Whale Watching Report

J-pod orcas lined up with Mount Baker.


We started today's wildlife viewing at Colville Island where harbor seals were relaxing on the rocks. We also noticed a pair of bald eagles perched side by side on the top of Colville Island. Next we moved northwest, and arrived to see orcas on the west side of San Juan Island near False Bay. The first orcas we saw were J-pod orcas including Mike, J26, Ruffles, J1, and Granny J2. Ruffles and Granny were swimming close together. Captain Carl got us lined up nicely for photographing a big group of orcas with Mount Baker as a backdrop. Next we moved forward to check out two brothers, L78, Gaia, and L88, Wavewalker swimming near each other. They gave us some great looks. Soon all the orcas turned around and started heading back eastward and offshore. We visited Ruffles, who was swimming alone, for a while. Then we stopped to watch a big group of J-pod females and young, including, Polaris, J28, Princess Angeline, J17, and J44, among others. J44 did a couple of spyhops for us, and another orca did a carwheel in this group. Pink salmon were jumping in several spots while we watched the orcas. On our way back to the dock we found another bald eagle perched on the top of Swirl Rock. Naturalist Bart Rulon