Whale Watching Report

Captain Michael and the crew of the Island Explorer 3 are showing our guests Orca Whales. Click here to see the location of the whales from space and stay tuned for updates from Naturalist Kate Janes.

No So Suttle, Suttles (Suttles J40)

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

Bend It Like Riptide (Riptide J30)

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

Riptide Making Waves

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

Land Sausages All in a Row (Harbor Seals on Puffin Island)

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

"Our day may have started out with some liquid sunshine but our guests found out through experience that one just needs patience and the weather is bound to change and change it did. It wasn't long off the dock that Captain Michael found us some blue sky and even some sunshine! It was in a patch of sunshine that we found the Orcas. Our first whale of the day was my favorite boy (shouldn't have favorites I know), Blackberry J27, was cruising off on his own. On his flukes were a couple of feisty youngsters, Riptide (J30) and his little sister Suttles (J40). These two whales were having quite the time backdiving, rolling about, little Suttles spyhopped and Riptide even gave us a nice breach that produced quite the splash. We spent the remaining time with these two fun-loving whales who were definitely the most surface active out of the whales that were spread out over a couple of miles. On our way back to the dock we had the opportunity to slow down at Puffin Island where we found a huge Bald Eagle's nest with a chick in nest situated right above a Harbor Seal hang-out! We even got a glimpse of a Black Oystercatcher who was trying very hard not to be seen but wasn't so shy about being heard!" - Naturalist Kate Janes