Whale Watching Report

Old Man of the Sea (Ruffles- J1)

Taillobing (Mike)

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

"On days like today the only place to be is on the water! We weren't the only ones enjoying the heat wave as we passed channel marker #5 with one large California Sea Lion hauled-out! With news of the orca whales of J pod being near False Bay we headed towards the southern end of Lopez Island. We then stopped by my favorite place in the islands, Castle Rock for a slow down to check out the geological history of the islands! Not long after Castle Rock we spotted our first whale! The first whale that we saw was Ruffles, J1! At 57 years young he sure does stand out with his over 6 ft tall dorsal fin!! We spent some great time with this local celebrity (you can see footage of Ruffles in the first installment of the Free Willy Movies)! We even were able to hear his exhalations as he effortlessly moved through the water! After a time we ventured over to another sub-pod who was also continuing in a southward direction. To our delight we enjoyed time with Granny (J2, presumably Ruffles' mom), Mike, Slick and one year old J42 (who will be getting named by the Whale Museum this summer)! We also saw during our journey Rhinoceros Auklets, Bald Eagles, while with Ruffles we actually had an Osprey fly overhead (!!), Pelagic Cormorants, Glaucous-winged Gulls, California Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Bull Kelp, Pacific Madrona Trees, and Pigeon Guillemots!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

Belly Flop!

Spyhop Central

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

"Blue skies, above average temperatures & the Orcas of J Pod in the islands who could ask for more?! Well, we sure got much more! Departing from Cap Sante Marina we had 3 Turkey Vultures soaring and eventually perching on the point. Then moments later a mature Bald Eagle was soaring high above Guemes Channel as a mob of Glaucous-winged Gulls followed hoping for a morsel of its future meal! We navigated up Rosario Strait watching Harbor Porpoise feeding in riptides and finally entered into the Strait of Georgia and soon after to the whales!! Guests watched as the 25 members of J pod moved along Saturna's shoreline taillobing, pect slapping, and breaching all along the way!! As they rounded East Point it was as if the rush of the current in the new body of water sent them into a frenzy!! Their activity went through the roof with cartwheels, breaching (one pictured above belly flopped!), multiple spyhops, and bellyrolls!! Ruffles (J1) was unmistakable as he swam with his mom Granny (J2) and the majority of the pod! Although spread out the pod was traveling in sub pods! At one point a whale spyhopped in one sub pod just as another was spyhopping a few hundred yards away in another!! We not only enjoyed the sunshine and the whales but also: Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, Harbor Porpoise, California Sea Lions, Pelagic Cormorants, 5 Bald Eagles, and fishing Harbor Seals!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

Moving (3 Pacific White-Sided Dolphins)

Creating "Footprints" (3 Pacific White-Sided Dolphins)

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

"Our wildlife adventure began with our first wildlife sighting just outside the marina! In the water a Pigeon Guillemot swam while high above perched on a conifer was a mature Bald Eagle! We entered into the calm waters of Rosario Strait turning south towards the southern end of Lopez Island. Nearing Castle Rock our guests enjoyed close looks at Bull Kelp and a very close encounter with 3 Black Oystercatchers as they flew just over the bow pulpit! Continuing north we came across some hauled out Harbor Seals on Swirl Rocks! During our search for whales we received a call that there were Pacific White-Sided Dolphins near San Juan Island! At first we thought there were 3 of these rare cetaceans visiting our waters, but there were 4!! Guests enjoyed this rare opportunity to visit with these dolphins as they slowly played in our wake and swam just under the surface of the water! Perfect conditions followed us throughout our journey as we spent time with Rhinoceros Auklets, Pacific Loons, Cormorants, Glaucous-winged Gulls, hundreds of Harbor Porpoises, a total of 5 Bald Eagles, and hauled-out California Sea Lions!! Unfortunately the whales did not make a guest appearance, thus making the Pacific White-Sided Dolphins the real showstoppers!" - Naturalist Kate Janes