Kelly | M/V Sea Lion | April 9th, 2026 | 12:30pm
The sunny weather continues here in Friday Harbor! We pointed east across San Juan Channel and into the heart of the San Juan Islands, enjoying breathtaking looks at Mount Baker and the North Cascades along the way. After departing Obstruction Channel, we took a left and began to point north up the Rosario Strait, investigating the whale report up ahead. On our way up Orcas Island's southeast side, we made a quick pit stop at the Peapod Islands. This cluster of pocked sized islands is home to a variety of local wildlife including Harbor seals, bald eagles and countless sea birds. Departing the "Pods" and continuing north we noticed a massive flock of Bonaparte's gulls! These smaller gulls have a distinctive black head and gather in massive flocks of up to 100,000! After rounding Orcas Islands east point we noticed exhales in the distance! Orcas along Orcas' shoreline! A group of 4 whales identified at the T90's made up of:
T090/Eagle — female, born in 1980 (mom)
- T090B/Piglet — male, born in 2006
- T090C/Tigger — female, born in 2010
- T090D/Kanga — female, born in 2017
This family continued along the shoreline, surfacing side by side. The lighting was perfect for lingering looks at those steamy exhale plums. We watched this family make their way around Orcas east point and past the Peapod Islands we had just visited. Final stop before heading back to Friday Harbor was a couple Steller sea lions lounging on a green can, positioned perfectly in front of a crystal clear look at the magnificent Mount Baker.
To see photos from this tour click here: https://sanjuansafaris.smugmug.com/4926-KK