#orcas. harbor porpoises. gray whale. harbor seals. sea lions.

[heedra]

i have seen literally so many wild marine mammals this month

#orcas. harbor porpoises. gray whale. harbor seals. sea lions.

[whalewatchingoregoncoast971]

10 Issues You Need To Know Before Going Whale Watching Oregon Coast

Minke whales, Blue whales, Sperm whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Dall’s porpoise, and Harbor porpoise can all be found alongside the Oregon coast. Unfortunately, the enormous blue whales had been once heavily hunted, and their populations have been severely depleted. Today, they're a protected species, but they still face threats from local weather change, ocean air pollution, and ship strikes. People come from everywhere in the world to learn in regards to the Gray whales that journey along the Oregon coast annually. Whales are seen from Oregon's shores all yr lengthy though some months are higher than others check this site out.

Both charter boats and air services are available (and listed below). And, of course, calmer days are best, whether or not by land, sea, or air. The finest time of 12 months to see whales from this location is mid-December by way of mid-January as they're migrating South toward warmer waters. Alternatively, in late March by way of June, you presumably can see grey whales as they migrate north toward Alaska. In addition, it’s common to see as a lot as 15 whales a day right here throughout summer and fall as properly, as resident whales feed close to shore. The prime vacation spot for whale watching oregon coast is Depoe Bay, successfully whale watching oregon coast capital.

Daily whale watching oregon coast excursions range from 1-2 hours, with frequent sightings of gray and humpback whales, in addition to orcas. There are many various whale-watching tours available in Oregon, so it's essential to do your research before booking one. In truth, there's an estimated 200 resident gray whales that decision this area home all year round.

These are the approximately 200 whales that stay in Oregon's coastal waters in the course of the summer migration. The central coast specifically is a hot-spot for whales from June to mid-November. Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint presents sweeping panoramic views simply off Highway 101. Ocean-going birds like albatrosses, oystercatchers and loons may be seen year-round too.

Don’t go in for a closer look, even should you see other people doing it. DePoe was initially allotted the land in 1894 and the city was purchased from the family within the Twenties. Eventually, actual estate investors purchased the land with plans to develop it right into a vacationer city. Depoe Bay is situated on the central Oregon Coast in Lincoln County, about 2.5 hours driving from Portland (102 miles). Take highway 18 west via Willamette Valley wine country to the highway 101 south junction at Otis.

The north cove path offers access for fishing and beachcombing. Here you can also see Shell Island rising just off shore the place protected seals and sea lions congregate in noisy colonies. Nestled between the rugged sea shore and plush temperate rainforest (green is everywhere), this state park offers guests one of the best of both worlds. Explore the overgrown trails of Siuslaw National Forest and think about signing up for a ranger-led tour of the paths to be taught extra about this numerous ecosystem. Cape Lookout is the perfect place to…well, “look out” for whales as they ramble along the coastline. From a vantage point on a sand spit slicing into the ocean, Cape Lookout State Park is a popular place to go to for recreation opportunities of all sorts.

During the week, volunteers are stationed at as a lot as 20 of the most effective spots to see whales on the Oregon coast. From late March to early June somewhere around 20,000 Pacific grey whales pass by way of Oregon’s coastal waters heading northward. There are so many wonderful places to spend some time scanning the horizon for the characteristic spouts of the whales as they cross the shore. We’ll take you through the most effective spots to go whale watching oregon coast. I’m a lifelong local who spent most of my childhood summers exploring the breathtaking coast. I’ve misplaced rely of the variety of instances my mom would take us to the Oregon coast for whale watching oregon coast.

Home to the historic Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area presents distinctive opportunities to spot whales from its rugged cliffs and coastal trails. This protected space can additionally be residence to a wide range of seabirds, seals, and sea lions, offering a diverse wildlife experience. In the winter we watch 1000's of gray whales from mid-December through mid-January as they journey south to the good and cozy lagoons of Baja Mexico. Near Garibaldi, some of the greatest places to see whales embrace the North Jetty close to Barview, Bayocean Spit, Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, and Cape Lookout State Park.

We also recommend visiting the small Whale, Sea Life, and Shark museum proper on the highway for more information about marine mammals, birds, and more. The helpful volunteers share data about the whales, offering schooling sources, help spot them, and reply any questions folks might have. We did one a few years ago, and our youngsters beloved the experience on the boat. They had far more persistence than they would have had standing on the shore.

These elusive whales are known for his or her quick, sleek actions and may occasionally be seen in Oregon's coastal waters. Although not as frequent as grey or blue whales, orcas are often seen along Oregon's shorelines. These very smart and social marine mammals are recognized for his or her striking black-and-white appearance and their highly effective searching abilities. However, gray whales are extra frequent than the opposite two varieties. Some of the whales you might see embrace gray whales, humpback whales, and orcas.

The middle has knowledgeable staff and volunteers to fill you in on fun details and supply binoculars to use during your go to. You might select a new whale-related activity every day and not run out for weeks! The whale watching oregon coast Center, talked about above, is a great place to start your journey and study concerning the whales and tips on how to spot them in the water.

The best time to see whales on the Oregon Coast is decided by the type of whale however migration associated sightings peak from December to January and from March to June. Gray whales (also spelled Grey Whales) are the most frequently seen species alongside the Oregon Coast, particularly during their annual migration. These majestic giants can grow up to 50 feet in size and weigh up to 40 tons. With their characteristic mottled grey appearance and heart-shaped blows, the gray whale is a sight to behold. There are four issues to be looking out for when whale watching oregon coast, based on Oregon Parks Department. Gray whales are essentially the most commonly sighted whales on the Oregon coast.

It is an extended boat with a heated cabin, seats for everybody, and complimentary coffee and tea. Visitors can typically see whales from the cliffs or boats, and there are several whale-watching tour operators in the space. It is positioned on the north finish of Newport and presents incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. In early summer season the Oregon Coast's resident grey whale watching oregon coast population starts to come back and may be seen all summer lengthy.

Look for the green “mobile-only price” tag beneath the lodge ranking within the app on your telephone. You can sometimes see the ship’s massive boiler nonetheless sitting the place it landed one hundred years ago and during extreme low tides, some have even ventured out to it. The web site, formerly known as Briggs Landing, was renamed Boiler Bay after the shipwreck. At Rocky Creek Falls/Ben Jones Bridge, there is a small pullout the place you'll find a way to look back on the bridge (designed by Conde B. McCullough) and benefit from the view. The highway then climbs up 500-foot Cape Foulweather, the first Oregon land formation seen by Captain James Cook in 1778. For more about Oregon native history on this space, see the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

On the northern coast of Oregon, there are multiple excessive factors that make good viewing places for migrating whales. Ecola State Park provides mountaineering trails with nice views over the ocean and of Terrible Tilly, the iconic lighthouse directly off the coast. If the whales aren’t spouting, nearby Indian Beach offers tide pools for a enjoyable afternoon with the household. We would be remiss if we failed to mention Depoe Bay as a prime whale watching oregon coast spot. Multiple companies provide whale watching oregon coast excursions from Depoe Bay when the climate and waves are optimum.

Boiler Bay additionally occurs to be an unbelievable place to spot sea birds like jaegers, oystercatchers, and loons, every with a funkier name than the last. Offering a large parking area and loads of flush toilets, this wayside is a convenient place to relaxation even when whale watching oregon coast coast is nothing more than an afterthought. Take an occasional break from whale watching oregon coast to admire the spruce-lined cliffs to the north as they gently sweep down into the ocean. Ready to see some whales but feeling cautious about heading out in your own?

Families with kids, then again, will benefit from the three-mile sand beach is well accessible as properly. The seaside acts as a great vantage point to scour the ocean floor for spouts. Learn about our resident grey whales and experience transiting the world’s smallest navigable harbor in considered one of their Zodiac RHIB boats. The boats are low to the water and solely take 2-6 passengers at a time for a extra intimate whale watching oregon coast expertise. One of the best things to see at this state park is the Umpqua River Lighthouse, which was inbuilt 1894 and is still in operation at present.

From north to south, these are the 26 whale watching oregon coast Spoken Here websites. With or and not using a volunteer to assist, these are the best places alongside the coast to spot whales. While the northern and central coast has more well-liked destinations for whale watching oregon coast, the southern coast also supplies ample alternative to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures. If you’re up for a hike, the best location to see whales at Cape Lookout is at the tip of the Cape Lookout Trail. It can be busy and gets muddy after it rains, so we advise bringing waterproof mountaineering footwear for the kids – and you.

Watch whales from 200 toes above the ocean on the historic Cape Meares Lighthouse, in-built 1889. Blue whales are the most important animals on Earth, reaching as a lot as one hundred ft in size and weighing as much as 200 tons. While they don't seem to be as common as gray whales, these light giants can generally be spotted off the Oregon Coast, particularly during the summer months. Head thirteen miles (20.9 km) south of Cannon Beach on Highway one hundred and one to seek out the turnoff for this coastal peak between mile markers 41 and 42 (just north of Manzanita). Besides being known as a great place to identify whales, Neahkahnie Mountain can additionally be known for its remarkable views and legends of long-buried Spanish treasures. Several tour corporations supply whale watching oregon coast journeys, and there are additionally several spots alongside the coast where you can view whales from land.

We have put our thoughts and ideas collectively, forming the premise that whale watching oregon coast must be a more private experience. Being honest and caring, making safety and luxury of our customers the priority. Clothing If you’re in any respect conversant in the Oregon coast–or Oregon in general–you probably realize it rains so much. Don’t get caught with soggy flippers whereas scoping the tides for whales. Bring alongside a rainjacket, comfortable sneakers (waterproof when you plan on going to the beach), and a heavy coat for those windy days.

The aquarium stated scientists imagine the grey whale they spotted is the same one sighted in Florida late last 12 months. The aquarium’s aerial survey team circled the whale’s area for about forty five minutes and took photos, and it later confirmed it was indeed a uncommon grey whale. A gray whale watching oregon coast extinct from the Atlantic for greater than 200 years was spotted off New England last week in an “incredibly rare occasion,” the New England Aquarium said. You could not see this all of the time; nevertheless, if you look intently, you will note some stunning waves and, if you're lucky, some spouting water which could be a whale. Gray whales are the most typical sort of whale seen within the space, and they can typically be spotted from the shore during their annual migration.

They must also let you know which facet of the boat you'll have the ability to spot the Whale. First, dress in layers and bring a jacket, as the temperature can vary significantly depending on the time of day and whether you're within the sun or shade. When getting ready for a whale-watching tour, you must maintain a few things in thoughts.

If you see a whale breaching the surface, you should use binoculars to get a closer look. If you are going whale watching oregon coast with a tour company, arrive early. Newport Tradewinds provides a selection of whale watching oregon coast packages, so there is certain to be an option excellent for you. Newport Tradewinds, Deep Sea Fishing, offers an exciting opportunity to go whale watching oregon coast. Whale watching is a well-liked exercise here, as whales can often migrate close to the shore. Without them, we might by no means be ready to see these superb creatures up shut and personal.

From Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint whales could be seen all year spherical and also you get magnificent panoramic views. If you want to see humpback whales, go between September and January. These are the second commonest kind of whales to see off the Oregon Coast.

One of the coast’s most scenic state parks, Harris Beach State Park is a incredible basecamp for whale watching oregon coast. Home to Bird Island—Oregon’s largest island and a National Wildlife Sanctuary—as well as several imposing sea stacks, it presents abundant wildlife viewing alternatives. Gray whales are the celebrities of the show, but harbor seals, California sea lions and a plethora of sea birds never fail to entertain visitors both. Those two weeks constantly take place through the very peak of both grey whale migration seasons. If you want to go whale watching oregon coast, this is the time to do it.

For the informal household day journey to the coast (and even for seasoned explorers!) A sighting of a whale gliding via the rolling waves is sure to be a memorable expertise for all. Playful bottlenose dolphins generally frolicking in the waves in search of fish. These waters additionally tend to draw the occasional Humpback and Blue whale, although they are much extra rare and like to feed in deeper water. Depoe Bay is arguably the most effective location to identify whales in Oregon. While you proceed to have nice probabilities on the different locations on our record, Depoe Bay stands out as one of the popular places. A large perk is the whale watching oregon coast Center, where you can study extra concerning the whales and ask questions.

The climate in Depoe Bay, OR, is usually cool (50s-60s F) and damp with frequent rain throughout the year, aside from July and August. Temperatures rarely get too sizzling in summer with highs in the 60s-70s. The waves may be viewed from many points alongside the rocky shoreline around Depoe Bay, but please use caution, hold your distance and heed warning indicators and security barriers.

They are truly a sight to behold, and it's an honor to have the flexibility to expertise their natural magnificence. This knowledge motivated Don to create the whale watching oregon coast Spoken Here® program. Since 1978, it has grown to turn into some of the organized onshore whale watching oregon coast programs in the United States. Beverly Beach State Park day-use area AND campground might be closed to improve the ability and water traces until July 1, 2024.

During the busiest weeks, 1000's of gray whales migrate previous on their method to and from the waters of Alaska and Mexico. We additionally see humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, porpoise and even blue whales. You’ll principally be seeing Pacific gray whales, however other species have been spotted close to shore.

Low tide is the time for beachcombing, clamming, tide pools and cave exploration. Tidal Raves Seafood Grill offers outstanding views of the ocean, contemporary seafood, steaks, pasta and fish dishes. 🚐 There are several privately owned RV parks and campgrounds along the Oregon Coast off Highway one hundred and one. The finest method to spot a whale is to scan the horizon (no binoculars needed) to see when you can catch the distinctive spot of water whales spew from their blowholes. The Devil’s Churn is a cool rock close to shore that the waves flood into, making a “churning” impact you can see from a pullout alongside the freeway. The dramatic capes of Oregon’s shoreline present the right overlooks to perch on as you pick out whale spouts among the many waves.

On this route you’ll be capable of see Cape Meares, Cape Kiwanda, and Cape Lookout, each simply as awe-inspiring as the opposite. Stroll along the sand accumulating shells and different trinkets, fly kites, or chill out with a great book whereas the children construct sand castles close to the sparkling waves. This State Scenic Viewpoint north of Depoe Bay is the perfect spot to tug over along your drive down Highway one hundred and one. Gray whales could be seen right here often, flashing their fabulous flukes as they dive to scoop up food. She has been adventuring outdoors along with her household since her oldest child was born 13 years in the past, and has loved traveling each near and far since she caught the travel bug as a teen. She moved to the Pacific Northwest together with her family in 2012 where they first lived in Washington for five years before settling in Oregon in 2017.

The monument space is value strolling into and presents shelter from the rain if you don't want to sit in your car and watch the waves. Here yow will discover a simple park with a fantastic parking space the place you probably can sit proper in your automotive and watch the ocean for as long as you want to. There is something particular about dining while watching the ocean waves. In these restaurants, you possibly can look out the windows and find some fairly impressive waves, birds, and, if you are fortunate, whales. The space contains a selection of habitats, corresponding to tide pools, sandy seashores, rocky shores, and grassy meadows. Watch for whales from cozy oceanfront eating places and resorts or at many roadside turnouts.

From the Center, you have the potential to spot a selection of whales, together with orcas, humpback whales, grey whales, and infrequently even blue whales. Gray whales are the most common ones you’ll view throughout your time in Lincoln City. There are also lots of whale-watching excursions that you can easily book as properly that can take you out on the water to help spot whales. Whale watching in Depoe Bay, Oregon, provides impressive views that may deliver you again for more. With a massive sea wall working by way of city, you’ll feel like you’re on the water on a daily basis. These magnificent animals often migrate 5 to fifteen miles off the coast and are best seen on boat trips.

It’s a popular spot to look at the waves as they swish and swirl into the bowl, especially during king tides and winter storms. There are additionally tide pools along the north facet of Devil’s Punchbowl, in addition to Otter Crest Beach and Otter Rock Beach. Oftentimes this display is adopted by a glimpse of their tail (also called “flukes”) as the whales dive again down. Once you see a spout or a fluke, seize a pair of any ol’ binoculars if you have them and attempt to zero in on the area. It’s probably you’ll be ready to observe the whales spout and dive a couple of extra times as they swim around the shoreline. Whale watching additionally takes zero special knowledge or gear, which is an comprehensible barrier to entry for a lot of different nature experiences.

These binoculars are great as a outcome of they are lightweight, include a tripod, and work together with your cellular phone so you possibly can take footage with them. If you can’t make it to the Oregon coast this yr you'll have the ability to watch recorded reside streams from previous whale watching oregon coast Weeks on Oregon State Parks’ YouTube channel. A deep dive, also referred to as sounding or fluking, occurs when a whale watching oregon coast lifts its tail flukes out of the water.

Enjoy entry to dunes, waterfalls, mountaineering and different recreational activities. She helps over 20,000 vacationers and locals plan their out of doors adventures and household travel every month by sharing things to do and outdoor adventures within the Northwest and beyond. The greatest method to discover a whale is to look for spouts, which can be up to 12 ft long, on the horizon (3.7 m). Once you’ve discovered one, use binoculars to give attention to an active area.

They have glossy our bodies with distinctive ridges on their backs, which gives them their nickname. Fin whales are found in all the world's oceans and are known for their long migrations, as they travel from polar feeding grounds to temperate breeding grounds. They are baleen whales, feeding on small fish, krill, and squid by filtering water via comb-like plates in their mouths. After Gray whales, Humpback whales are the second most typical whale watching oregon coast.

However, there are a couple of gadgets that are typically really helpful that you bring. Oregon Coast Weekend is an internet journey resource dedicated to exploring the towns, seashores, parks, campgrounds, trails and hidden corners of the Oregon Coast. For your safety, be conscious of the tide schedule before boating or heading out to beaches and all the time keep an eye on the water level. Use extreme warning in rocky areas close to the water, the place sneaker waves can (and do) strike. There are two low tides and two excessive tides every single day on Oregon’s coast.

December to early February is the time to find Gray Whales migrating south along the Oregon coastline. Beverly Beach State Park is an attractive oceanfront park situated in Newport, Oregon. Situated on a scenic stretch of shoreline, the park provides gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can take pleasure in varied actions at the park, together with swimming, fishing, tenting, picnicking, and climbing.

And this brings us to by far the most typical of the Oregon whales—the gray whales. Growing up to 50 toes in length, this species of baleen whale is essentially the most “coastal” whale watching oregon coast. When they migrate alongside the Oregon Coast, they’re often no further than a couple of miles from the mainland.

#whale watching oregon coast

[californiatransients]

How are California Transient Orcas are different from other transient orca populations?

There are a couple features that set California transients apart from others!

CA transients/Biggs orcas are part of a population of Pacific coast mammal-eating orcas called the outer coast transients, which is to say that their range mostly involves them inhabiting open waters and traveling long distances (as opposed to inner coast transients, such as the transient orcas of the Pacific Northwest, which mostly inhabit and hunt the inner coastal waterways of the WA/BC islands and Juan de Fuca Strait). Some CA transients are occasionally seen around the PNW, and it’s suspected that some interbreeding takes place, but the full nature of their relationship is not wholly understood.

CA transients are most commonly seen along the California coast, particularly in Monterey Bay during the spring and fall months. However, they have been observed as far south as Orange County, and as far north as Glacier Bay, Alaska!

CA transients also differ in their diets and hunting styles! Because they live and travel in open waters, they do not have the same geographical advantages for hunting like inner coast transients do (such as rock formations or haulout sites). Their hunting styles require high speed open water pursuits, followed by ramming and tossing of prey.

While CA transients feed on similar prey items like other Pacific transients (such as harbor seals, California and Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoises, and dolphins), they also prey on larger prey items like elephant seals and, most notably, gray whales. CA transients are notoriously famous for hunting gray whale calves during their spring migration from the calving grounds of Baja, California to their feeding grounds in Alaska. The deep, open water canyon of Monterey Bay gives the orcas a distinct advantage where they can more easily ambush the traveling mother-calf pairs as they move north along the coast. This population of transients has mastered the art of large prey hunting - they strategically work together to kill gray whale calves, and will feed together on the carcass for several days.

Annual gray whale hunts are an important source of food for this population, while also being a social and cultural staple - family pods will gather from all over to hunt together and socialize during this time of the year!

#Anonymous #orca #killer whale #california transients

[islandadventureswhales]

Anacortes and Port Angeles

Anacortes

10AM

We pushed it to the limit today as far as timing went, going the extra mile to pack in as much wildlife as possible into our journey. The epic adventure started with a stop at the Peapod Island’s National Wildlife Refuge. With an extreme low tide, there was plenty of rock space for the seals to utilize. There must have been at least fifty hauled out here, with many pups in the mix. At the largest of the Peapods, there were at least four bald eagles calling to one another, and soaring in the thermals. It was a beautiful sight to witness. We continued on, cruising between Barnes and Clark Islands, then to the Sucia Archipelago. We stopped to check out the eagle nests on Ewing Island, also finding many pigeon guillemots in the process. At Clements Reef, we found dozens more harbor seals, including Captain Scott’s spirit animal, the ginger-bearded seal. Our search for whales took us into Canadian waters, past Active Pass and deep into the Strait of Georgia. It was humpback heaven out here, we were able to visit with five different whales! First up was Scoop, a mature female that greeted us with some pectoral fin slaps and several tail slaps! She mellowed out after those initial surface activities, and gave us some gorgeous looks at her fluke when she dove down deep, allowing us to ID her. A bit further north, there was a group of four humpbacks chilling side-by-side just beneath the surface. Amongst them was a young calf. Seeing this social interaction between so many was a true treat, although with no flukes shown we weren’t sure who all was present. As we were on scene with the humpbacks, we got word of orca whales to the south near the Bell Chains. Two species, a double header! We raced off in that direction and were thrilled to find the T65As (sans T65A2). This group of five Bigg’s Orca were scouting the shallow reefs for prey. All of a sudden, the water right alongside a small island covered in harbor seals exploded. Two of the kids were scouting for prey, pacing back and forth right along shore, wary harbor seals looking on in fright. This continued for some time before they found something. Then the water erupted once more as the two pursued an unlucky seal, circling their meal before tearing into it. Meanwhile mom and her youngest ones were off ahead, swimming onwards towards Tumbo. What an epic finale to an epic trip. Once we left the whales, we had to race back to the dock, making it just in time to board the next trip. The drive back was one of the more scenic routes through the islands, cruising past rugged coastlines and emerald waters, Mount Baker looking over us all the way.

4PM

We took a completely different route this evening than that taken this morning, turning south down Rosario and out into the greater Strait of Juan de Fuca. We stopped off at Bird Rocks, finding sleepy harbor seals, and many glacous-winged gulls and double-crested cormorants. The waters of Rosario Strait were positively glassy. With conditions this calm, we could see every harbor porpoise in the area break through the surface, meaning we weren't likely to miss any whales if they were around. We tucked in between South Lopez and Castle Island, finding pigeon guillemots and harbor seals. Smooth sailing through the Strait of Juan de Fuca brought us to Hein Bank where a minke whale or two were busy taking out bait balls. Between Port Angeles and Victoria we found the T46Bs and T46B1s seemingly finishing up dinner. With full bellies, and boundless energy undoubtedly fueled by the two calves in this group, they proceeded to play. Toddlers rolled over mother's at the surface, kids spyhopping and showing off flukes amidst the play. It was truly a delight to watch, and all with Mount Baker framing the scene. Eight orcas and so much surface activity, what a treat! On the return trip, we stopped at Smith Island to see what we could find. We lucked out, Captain Scott found puffins galore amidst a bait ball feeding frenzy. Glacous-winged gulls and Hermann's gulls were pounding down baitfish, while dogfish circled below. At one point, a tufted puffin, with a mouth full of fish, fled the scene when a dogfish swam a little too close for comfort. To top it all off, even Mount Rainer was fully visible to the south, its glaciers turning pink with the setting sun. What an amazing finale to a beautiful evening on the water. 

Port Angeles

9:30AM

A beautiful morning to start our wildlife tour with the Olympics in view and a few tankers in the harbor. As we rounded Ediz Hook a few harbor seals were playing near the beach along with many glaucous winged and heermans gulls. We also saw some cormorants and rhinocerous auklets. As we traveled west we ran into harbor porpoise near the Elwha river and got a peak at the snow covered peaks throught the Elwha valley. Our first whale was not far off and was a humpback whale. He proved to be a very difficult humpback staying down for 15 miutes at a time and moving off in erratic distances so we never got a really close look at him. Word came through that we had some incoming orcas and we decided to head out west to meet them. We found the T46B's incoming with their celebrity gray calf T'luk T46B1B. We enjoyed their company for quite awhile and watched as they surfed the incoming swells. It was quite a sight to witness and not one we often see. We eventually broke away to go check out Race Rocks with its beautiful lighthouse. A handful of harbor seals were close to the waters edge and many Steller sea lions were hauled out high up on the rocks. We could hear them growling as they argued about personal space. A lone California sea lion was resting on the rocks across from the stellers. Pigeon guillemots flew around the rocks and 2 black oyster catchers were seen. Heading back across the straits we kept looking for whales but all that was spotted were more harbor porpoise. A whirligig of red necked phalaropes were also seen. All in all was a very successful wildlife tour. -Lee

3:30PM

The water had laid down a bit from this morning as we aimed out of Port Angeles harbor on a northeasterly direction. We had a tip that there were orcas south of Constance Bank so we made our way towards them. On the way an eagle eyed passenger spotted a steller sea lion swimming quite rapidly at the surface heading due south. When we arrived on scene with the orcas it was obvious they were our Bigg's or transient marine mammal eating orcas so no surprise that our steller sea lion was making a mad dash away from them. We spent over an hour watching the T46B's as they traveled along heading east and then taking a southerly turn following some current lines. They never really spread out in true hunting mode but looked like they were sometimes spread out enough to possible snag a seal or seal lion. Though we saw no actual predation we had fun watching the younger calves as they cavorted around including our much sought after gray calf T46B1B T'luk just born this past winter. As they continued their southeasterly journey we had to pull ourselves away and head west. We continued until we reached the Elwha river where Capt Steve spotted our first humpback pair. They were going down for a good 8-10 minutes feeding deep and spending a little time on the surface . The first pair remain anonymous at this moment . The second feeding pair a little to the west were moving south along the current lines. One of the pair was BCZ0298 Split Fin with an unidentified friend. As we watched these two pairs we could see more blows in the distance of other pairs further west to us but the wind had picked up and time was growing short so we spent what little time we had left enjoying the company of these humpback whales before heading back to port. -Lee

#IFTTT #Blogger

[islandadventureswhales]

Anacortes and Port Angeles

Anacortes AM

What a trip full of wildlife! We got to cover a lot of land in order to make it to some reports of the first whales of the day so we decided to head South through the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Along the way we stopped at Bird Rocks and saw a mature bald eagle and a bunch of harbor seals with their pups on the rocks! We made our way towards Hein bank where we got some great looks at a Minke whale. After a while we realized there were multiple Minkes spread out all along the bank so we got to see them as we slowly cruised by making our way out West. We made it just two miles away from race rocks before we spotted our second whale of the day, Scratchy the Humpback whale! Scratchy was doing pretty consistent down times with plenty of flukes and surface activity as well before he mugged the boat! We got to see some great looks at Scratchy and the Island Explorer 4, our sister ship out of Port Angeles as well! We continued out to Race Rocks where we saw more seals, a bald eagle, and stellar sea lions. We had to push pretty far out to see these whales so eventually we had to make a turn and head straight back to the dock! We had a little liquid sunshine along the way but by the time we were back to the dock in Anacortes, the sunshine was out and the rain was gone! It was a long trip filled with quality wildlife viewing time. 

-Clare

      Anacortes PM

This afternoon’s tour started off with some liquid sunshine but cleared up within the first hour of the trip! We made the turn to go through Guemes Channel and eventually turned between Cypress Island and Guemes Island and headed through Bellingham Channel towards Peapod Rocks. On top of Pea Pod rocks we got to see some harbor seals soaking up the sun which had reappeared on top of the rocks. We headed North past Orcas Island to some reports of Killer Whales inbound off of Point Roberts, but along the way got to see a humpback whale! This humpback whale was ID’d as Stitch. We got to see Stitch fluke multiple times and then Mug the boat! We eventually had to depart this humpback and make our way North towards those Orcas. We caught up with them and eventually ID’d one of the pods in the area as the T 101’s and T102. We saw this pod (and many others in the area!) surfacing and traveling back in the direction we came to reach these whales! The skies were blue and the waters were flat calm! It was a beautiful ride back to the dock along Lummi Island and ended with the start of a beautiful sunset.

-Clare

      Port Angeles AM

Lots of clouds today but we got a glimpse of the Olympics before the clouds socked them in. Ambling out of the harbor we came across a lot of harbor seals hauled out on Ediz Hook and some playing in the surf. We headed out  to the north and west and it wasn't long into the trip before we spotted the first two whales mid straits. They seemed to be feeding when we got to them and then they decided to go into a sleeping mode for a bit heading south towards the Elwha River. After a bit they finally woke up enough to show us a few flukes before going back to sleep. With that showing we had Humpbacks BCX1251 Orion and MMX0059 Pilot. We continued across the straits to Vancouver Island and found another humpback but he seemed to be staying down for long periods at a time and coming up far away so we decided to check out Race Rocks. Two bald eagles were acting as sentinels above the harbor seals on the ledges. A large group of steller sea lions were gathered together on two rocks. Plenty of pigeon guillemots  and black oyster catchers were around . We had a call that MMX0079 Scratchy was east of Race Rocks so we had the chance to see another humpback whale and he surfaced fairly close to us before fluking. As we headed back home lots of common murres were starting to be seen along with rhinoceros auklets. Coming into the harbor  we had a chance to get a last look at the harbor seals on Ediz Hook to complete a very satisfying trip.

-Lee

     Port Angeles PM

The evening trip looked like we would escape any rain that might fall in Port Angeles as the clouds were building over the Olympics but we knew the rain shadow would keep us dry. We had a large group of high school students from Pennsylvania with us so we knew this would be a fun trip.We cruised out the harbor watching one of the coast guard helicopters come in for a landing on Ediz Hook. The breeze was brisk but the water calm and we made our way out into the straits heading in a north west direction. We found our first whales of the evening near the Victor Gulf buoy, As we tried to figure out this whales pattern  we saw exhalations of at least 5-6 more whales. A pair of whales came up to the south of us not far off so we decided to go see those two humpback whales. It took a little sleuthing to figure out one of the whales identities as we had never seen this whale before. We had found MMY0078 Fantasia feeding along side another whale who we couldn't ID at this particular time. It is exciting as new humpback whales are coming in and being seen  all the time and we  love sending in the new flukes for identification to the researchers. We received a call about incoming orcas from the west so we continued our journey  to meet them.  They were traveling fast about 9 knots but even so it took awhile to get to them and we were at Otter point in the mid straits before we could see them. They continued past us at their rapid pace and never slowed down until near Sooke. We spent lots of quality time with these transient orcas that turned out to  be the T46's with T'luk the new calf born this year that is an unuusual light gray color. A humpback popped up heading right for the orcas and we thought we might see some interaction but the humpback just disappeared into the depths as the T46's continued their eastbound journey. We eventually peeled ourselves away to start for home and not far off the Elwha River we found BCX1251 Orion one of our favorite humpbacks. He was doing one breath and then fluking dives  so we watched for a bit  until it was time to turn for home.As we entered the harbor, harbor porpoise were playing  inside the harbor, a first for us seeing harbor porpoise in the harbor. What a great way to end the evening.

-Lee

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Anacortes and Port Angeles

Anacortes

TRIPLE HEADER! We had a fantastic day out of Anacortes, with three different species of whales sighted within the first hour! The first sign of a good day to come was when the downpour of rain ceased just as we started boarding, and held off for the duration of our journey. Not twenty minutes after getting of the dock, we had eyes on our first whale of the day. It turned out to be little 2251, a newly named gray whale that seems to be calling Burrow’s Bay home. We spent some time with this little one as he circled the bay, showing off its fluke every now and again. This little one is clearly a fighter, as indicated by the past entanglement scars and orca rake marks on its fluke. He’s seen some struggles early in his young life, but fought on to see another day. Next up was Scratchy, the humpback whale. We found Scratchy dozing at the surface, and maintaining his typical erratic line of travel. We got a couple good looks at his fluke before turning to join the group of Salish Sea Bigg’s that were making their way north towards Rosario. It turned out to be the T65A family of six! They got playful for a bit, showing off their pec-fins, flukes, and rostrums as they rolled around at the surface. We traveled with them as they cruised over to Colville, where some wary harbor seals were eyeing them from the safety of shore. We left the pod to continue their journey, and headed off in the direction of Deception Pass. Along the way, Captain Carl spotted a feeding Steller sea lion. Unfortunately, it finished its meal just as we were arriving on scene, but the area was pretty happening, with sea lions, harbor seals, and glaucous-winged gulls all looking for a bite to eat. We continued on to Deception Pass, cruising beneath the bridge, and coming across a mature bald eagle and nest along the way. With low tide exposing many of the critters living in the intertidal zone, it was quite a stunning setting. We cruised back out into Rosario Strait, searching for any of the whales we’d left behind. Along the way we found two mature Steller sea lions lounging on a navigational maker. These two were truly showing off, posing in every which way for the camera, as we snapped away. Eventually, we ended up back in Burrow’s Bay with the now actively feeding 2251. It was up in the shallows, rolling on its side, exposing its fluke and pec fin while actively feeding. An awesome sight to end our amazing day out on the Salish Sea.

Port Angeles

What a fantastic first day out of Port Angeles we had with calm seas, lots of birds and lots of Orcas. We started out checking out the Rock pile a site that has been active in previous years but not fnding anything we headed northwest passing a few harbor porpoise. On the way we recieved a call from another whalewatch company that had found some orcas so we proceeded on to check them out. We had 2 huge male orcas traveling side by side surface nearby so we stayed with them for quite a while as they traveled along. We finally left them to check out a little larger group containing some mature males and females and with a little sleuthing found out they were the T101's and the T46's. We were very lucky as a few times the group surfaced quite close allowing us to see nicks in their dorsal fins which helped us to ID them. We continued our journey checking out Race Rocks stopping for a bit in the tidals currents to watch an extremely large group of harbor porpoises playing and feeding. At Race Rocks we checked out the harbor seals and Californa sea lions laying around on the rocks. A group of 4 steller sea lions were thermoregulating and then decided to splash and play. One last treat for us was the elephant seal sleeping up on the ramp near the light house. We also had a good selection of birds today with lots of Rhinocersous auklets, an handful of common murres, pigeon guillemots and various gulls. On the way home we even stopped to check out a bait ball that the birds were working just in case something else showed up. So Port Angeles is off to a great start with lots of wildlife our first trip out.

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Anacortes and Everett

Anacortes

The fourth was definitely with us today as we departed Cap Sante marina. The sun was shining down and blue skies were slowly starting to push through the clouds. We head north from the marina and along the backside of Guemes Island before pushing up toward the outer islands. We passed many different sea birds as we traveled including cormorants, gulls, and guillemots, which were all out enjoying the excellent conditions and fishing like crazy. Our first stop today was at Three Sisters on the south end of Clark island. Here we found a massive group of harbor seals hauled out and enjoying the warm weather. Our search continued from there into the Strait of Georgia, northward toward Canada. We did not have to go far today before Captain Carl sighted our first whales of the day and we made our way on scene. We visited with the T49A’s as they were hunting near Sucia and Patos Island. We watched as they took down the last bits of either a seal or porpoise and then continued to move north. The hunt did not take long as whatever they ate was a smaller animal and quick work for any orca whale. We continued with these whales for some time getting great views of the pod as most of them were grouped nice and close together. T49A1 “Noah” was however in the distance leading the way and zigzagging back and forth. After a great show we waved goodbye to the orcas and headed back south. Captain Carl stopped at Clements reef after that to check out three bald eagles that were hanging out. One was an adult bird and the other two were starting to show signs of molting, meaning they were getting close to adulthood. After that it was a short leap to Ewing island where we found a few Steller sea lions hauled out on the rocks and enjoying the afternoon sunshine. From there we crossed to Lummi Island and then down Bellingham Channel. We took a nice cruise down the Anacortes waterfront before making our way back into the marina after an amazing adventure in the Salish sea!!!

- Tyson

Everett AM

The sun was shining as we began our trip sailing along the shores of Jetty Island where we were treated to the mated pair of ospreys in their nest. All of a sudden, one of them took flight and slowly descended onto the beach, displaying it’s amazing wingspan! Onward to the Navy Base fence line where we got a quick look at some California sea lions before moving on to the beautiful waters of Possession Sound. There is where we found several gray whales, #531 was moving in shallow water on the delta while #22 Earhart who was also in the area, but resting. Upon waking, she but when she woke up, she demonstrated a short burst of energy with a brief head and fluke raise along with some bubble blowing before moving on. We loved on to Camano Island where we saw a few more bald eagles above and in the trees. Once we left and headed south, we searched the area for more whales and found #22 Earhart again as well as #49 Patch and #53 Little Patch between Everett and Gedney Island.

Everett PM

The sun kept shining bright on our afternoon excursion out into the sound and we quickly found ourselves in the company of a gray whale who remains unidentified as it was swimming in really shallow water on the delta and did spend much time at the surface. Because of that, we moved on to find #531 and #383 a little further off. Later we also caught up with #22 Earhart and #53 Little Patch who seemed to be in feeding mode again. We could also see several whales too far in on the delta to get to but could see a pectoral flipper and partial tail fluke as they rolled onto their side to feed on the bottom. Next stop was Camano Island where we were up close and personal with the sandy shoreline, dotted with driftwood and abundant lush green landscape of the forest. On our way back to the dock, we took our time and could see whales all around, everywhere we looked. That seemed to be the theme of the day!

- Renee

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Anacortes

It was another gorgeous day out on the Salish sea, with blue skies and sunshine almost the whole day. We headed down Rosario straight and around Allen island toward Deception pass. As we cruised along we passed a few harbor porpoise, especially when we got near Deception pass, and lots of different sea birds. We cruised under the Deception pass bridge and made our way south on the inside of Whidbey Island. Our next stop was at seal rock where we found over a dozen harbor seals drying out in the sun and a large number of black bellied plovers. From there we picked up the speed and headed toward Everett with reports of orca whales in Saratoga pass. We found the orcas just passed Langley on Whidbey Island and made our way on scene. It was the T65A’s and they were traveling south toward the Puget Sound. When we first arrived they were grouped up how ever that quickly changed to obvious foraging behavior. After watching them for some time they decided to take down what we believe was a harbor porpoise. For a short time the oldest male in the group was most likely teaching his younger sibling to hunt using the now expired porpoise. We got a fantastic show from the orcas but our time ran out and so we headed back to the north. This time we took a different route home, ducking into Swinomish channel and heading north to Anacortes. We found more eagles as we cruised and even managed to find a few great blue herons toward the north end of the channel. We picked up a little speed after we left the channel and made our way into Anacortes after a spectacular trip. The whales gave a great show and the weather was absolutely perfect to be on the water!!!

Everett

10 AM Tour The sun was shining and the seas were calm this morning as we left in search of wildlife! Both immature and adult bald eagles dotted the shoreline of jetty island. We were also treated to the mated pair of osprey in their nest as we passed by on our way out into the sound, along with a few California sea lions who were lounging on the floats at the navy base. It wasn’t long before we were in the presence of two gray whales, #53 Little Patch and #723 Lucyfer, as they traveled together near Gedney Island. After spending some time with them, we headed off in search of others where we found more bald eagles in the trees on Camano Island. We began our return trip to Everett shortly after and found a few more gray whales feeding far in on the Snohomish River Delta. We were able to see the pectoral flipper and part of the flukes of #531 as she fed in the shallows. 

2 PM Tour We left the dock with more sunshine and a bit of breeze as we headed out across Possession Sound. In the distance we could see multiple blows but this time it was from killer whales! The T65As had just made a kill on something before we arrived and were having lunch. It was so fun to be able to watch them share a meal! After spending time with them, we left in search of more wildlife and found bald eagles on Camano Island. During our trek back to the dock the wind seemed to pick up a bit but we were able to get some good looks at #53 Little Patch who was by himself as well as #383 and #531 who were traveling and feeding together. #383 graced us with his beautiful tail flukes just before we had to head back in to the dock.

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Everett and Anacortes Everett AM We counted eight gray whales in Possession Sound this morning! It was a calm morning out on the water, with very high tides as we left the marina. Right off the dock we found a juvenile bald eagle perched along Jetty Island. At the end of the channel, we found a very photogenic California sealion hauled out atop a channel marker. It gave us a look as we cruised by, then continued on with its sunbathing. From there it was whales, whales and more whales. Our first find was Patch #49, who was hanging out with little 2246. They were later joined by Earhart #22, #383, #185, #531 and Little Patch #53. We broke away from the herd, and cruised up towards Camano Head to visit with Dubknuck (#44) who was solo traveling, leisurely making his way towards Port Susan. On the way back to the dock, we witnessed three bald eagles fighting over food mid-air. One would drop the prize, only to have another swoop down to snatch it up before it hit the water. It was quite an exciting spectacle to end the morning’s trip with. Everett PM The unthinkable happened this afternoon, triple aerial action from non-other than our spunky little juvenile gray whale #2246. This little guy stole the show when he first displayed a ¾ body breach, followed by two very dramatic head lobs, leaving everyone on deck breathless with excitement. Gray whales aren’t exactly known for dramatic aerial behavior such as this, so it was an unexpected treat for both crew and passengers alike! That wasn’t the only highlight of the day however. The trip started off with a California sealion visit, our photogenic male from this morning was still lounging on the channel marker. From there, we cut out into Possession Sound where we found a group of three gray whales (Earhart #22, #383, and #185) all traveling in close proximity, pec-fin to pec-fin. Wanting to take in every detail of this social encounter, we cut the engines and just sat drifting while the whales socialized. Social turned to curious, when the three decided to come do some people watching. We watched in awe, hearts racing, as all three surfaced just off the bow and proceeded to swim the length of the boat, their full bodies visible beneath the green water. They surfaced once more off our stern before continuing on to socialize some more. What an encounter! From there they met up with Patch and another whale, breaking into smaller groups and scattering in all directions. We left them to continue their cruises, but not before getting a boatful of whale breath, an experience no one is soon to forget. We tried to find Dubknuck out near Camano Head with no luck, so we continued on back towards the delta, harbor porpoise playing around the boat as we did so. It was back near the delta that we witness that incredible encounter with #2246, an epic finale to an amazing trip. 

- Sam 

Anacortes Leaving Cap Sante today we had no idea what lay ahead of us, with rain in the forecast but sunny skies above we were very hopeful. We headed down Guemes channel after a brief encounter with a group of harbor seals hauled out on a local dock. From there we cruised down to Pointer island where we found all sorts of wildlife. A bald eagle that was perched on top of the island took flight after giving us many great looks and a large group of harbor seals were laid out on the rocks below. Rhinoceros auklets, cormorants and dozens of sea gulls covered the waters around the small island. We continued inner island through Thatcher pass and headed west toward Canada. We took wasp pass around Wasp island and made our way out to Spieden Island were we found a nice group of California sea lions hauled out on the eastern shores. Continuing on, we cruised the shores of Spieden taking in great looks at many bald eagles and all sorts of the local exotic game. Huge herds of mouflon sheep roamed the hillside and we even spotted a few fallow deer up in the shade of the trees. Captain Shane let us know as we waved goodbye to the deer that there were orcas ahead, and not just any orcas, it was members of Jpod!!! We joined up with the orcas in Haro Strait getting our first close encounter from J38 Cookie. A little ways off we also got to watch a nice group of orcas socializing by spy hopping and slapping their tail flukes. We continued to cruise with our Jpod friends when a group of Dall’s porpoise showed up and some wild behavior took place. The porpoise began to surf off of J38’s wake and it appeared the two different species were having a good time with each other. We watched this for sometime as it is not something we see much at all and it was so interesting to see. The whales and porpoise seemed to have no concern for us as they continued to play in the strait. One group of orcas suddenly began to porpoise up the strait on a very determined path to catch up with other family members, but J38 continued to hang with us and the porpoise. Soon time ran short and we had to leave taking a nice voyage through the inner islands. This time swinging down toward Friday Harbor and then to Rosario Strait via Peavine Pass. We took Bellingham Channel from there south to Guemes continuing to enjoy the weather which only seemed to get better by the hour. It was a spectacular trip, one that I won’t ever forget. The sight of J38 playing with dozens of Dall’s porpoise was truly a thing of beauty and an amazing display of coexistence!!!! - Tyson

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Anacortes and Everett Anacortes It was another spectacular day to go cruising out on the Salish Sea. The blue skies were back and the sun was out doing its best to warm up the day. As we headed in Rosario Strait we got some amazing views of both Mount Baker and the Olympic mountain range to the south. We headed north in Rosario through Strawberry Bay and up to Pea pod rocks. Captain Scott found us a couple of adult bald eagles posing nicely for photos. Continuing along the rocks we found a few immature bald eagles, a great blue heron and a nice small group of harbor seals. Our search continued north from there, through the outer islands stopping briefly for some harbor seals hauled out by Clarke island before continuing to Sucia Island. At Sucia Island we found a nice big group of Steller sea lions as well as 4-5 more bald eagles that were getting very active. We continued north to Paris Island before turning into Boundary Pass and heading toward San Juan Island. We took a nice cruise through John’s Pass and eventually cruised by Lime Kiln lighthouse before heading back toward Rosario strait. Reports of whales in Lopez Pass had us moving quickly to get to the zone and continue our search. We found the T137 mammal eating orcas just inside of Lopez Pass and we timed it just right. As we got on scene the youngster in the group breached and it was clear the family had just snacked on something. We continued to watch these beautiful whales and after a few spy hops it appeared that they were back on the hunt. The entire family worked together like an orchestra, wrangling a seal near the shore. It didn’t last long before the whales decided to take a bite and the water grew red. It was insanely awesome to watch such powerful animals hunting in the wild!!! We enjoyed our last views as the whales began to settle into a resting pattern signaling us to depart. The entire trip was amazing and after circumnavigating the San Juan islands we were greatly rewarded with and astonishing show grow the T137’s!!!

- Tyson Everett

Welcome back #383! We were thrilled to witness the return of another one of our Sounders today. It seemed we were not the only once excited about 383's return, as every gray we’ve been seeing over the past couple of weeks was present in Possession Sound today, and quite social at that. Little Patch (#53), Patch (#49), CRC-185, and CRC-2246 were all in attendance. A couple of times during our trip we cut the engines and just drifted amongst these gentle giants. It was often difficult to know where to look as whales surfaced in every direction. Just as we were about to break away from the group to see who else might be hanging around further up Saratoga, Little Patch breached! So, of course we had to stay to see it he would give an encore performance. We were also treated to some partial spy-hops as one mature gray whale rolled right over the dorsal side of another (CRC-185). In addition to the gray whales, we spent time with a small pod of harbor porpoise, some sunbathing California sealions, and a lone Steller sealion swimming alongside the whales. It was truly a special day to be out on the water, and with snow-capped peaks every which way we looked, sunny skies, and calm seas, who could as for more?

- Sam 

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Anacortes

10 AM Tour The beautiful weather was back in the area this morning and with blue skies all around, we left Cap Sante with high hopes of things to come. Our first stop was at Pointer island for a great look at a nice little group of harbor seals. After that we picked up speed and took a nice cruise through the inner islands of the San Juan’s. We made our way through Pole pass getting nice looks at pidgeon guillemots and rhinoceros auklets. From Pole pass we cruised over to Spieden island in search of more wildlife. It didn’t take long before we started spotting many bald eagles along the southern side of the island. We continued along and towards the west side we spotted a nice herd of fallow deer running along the hillside. From Spieden we headed over to Saturna island and Java rocks and joined up with a big group of transients. It turned out to be the T49A’s, T65A’s and T77’s!!! We had some amazing views of these animals as they headed up Saturna island and boundary pass. After a while we decided to press on for more animals and we were not disappointed. At East point on Saturna island we joined a humpback briefly for a few good fluke shots. Out of no where, to the south of us we spotted two more humpbacks and one was breaching like crazy!!! We headed over there and got great looks at Zigzag and Split Fin. They showed off their flukes quite a bit and even gave us a double fluking!!!!! On our return trip we got to stop and watch a Steller sea lion eating some lunch before returning to Anacortes. It was a spectacular day out on the water!!!!

4 PM Tour Tonight we left Cap Sante with gorgeous weather all around. Cruising down Guemes channel we made our way out into the Salish sea and up into Rosario strait. We made our first stop this evening at Pea pod rocks where we found a nice group of harbor seals and a mature bald eagle, hanging out on the wildlife preserve. After taking in the sights we continued north into the Strait of Georgia and into the outer islands. When we reached Sucia island we joined up with a massive group of transient orca whales. It ended up being the T49A’s, the T65A’s and the T77’s all traveling together and having a good time!!! We saw a lot of social activities from the orcas as they proceed to breach and spy hop multiple times. There were a lot of tail slaps throughout the evening and even a little adult action going on between a couple of the whales. After an astounding show in flat calm seas we ventured to continue our search. Our Journey took us down to Spieden island where we got great looks at many different animals. The island was busy this evening with four bald eagles and groups of fallow deer, sika deer and mouflon sheep hanging out in the warmth of the evening sun. We then headed through Pole pass and had a nice slow up to check out the beautiful area. As we came out of the inner islands we were greeted by amazing views of Mount Baker and Rainier both lit up nicely from the setting sun. It was a fabulous trip packed to the brim with great wildlife and the weather couldn’t have been nicer!!!!

La Conner

Gorgeous weather on the water today. Our trip started out with a bunch of eagles and harbor seals while we were making our way out of Swinomish slough. As we traveled under the Deception Pass bridge, we were greeted by a bunch of harbor porpoise. We then made our way up to Castle Island where we more harbor seals hauled out on the rocks, sun bathing. Our journey then took us to Whale Rocks to see a big bull sea lion who, not so gracefully, dove into the ocean. As we traveled up through the San Juan channel in search of whales, curious harbor seals checked out our boat as we drove by. Captain Tyler then took us to our first whale of the journey! A lone male orca. We identified him as T77A by the notches on the back of his dorsal fin. He traveled next to our boat for a while and took very short dive times. After saying farewell to T77A, we made our way through Haro Strait, along South San Juan Island and over to Colville Island where we saw even more harbor seals. After that, we passed under Deception Pass again and drew a crab pot out of the water. There were tons of Dungeness and Red Rock crab in the pot.

Port Angeles

​We had a magnificent day to be out on the water with sunny skies and ​ flat glassy waters. A few harbor seals popped their heads out of the water as we passed through the harbor checking us out. Heading out into the straits it wasn't far into our trip that we spotted what we thought was a humpback whale but amazingly it turned out to be a gray whale. It was one of the Pacific Coast Feeding Group # 185 slowly heading east and possibly sleeping. We had some really nice looks as he surfaced near us often and even had a few good looks at his flukes as he raised them on occasion. We stayed with him for awhile and then moved on looking for other wildlife. Our trip took us west and then to Race Rocks where we had Harbor seals, California sea lions and 3 elephant seals. Plenty of bird life abounded with pigeon guillemots , rhinoceros auklets, black oyster catchers, common murres and lots of gulls including the first Heermans gull of the season. Two mature bald eagles sat perched side by side and a juvenile bald eagle surveyed the rocks from from the adults. We then searched eastward looking for more whales while marveling at the beautiful scenery as the Olympic Mountains were visible and still snow capped. Harbor porpoise occasionally broke the surface yet as hard as we looked no other whales were to be seen even our early gray whale had magically disappeared. It was still a gorgeous day on the water with plenty of sunshine and happy faces and a gray whale that has been making his first appearance in our waters this year!!

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Port Angeles The rain held off for a bit as we headed  out on our journey. We had a good look at some harbor seals that were hauled out at Ediz Hook/ The seas were calm and as we headed west  we had 2 stellar sea lions pop up near the boat and not long after we  passed some harbor porpoise looking for food. We headed west and  found a few humpback whales feeding heavily south of Sooke. One we weren't able to ID but the other two  that were swimming together were BCZ0180 Monarch and Stitch..We heard that orcas were not far off so we eventually made our way over to them and into the rain. We had transient orcas possibly two families one of which was the T46B's actively hunting and chasing down what was probably a harbor seal. We spent lots of time as they came  over to the boat and around us.  There was a second active group a few miles to the east of us so as we headed home we took a look at them . It appeared that there was more than one family in this group also as they were spread out also  hunting. They may have made a kill as we saw lots of gulls hovering at one point. One of the families was the T99's but no confirmation on the others. It was not a bad day at all considering it was a rainy gray day for we had 3 humpbacks and  two groups of transient  orcas with a ton of whale time.t

La Conner Today’s trip out of La Conner gave us some very great photo opportunities with great lighting and good wildlife. We headed south in the channel where we found our usual blue herons and oyster catchers but today we also found  a Steller sea lion making its way down the channel most likely looking for food. From there we continued on to Deception pass where we got beautiful lighting for photos before passing under the bridge and heading west. We gave a great search as we traveled before heading over to whale rocks to watch some more Steller sea lions do their thing. The smell got the best of us however and we had to press onward. We stopped at Lopez island for a nice lunch before heading back out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca in search of whales. The seas were flat calm as we scoured the southern banks of the strait before heading east. The waters seemed empty of whale life but common murres were quite plentiful. After coming up empty handed we headed to Minor island where we watched hundreds of harbor seals and cormorants drying off in the sunny rainy weather. From there we searched to the north into Rosario strait but unfortunately were unsuccessful. The folks all had high spirits though and we look forward to seeing them in the future for their fluke trips!!!

Anacortes Little bit of liquid sunshine in the middle of the day, but flat calm and gorgeous. Headed north along the back side of guemes island. Over the top of cypress island, crossed north Rosario strait for peavine pass. Through the inner islands out San Juan channel to the strait of Juan de Fuca. Stopped by whale rocks to see some steller sea lions. Searched hard and made our way toward race rocks. We got on scene with some orcas. It was the T123s, T49C, T87 and another group I wasn't able to get clear IDs on yet. They were swimming in circles and it looked like they were just finishing up some lunch. Had some nice looks before we had to head back toward homeport. Enjoyed flat calm waters and minimal liquid sunshine! Great last day for September!

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Anacortes

Yesterday we traveled far and wide, but it paid off handsomely with two great whale encounters!

After first venturing as far north as Sucia Island, we found no whales, but plenty of harbor seals as well as large Steller sea lions on Clements Reef.  We traveled back down Rosario Strait toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca where we found our first whale near Smith Island, a very young humpback (probably no older than two or three years old) that was (very) actively feeding on bait fish among large groups of birds.  This little whale has been seen several times over the last few weeks - glad to see he or she is thriving in the Salish Sea!  We then got a report from the Coupeville/Pt. Townsend ferry of transient orcas hanging out in their ferry lane, and while we knew it meant we'd be a bit late getting back to the dock, we also knew it would be worth it - how right we were!  This group was the T28's, a group so rarely seen that they weren't even in the ID catalog!  The group was very active with breaches, headstands, and tail-slapping, and it looks like they have a very young calf in the group now as well!  This important sighting has been shared with the researchers that maintain the catalog, as it has been several years since they were last spotted.  On the way home we stopped by for one last look at our humpback before heading home.  We covered nearly 100 miles, but it was totally worth it! 

La Conner Rain!!! It was awesome! Flat calm and beautiful all day.Headed south down the Swinomish Slough. A couple of mature bald eagles were perched on Goat Island. Several great blue herons were also perched up in the trees, along the shoreline and on the log tows. A few black oystercatchers perched on the rock wall of the slough. Harbor seals hauled out on Seal Rocks. Several harbor porpoise throughout out day. The rain stopped and we headed under the bridge. Out to the strait of Juan de Fuca. Flat calm, great spotting conditions. Headed into Whale Rocks and found numerous Steller sea lions hauled out. Headed through Cattle Pass to lunch at Fisherman’s Bay. Lunch then headed south down San Juan Channel in the fog. Broke out of the thick fog south of Salmon Bank. Continued out to the Strait on the search. Ideal conditions. Spotted some birds along the current lines. Captain Tyler found us a lone tufted puffin west of Smith Island. We made our way to the east side of Smith island where our sister ship, the IE5 found a humpback whale! We had some great looks and he even breached for us once! It was amazing to see the whole whale out of the water. We spent a lot of time with our whale before we had to head back toward homeport.

Port Angeles

We started the trip with a bit of a drizzle and gray, foggy conditions. However, the whales sure don't mind the rain!! After a quick stop to check out the harbor seals on the rocky beach at the tip of Ediz Hook, we headed north across the strait. Only a couple miles off the shore line near Victoria, we caught up with a humpback who we ID'd as MMZ0004! This whale seemed to be doing some long feeding dives so we headed west to race rocks. On the way over we spotted another humpback show it's tail in the distance. When we arrived at race rocks, we were treated to some active seals and sea lions, along with the sea otter we lovingly call Ollie.  We then did a bit more exploring to the west but eventually made our turn south and headed back to Port Angeles!

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La Conner A fine layer of ash covered the ground and the boat when we arrived this morning, the smoke in the air shrouding the landscape in a gray blanket. We cut south down the Swinnomish Slough, spying a mature bald eagle, great blue herons, belted king fishers, double-crested cormorants, oyster catchers, and an assortment of other marine birds. The tide was low as we navigated the channels to Deception Pass, and the harbor seals were taking full advantage of the exposed intertidal. We cut west through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the waters teeming with harbor porpoise. When we rounded San Juan Island, heading north up the west side, we came across two waves of transients racing south. They were traveling at nearly 12 knots, fully porpoising in unison as they cut through the water. The T101s, T28s, T123s and T65As were all present. Every now and again they would dive down deeper and reappear several minutes later. During one such dive, they shocked us when they reappeared right off our port! We quickly shut down the engines as they mugged our boat, diving right beneath us, and reappearing on the other side, still traveling at high speeds. We didn't have time to restart before the second wave of transients were upon us, swimming right beside and under our boat just as the last group had! It took some time for our hearts to stop racing after that. We turned back north to meet up with the resident orcas that were not far behind the transients. We cruised with L85 for some time, and then another group of five whales. The residents were truly spread out, some cruising right along the shore near Lime Kiln, others about a mile out into Haro Strait. Following these encounters we continued further south to meet back up with the transients who had raced away so quickly. The T123s were slowly cruising, possibly resting. Just west of them on Hein Bank, the T101s and T28s had just taken down lunch and were sharing it beneath the surface, as evident from the circling and milling behavior and the gulls swooping down for scraps. It was a killer whale kind of day. 

Anacortes Headed out today under a thick layer of smoke, with a gentle summer breeze dance through the air. We crossed Rosario straight and made a stop at Pointer island. Here we found dozens of cormorants, some harbor seals, and even a purple sea star. It was a great start to what became an amazing day. We headed inner island and down San Juan channel to Deadman's island where Captain Scott found us a bald eagle sitting in a dead snag on Lopez island. After that we made a quick run over to whale rocks where we found a dozen Steller sea lions and some more harbor seals. The smell at whale rocks was horrendous and so we pressed on to the south west. We joined up with a group of orcas just south of Discovery island and it turned out to be a special group. It was the T28's a group which was rarely seen in this area in 10 years. They were joined by the T101's and they gave us some great views as they traveled. After some amazing passes by these two magnificent groups we headed north toward San Juan island. Just south of False bay we found a group of resident orca whales. Turned out to be members of J and L pods. We got some insanely good looks and even had L87 Onyx, pass right by the boat. Time ran out as it always does and we had to start making our way home but they whales weren't having it. Before we had time to realize it, we were surrounded by dozens of orca whales. They were popping up in every direction and giving us some more amazing close up views. One of the whales even breached off our starboard bow, which was just icing on the cake. From there we headed along the coast of San Juan and Lopez island to Castle rock where we did another slow down. It was a perfect day for a pass by Blind island before heading into Rosario and back up to anacortes. What a phenomenal day on the water!!!!

Port Angeles There was a thick haze in the air today due to the wildfires blazing in the area. Despite the lack of visibility, we headed into the glassy calm Strait of Juan de Fuca in search of wildlife. First we made a stop at the end of Ediz hook to check out a large group of harbor seals snoozing on the rocky beach. We soon got word of transient orca in our tour area so we booked it north toward Trial Island. On the way we were able to catch glimpses of several pods of harbor seals slicing the surface of the water. When we caught up to the whales, we were able to count seven individuals with members from the T10 and T109A pods. They were cruising the edges of the rocky islands and scouring kelp beds, most likely in search of lunch! We got several close looks at the whales as they zigzagged the channel and eventually took us far north. We made our turn back south toward Port Angeles, basking in the peaceful encounter we just had.

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Anacortes 10:00 AM Our morning tour took is down the road (or route) less traveled - under Deception Pass Bridge and into Saratoga Passage!  More frequently known as being our springtime gray whale feeding grounds, we found a group of active transient orcas along the Camano Island shoreline.  The group turned out to be the T137's, T37A1, and T36.  Throughout the encounter the were porpoising, tail slapping, spy hopping, and as a grand finale, we saw FIVE breaches from the large male, T137A!  On the way home we traveled through Swinomish Channel to complete our circumnavigation of Fidalgo Island, spotting a bald eagle in a tree, black oystercatchers on the rocks, and passing under the Rainbow Bridge in La Conner.

3:30 PM Our afternoon tour was full of non-stop action!  Just minutes into the tour, we stopped to watch a feeding Steller sea lion in Guemes Channel.  Near Lawson Reef we found a minke whale working on a bait ball within view of Deception Pass Bridge and another Steller sea lion thrashing around a large skate.  After a few quick looks at a second minke whale in front of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, we continued out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca where we encountered a group of transient orcas traveling west a few miles north of Protection Island.  The group turned out to be the T46B's.  They seemed to be in a swift travel mode, but we were able to pace them perfectly and travel with them for a while.  As we bid farewell to them, we started to see quite a lot of activity in the distance including the dorsal fin of a "mystery whale" (most likely another minke) and several humpback spouts.  The winds were building, but we were able to get a few brief looks at the closest of the humpbacks before having to call it a day.  We had a great ride home and even got to catch the sunset!

Port Angeles

9:30 AM

Couldn't have asked for a better Saturday morning! Before guests arrived, we were greeted at the dock by two raccoons hunting crabs! With glassy seas and blue sunny skies overhead, we left port angeles in search of wildlife! Our first stop was at the tip of Ediz Hook where a few sleepy harbor seals were resting in the sun. With early morning reports, we headed north across the strait toward Vancouver island. When we arrived at Beechey Head, we encountered the T11s who were slowly traveling west. We got amazing looks as these whales before turning and heading to the Race Rocks lighthouse where there were many stellar sea lions, barking California sea lions, and our resident sea otter Ollie taking a snooze in the kelp! As we were leaving race rocks, we spotted a blow nearby, a humpback whale!! The whale appeared to be doing some feeding on the tide lines and we got many excellent viewing opportunities. A few minutes into the encounter, a different pod of orca came from the west and swam right over to the humpback and passed over the humpback barely by inches before continuing east. These killer whales were the T99s! With one final look to see if the humpback made it out unscathed, we said our goodbyes and headed back to the dock! 

3:00 PM

The beautiful weather continued into the afternoon! After leaving the harbor we headed north across the strait toward Discovery Island where there was a report of transient killer whales! When we arrived, we were greeted by the T99s who were now joined by the T36Bs! They seemed to be curious as they made a couple close passes to the boat! We watched as they continued on toward the San Juan island coastline. We made our turn back south and as we were crossing the strait, a passenger spotted us a blow in the distance - a humpback whale we recognized as MMY0004! It was a race against the fog that was rolling in but we managed a couple great looks at the tail flukes before the whale was swallowed in fog. We then headed back home, happy about our double whammy whale show on both trips! 

La Conner South down the channel. Several gbhs, cormorants, caspian terns, and black oystercatchers as we exited. Harbor seals hauled out on Seal Rocks, also more black oystercatchers on the rocks. Under the bridge. Several bait balls as we transited the south side of Rosario Strait and along the Lopez shoreline. Steller sea lions hauled out on Whale Rocks. Headed in for lunch. Canada geese as we exited Fisherman’s Bay. Headed south out to the Strait of Juan de Fuca again. Toward deception Pass, under the bridge and down to Saratoga Passage. We found some orcas headed south in the middle of the passage. It was the T137s, T36 and T37A1. They were spread out, cruising south down the passage. We had some nice looks as they swam in a rhythmic breathing sequence. We headed back toward homeport after a wonderful day on the perfectly pristine September day.

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Anacortes We headed south this morning down Rosario straight and made a swing in to Castle rock. While we went through we got some great looks at a bald eagle on Castle rock and another perched on a snag on Lopez island. After that we powered up for the long haul and trekked out toward Victoria. We scoured the seas as we went but found nothing and pressed on. We had reports of whales at Beecher and it definitely paid off to make the run. When we got to Beecher bay we met up with the T60A's and they gave us some great looks. When we first arrived they were playing in some bull kelp and even spy hopped a few times for us. We followed them up into Beecher bay before time ran out and it was time to head out. On our way east we made a stop at race rocks for looks at some steller sea lions, California sea lions, harbor seals, and Olly the otter. Olly put on a show for us as he cleaned himself and splashed around in the water. After that we powered up and continued on when out of no where captain Scott spotted a humpback whale. We stopped and spent a little time with the whale and got a couple of fluke shots before having to press onward. We then continued to the dock getting lots of great views as we went.

Port Angeles 9:30 AM Tour Triple header!!!!!!! We started out our trip watching a large group of harbor seals on Ediz Hook then we headed north across the straits. A report had come in of whales near Vancouver Island and when we arrived there was a small gray whale slowly heading east along the shore. We watched this little guy for awhile but he was elusive and not showing much of himself so we moved on to our next whale not far away which turned out to be a humpback whale. We got some really nice looks as he fluked occasionally but even so he was a whale that has been seen before but is not in our catalogs. He showed signs of being attacked as a calf by transient orcas as he had lots of rake marks on his flukes. Off to our third set of whales this time a family of transient orcas traveling along the shore in what appeared to be a hunting mode browsing through the kelp. That is until they came to a huge bed of kelp where we thought they might have had a seal but it turns out they just stopped to play in the kelp for at least forty minutes sphyhopping and rolling on their sides. It was an incredible sight to see. It was hard to pull ourselves away when it came time to head back to port but we did so reluctantly knowing we had witnessed a family of orcas just simply enjoying themselves.

3:00 PM Tour Doubleheader!!! Our friendly harbor seals on Ediz hook greeted us as we made our way out into the Salish Sea.They lined the beach and played in the surf. The wind had kicked up a bit and whitecaps appeared but the ride was smooth. A harbor porpoise sighting gave us some excitement as we thought it was possibly orcas from the description but alas it was just harbor porpoise. We ventured over to the Canadian waters where we found our same humpback from the morning trip feeding. He fluked quite a bit and had many direction changes. While we waited for him to resurface a California sea lion suddenly appeared next to the boat and just as quickly disappeared.We looked for a second humpback that was reported but we never found him and then we searched for some orcas that were further west with no luck. Another report of orcas found to the east of us had us heading back from where we came. We came across a pod of about 10 animals that were spread out and just started porpoising when we got there heading east. They kept this up for a bit and then suddenly just stopped seemingly to catch their breath. it appeared we had at least two families of orcas one whom we could identify as the T11's.  We enjoyed their company as the sun started setting and we finally had to part ways and head for home.

La Conner We headed south this morning down Rosario Strait and made a swing in to Castle Rock. While we went through we got some great looks at a bald eagle on Castle rock and another perched on a snag on Lopez island. After that we powered up for the long haul and trekked out toward Victoria. We scoured the seas as we went but found nothing and pressed on. We had reports of whales at Beecher and it definitely paid off to make the run. When we got to Beecher bay we met up with the T60A's and they gave us some great looks. When we first arrived they were playing in some bull kelp and even spy hopped a few times for us. We followed them up into Beecher bay before time ran out and it was time to head out. On our way east we made a stop at race rocks for looks at some steller sea lions, California sea lions, harbor seals, and Olly the otter. Olly put on a show for us as he cleaned himself and splashed around in the water. After that we powered up and continued on when out of no where captain Scott spotted a humpback whale. We stopped and spent a little time with the whale and got a couple of fluke shots before having to press onward. We then continued to the dock getting lots of great views as we went.

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