Whale Watching Reports from Island Adventures Whale Watching Tours in the San Juan Islands

A Bounty of Wildlife

"On this crisp fall day in October the area was just teaming with wildlife! As we left the marina we found a mature Bald Eagle soaring towards Cap Sante Point! This quick look wasn't going to be our only chance at seeing eagles for the day only got better! We rounded the point finding Common Loons sitting at the surface in between dives, Cormorants flying close to the waters surface and near the end of Guemes Channel we even found a California Sea Lion hauled out on a channel marker waiting to pose for a few photos!! Our wildlife adventure continued as we made our way south down Rosario Strait where we found Harbor Porpoise, Western Grebes, Common Murres, Glaucous-winged Gulls and Heerman's Gulls!! It was just East of Colville Island where we found a mated pair of mature Bald Eagles perched on the Lawson Reef marker!! The two sat regally atop the marker as our guests rattled off frame after frame of photos of the two who appeared to be posing just for us!! After our eagle fix, we continued towards Salmon Bank where we found a Harbor Seal thrashing about the surface with a nice sized Salmon hanging out of his mouth! This activity not only grabbed our attention but also the attention of some gulls flying overhead! We watched as a scene right out of National Geographic unfolded before our eyes!! After his last bite we continued on, and it was only moments later that a Minke Whale was spotted up ahead! Rather shy at first the Minke appeared to be playing hard to get!! We waited patiently and finally the patience card paid off when he reappeared and decided to become more friendly!! It seemed the longer we watched the more interested the whale became in us!! Maybe this Minke was partaking in a little people watching?! With some great looks because of some close passes our guests became expert Minke spotters! We even got a great look at his 2 blow holes and even heard his exhalation as it surfaced!! The glass calm water helped in tracking the whale as footprints were created after every surfacing and the percussion from its tail left rings at the surface!! After a considerable amount of quality time with the Minke we continued our search for more wildlife! Our journey brought us to Whale Rocks where more than a dozen Steller Sea Lions were hauled out on the rocks and swimming about in the waters surrounding the island! Their grunts and roars carried across the water as a couple where involved in a battle over a piece of prime real estate!! Soon it was time to head back towards home port but along our journey we also saw Pacific Loons, Surf Scoters, Great Blue Herons, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots and even some Harbor Seals hauled out on the rocks!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

5 Humpback Whales Sighted!

"Humpback Whales sighted!" reports Captain Carl from onboard Island Explorer 3. Stay tuned to the Whale Report for an update from Naturalist Jami Nagel. "We headed out with our first sighting today of a California Sealion taking a snooze on on of the channel markers in Guemes Channel. He barely looked up at us as we cruised passed. We headed around the southend of Lopez Island and found ourselves at Constance bank watching 3 humpback whales as they were in resting mode. We had some amazing fluke shots as they made their deep dives and we even got the experience of smelling them (not quite as smelly as a minke whale but it will get your attention). We headed off for a look at 2 more humbacks also in rest slowly make their way toward the other 2 whales. They were nice enough to show their flukes off to!!! As we made our way back we encountered a bald eagle and several harbor seals hauled out at Coville Island. Making our way back into Guemes channel we again encountered our lazy California sealion and a friend taking up 2 of the channel markers!" -Naturalist Jami Nagel

Orca Whales Near Pile Point!

The Island Explorer 3 and our guests sighted J and K Pods on today's tour. Stay tuned to the Whale Report for details from Naturalist Kate Janes! "Today after leaving the marina we found ourselves heading northward up Bellingham Channel where we found Harbor Seals swimming (possibly checking out the young Coho Salmon in the pens along Cypress Islands shoreline), Harbor Porpoise quickly making their way through the water and lots of Bulls Kelp hugging the shoreline! From there we entered into the inner islands via Peavine Pass, allowing our guests a glimpse of the back country air stripe on Blakely Island! We continued our journey watching the Washington State Ferries make their way through the inner islands as we traveled through Harney Channel! The inner islands proved not only beautiful backdrop to our trip but also provided protected waters as we traveled towards whales!! Just before entering into Haro Strait we found a pair of mature Bald Eagles! The eagles were perched across a channel from one another watching the water intently! At the south end of Haro Strait is where we found the Orcas playing in the waves, which seemed to be a three dimensional playground for the whales!! Our guests eagerly watched the tall 6 foot dorsal fins of the males rise out of what appeared to be nowhere, a couple of younger whales appeared to be surfing the waves, while others used the surge to catapult their flukes high into the air creating quite a splash!! After only a few moments it became quite clear that we were surrounded!! Whales could be seen in all directions! The bit of swell that had built allowed us a unique look at the whales, since every surfacing required each whale to lift their head further than normal out of the water in order for them to inhale safely! It was quite an exhilarating visit and sadly it had to come to an end. We said our goodbyes and returned back to the inner islands and the protected waters!! Another great day spent with whales ended with a fantastic sunset that set the sky on fire with brilliant reds, golds and pinks!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

Humpback Whales in sight!

The Island Explorer 3 is on scene near Constance Bank watching Humpback Whales! Stay tuned to the Whale Report for details on today's tour from naturalist Kate Janes.

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