Olivia Esqueda | April 12th, 2026 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:30pm
Navigating inner island was truly something special. With the gray skies, calm seas, and lush, green trees, the Salish Sea wildlife had a way of really “coming alive” today. We headed inner island, spotting many birds along the way including Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, adult and juvenile Bald Eagles, Common Murres, Marbled Murrelets, Pelagic Cormorants, and even a Great Blue Heron right as we entered Rosario Strait. With multiple swimming Harbor Seals in sight, we crossed the strait and tucked around the north side of Cypress Island where we came across Bigg’s Killer Whales- the same group of transient orcas that one of our employees spotted for the first time on the ferry that morning!
After communicating with other vessels and using photo identification, we ID’d this group as two matrilines; this included the T34’s and T37’s equaling about six individuals. They were an excited bunch, exhibiting lots of socializing behavior with Sinclair Island as their backdrop. Slowly departing these whales and re-entering our search mode, we made a stop at a small island nearby where there were heaps of Harbor Seals hauled out on shore beneath the big trees. Many of these pinnipeds were in that cliché banana pose and tucked in tight with one another.
On our search home, we even spotted a Steller’s Sea Lion snoozing on a green can marker in the middle of the strait before we all took time to look through the photo identification book together and chatting about orca social structure. What a perfect combination of wildlife amongst the calm seas, and breathtaking shorelines.
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/