Whale Watching Report

Our guests on board The Island Explorer 3 are watching all three pods of the Southern Resident Killer Whales! Stay tuned for updates from Naturalist Kate Janes and click on this link to see the position of the Island Explorer 3 from space - just off of Iceberg Point - near Lopez Island!

"Rounding the southern corner of Lopez Island with whales in sight is always a real treat!! We thought it couldn't get better, then we learned that L & K pod had returned!! We navigated the Strait of Juan de Fuca with 80+ Orca whales spread out as far as the eye could see!! There was finally a point where we had to say to our guests pick a side and a group to watch, otherwise people were back & forth, back & forth - what we like to call Whale Ping-Pong! After some great looks at the whales we started back towards home and happened upon the "trailers"!! We enjoyed some quality time with Ruffles (J1), his mom Granny (J2), Spieden (J8- a.k.a Weaser), Slick (J16), Mike (J27), and little J42. Finally after reluctantly leaving the whales we stopped by Burrows Island where we saw a Bald Eagle perched high in a Madrone Tree & 2 Coyotes searching the shoreline for food!!! What a day!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

Stay tuned to the Whale Report for updates from Naturalist Kate Janes and click here to see the position of the Island Explorer 3 from space!
"Our guests enjoyed an inner island cruise as we made our way to the Orcas of J & L pod just south of Henry Island! Along the way we visited with hauled-out Harbor Seals, watched Rhinoceros Auklets dive for fish, Pigeons Guillemots fly-by, and as we navigated through Pull Pass we even saw a few Common Sea Stars exposed due to the low tide!! The highlight of the day however belonged of course to the Orcas! We found the whales in two distinct groups. All of J pod and Faith (L57) were synchronize swimming as they slept! It was incredible to see all members of J pod, plus of course Faith, in one close knit group and swimming in unison. Sleeping is the only time that this happens!! Just as we neared Henry Island some of the younger whales began to awake as we watched a few begin to taillob!! We were all amazed as the whales swam within inches of Henry Island, making for some amazing photos as their exhalations were highlighted against the exposed basalt foundations of the island! " - Naturalist Kate Janes

We headed south today to start out our trip. Our first wildlife stop was at the south end of Lopez Island and Castle Island. There we saw a variety of great wildlife starting with multitudes of pigeon guillemots in the water and on the rocks. Next a bald eagle flew right over us as we motored over to look at a few harbor seals hauled out on the rocks. As we passed by the seals at close range the tide was low enough that many purple sea stars were visible. Right before we checked out the eagle's nest on the south end of Lopez we saw two more bald eagles soaring together. Later as we worked our way west we saw many more harbor seals hauled out on Swirl Rocks, and one black oystercatcher. Next we headed out into the open water and we were able to find a minke whale out at Hein Bank. Within minutes another minke whale popped up close by too. Both whales were changing directions often, but they gave us some very good views. One of the minke's, with a distinct notch in his or her dorsal fin, surfaced right next to the bow of our boat giving us all a great close up view. Later the other minke whale came up lunge feeding after a long dive. After we said goodbye to our entertaining minke whales we visited whale rocks and saw close to one hundred harbor seals hauled out there along with another black oystercatcher, some harbor porpoise, and 5 harlequin ducks. It was definitely a good day for a variety of species. Naturalist, Bart Rulon

A Blakely Breach

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

Second Chance

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

"The captain's all agree that today was the best show so far this year and in our very own backyard!! We first found J pod & Faith (L57) at the north end of Cypress Island heading southward in very high spirits!! Swimming side-by-side Faith (L57) & Ruffles (J1) followed closely to Granny (J2). There was one youngster who was breach happy! While swimming close to the main sub-pod this young whale started doing "side-flops"! We watched as the whales spyhopped, breached, cartwheeled, & taillobed towards Washington Park in Anacortes!! We found these happy whales on our 3:30 PM trip just north of False Bay very spread out. In the evening light we watched as Rhapsody (J32) fished in the riptides and had a great pass by Shachi (J19) & her calf Eclipse (J41)! We ended on a great note with an unexpected visit with a baby Minke Whale & rooster-tailing Dall's Porpoise!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

The Island Explorer 3 is on-scene with the Orca Whales! Stay tuned to the Whale Report for updates from Naturalist Kate Janes and click here to see the Island Explorer 3 from Space!