Whale Watching Report

The Island Explorer 3 is on-scene and our guests are watching L-Pod Orca Whales. Stay tuned for updates from Naturalist Kate Janes.

Friendly Harbor Porpoise Surround the Boat

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

Skana (L79) Moves Offshore

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

Quick Change in Direction (Matia L77)

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

"It was a day filled with wildlife around every corner. For starters we found a very friendly group of Harbor Porpoise near Boulder Island that actually played in our stern wake! Very unusual for this species. In the waters surrounding Castle Rock we watched and listened as Pigeon Guillemots splashed and called to one another, while Harbor Seals swam about and a dozen were hauled out on Swirl Rocks. We found the Orcas of L Pod just north of Salmon Bank somewhat spread out and milling about. We enjoyed visiting with Spirit (L22), her two boys Skana (L79) & Solstice (L89), Ocean Sun (L25), Matia (L77) and the big boy of the Southern Residents Mega (L41) could be seen from quite a distance away. As we ventured closer our guests really were able to see the enormity of his large dorsal fin (the largest of any male in the Southern Residents standing over 6 feet tall)! We watched as they fished changing direction quickly and then decided to make their way off shore and head back southward. We also had the opportunity to visit with a few Bald Eagles and even made a "nest call" at the south end of Lopez Island and then stopped over at Burrows Island to visit with a pair of Peregrine Falcons and their young chicks. We also saw Rhinoceros Auklets, Marbled Murreletts, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Bull Kelp, Turkey Vultures, Dall's Acorn Barnacles, and Pacific Madrone Trees." - Naturalist Kate Janes