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