Whale Watching Report

On our way out to look for orcas we slowed down at Colville Island to watch about 75 harbor seals hauled out on the rocks during an extreme low tide of minus 3. We found our first orcas of the day off the west side of San Juan Island. J27, Blackberry, was the first orca we saw, and he zig-zagged his way right toward us, apparently chasing fish. He gave everybody a great view as he passed in front of the bow. Next we found J1, Ruffles, slowly swimming by himself. He came over for a great visit. Soon after that we spotted J2, Granny, who did a spyhop, and Ruffles swam over to join her. The mother and son tandem swam side by side for the next 15 minutes as we watched. Next we got some great looks at J17, Princess Angeline with her new calf, J44, J28, Polaris, J35, Tahlequah, And J30 Riptide. On our way back to the dock we spotted many harbor porpoises and a bald eagle carrying a branch that we watched him tear off a tree on Burrows Island. Other wildlife we spotted today included two pacific loons, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, pelagic cormorants, double-crested cormorants, and a great blue heron, We had a great day today! Naturalist Bart Rulon