as we continued down Haro Strait and turned into Speiden Channel.
Along Spieden Island, we looked at more Harbor Seals snoozing on the rocky outcrops, and started to see a huge increase of Bald Eagles [both adults and juveniles!] Most notably, we saw a Bald Eagle feasting on a fish and another Bald Eagle swooped in to try and snag some of it for itself. Pushing forward, we came across heaps of Steller’s Sea Lions both in the water and on shore, and even Mouflon Sheep grazing in the sun.
Astonishing wildlife, sunny weather, sharp mountain views, fun conversations, and lots of smiling faces. This spring day felt like summer, but the folks on board put the cherry on top. Looking forward to heading out again tomorrow!
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/
Vessels