Harbor Seal Mania!

All three of my kayak trips had excellent harbor seal shows! The water was glassy enabling us to see every little seal head. This time of the year harbor seal pups are starting to leave their mothers and are more adventurous than ever! We had one particular pup who was very interested in our kayaks and continually popped up next to and behind us. It is also harbor seal mating season and we watched many seals launch their bodies out of the water and lob their tails on the surface putting on quite a show! On my 6:00 sunset tour we had a harbor seal pop up next to us in the kelp bed and haul itself up on top of the kelp no more than two feet from us. We sat munching on our kelp watching our seal friend do what harbor seals do best, snooze! All day was gorgeous and calm on the water, great for viewing wildlife!

San Juan Island Whale Watch- Baby Orca Whale Sighting

Whale Watch Update for August 8th:

On our 11am Whale Watch tour out of Roche Harbor, our naturalist Kevin reported not only seeing some members of L-Pod but also being fortunate enough to see the newest addition, L-112 born to L-86. L-112 was extremely playful at the surface of the water, rolling around and as well as breaching (leaping out of the water). It was very exciting to see such a small Orca exhibiting so much exuberance!

Orca calves are born after a 17 month gestation period and on average are around 6 feet in length and upwards of 600 lbs. An adult female orca will weigh 4-5 tons and an adult male weigh 6-7 tons.

San Juan Island Whale Watch

Our Captain Brian returned from our 11am Whale Watch out of Roche Harbor with a report an uncommon sighting of Transient whales. They saw the very large male T-102, as well as T-100 and T-90. Transient are the marine mammal eating whales that you see on the Discovery Channel. Although they do frequent the San Juan Islands, their sporadic movements and elusive behavior make them a rare sighting. They were spotted near Halibut Island near Kelp Reef on the eastern side of Vancouver Island. It was a very exciting tour!

Harbor Seal Pups make an appearance for 3 hour sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak tour wildlife update for July 18th:

This afternoon Noelle and I paddled out with a private tour from the Institute of Journalism and Natural Resources (IJNR). It was an absolutely gorgeous day out on the west side, and the temperature was hot enough to convince a few hardy souls to go swimming! While in a bed of bull kelp we saw a young harbor seal pup hauled out on top of a few stipes. The pup was totally relaxed, often yawning and lying turned away from us. This summer's pups have been making quite a few appearances during the past three weeks, often popping up in the kelp beds, riding along on their mother's backs or mewing from offshore rocks.

Today's sunny tour was a great opportunity for Noelle and I to show and interpret the wildlife of this region for our large group.

San Juan Island Whale Watch spot whales

Whale Watch update for July 10th:

Today our 1:00pm Whale Watch boat out of Roche Harbor caught up with Killer Whales (Orca Whales) coming from the Straits of Juan De Fuca. We felt lucky considering earlier in the morning the whales were far away. It was a great showing and all on board had a wonderful time.

Whales seen in the distance on 3 hour San Juan Island sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak tour wildlife update for July 10:

It was another beautiful day on the west side, and my 3 hour sea kayak tour was pleased to see all sorts of wildlife out and about! Not only did I get my first glimpse of the year of an eaglet in a nest, but we also saw killer whales off in the distance! The whales were spread out in the Haro Strait, headed north. Although they were so far off that we could only just make out some dorsal fins and their exhalations, it was still awesome to see.

Whales, Whales and more Whales!

Last Tuesday morning we set out from Roche Harbor with 14 people aboard our boat the Sea Hawk. It was a drizzly morning but the wildlife was still fantastic. On our way out we motored over to a large group of Harbor Seals hauled out on shallow rocks. They craned their necks to look at us but then went back to doing what they do best, napping! We also viewed several Bald Eagles perched majestically in the tree tops. After motoring down the west side of San Juan Island we reached the Orca whales and quickly realized we were in for a treat. There were whales surfacing in every direction! We had whales from J, K and L pod passing us on all sides forming a Super Pod! Our captain did his best to stay out of the whales way as they moved north along shore as well as off the coast of San Juan.  Some of the whales were moving quickly, while some were hunting and popping up all around us. Others were extremely active, breaching, spyhopping (poking their heads straight up out of the water to look around), tail slapping, and even what appeared to be mating (hard to tell exactly what goes on beneath the surface:)). One calf was particularly active, breaching over and over again. An adult female Orca snuck up behind us popping up within feet of our stern and then swimming just below the surface along the port side and surfacing again at the bow! We followed the whales all the way back home and even had to wait as more whales passed so the we could safely cross back into Roche Harbor. Everyone on board was elated as they made their way off the boat, with broad smiles plastered across each of their faces. These Orcas have a way of making everyone smile!

Orca Whales on 5 hour kayak tour

On a sunny Saturday afternoon our group of 10 kayakers left Roche Harbor. We paddled in calm waters past Pearl Island and around to the western side of Henry Island where we saw everything from Bald Eagles to brilliant purple Ochre Sea Stars. We even ate Bull Kelp! Sitting in the Bull Kelp bed we sat quietly munching on our Kelp snack as curious Harbor Seal heads popped up around us.  As we continued south on the west side of Henry Island we heard the screeching of a hungry young Bald Eagle from a nest in a tree arching over the water high above us.  Having seen so much already we pulled up on a beach to rest, stretch and fill our bellies.   After lunch we continued south and to our excitement we began spotting dorsal fins and spouts in the distance! Quickly we pulled into a kelp bed along the shore in front of us to keep our kayaks from drifting with the current.  Orca whales were spread all across Haro Strait, but our patience was rewarded. Several large males and females swam within feet of the Kelp! The sound of their spouts echoed off the cliff faces of Henry Island.  Some slapped their flukes on the surface and others breached. Forty minutes flew by as we watched whales from J,K, and L pod make their way North through Haro Strait. When the last ones passed by we made our way back to Roche Harbor. It was truly an incredible trip!

San Juan Island sea kayak tour is all smiles despite rain

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for July 6th:

Today I paddled out on a 3 hour sea kayak tour departing from Roche Harbor, San Juan Island. Despite the dreary weather, we all managed to have a great time! There were harbor seals and harbor seal pups to see, bald eagles to look for, tasty bull kelp to eat, crabs to find, jellies to scoop up and more!

At San Juan Outfitters we paddle rain or shine, so it's important that everyone bring the gear necessary to ensure comfort and safety regardless of the weather. That means a warm, non-cotton top layer, a wind or water repellent jacket, a hat for warmth or sun, and of course sunscreen and sunglasses! The more comfortable you are, the more fun you'll have paddling out with us!

Rain doesn't deter San Juan Island sea kayak trips

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for May 19th:

This week's bout of rain couldn't dampen the spirits of some intrepid sea kayakers, and good thing too! The rain really changes the atmosphere and overall look of our local paddling route. As long as everyone is adequately prepared and geared up, paddling in the rain can be absolutely fantastic. The rain seems to dampen the neighboring sounds and low clouds obscure the farther islands, allowing us to really concentrate much more on our immediate scenery. On a day like today there are still great chances to see wildlife-- in fact, the local harbor seals were out and about as usual and even seemed surprised to see us!



The best part of the day was after all that rain, the clouds lifted and an absolutely gorgeous sunset emerged!! (Photo: guide Joe Gardner)

3 hour sea kayak tour from San Juan Island spots Dall's porpoises

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for May 12th:

Noelle paddled out with three guests this morning for a 3 hour sea kayak tour, and reported back that there were sunny skies and smooth, glassy waters to greet them out on the west side. Once there they had quite a few wildlife sightings-- from harbor seals to bald eagles-- but what was most exciting was the porpoises that were spotted foraging around just off the western shore of Henry Island. Noelle identified them as Dall's porpoises, making them the first Dall's we've seen by kayak this year.

Dall's are fantastic--and maddening-- creatures to watch, as they often are very energetic and can move quite quickly and irregularly through the water. They are the fastest of all small cetaceans, reaching almost 30mph!

Red-tailed hawk chases off an eagle during a 5 hour sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for May 8th:

Today Carin, Nick and I paddled out of Roche Harbor for a 5 hour sea kayak tour. While we were indeed hoping to see some mega fauna like orcas or sea lions, we had to be content with the curious harbor seals, frequent bald eagle sighting and absolutely gorgeous weather. It looks as though the rain clouds from this week have been banished, and I hope those blue skies are here to stay!

My favorite part of the trip occurred as we were paddling down the west side of Henry Island. There, when we slowed to watch an eagle skim the cliff side tree tops, a strange bird took off from a nearby pine and swooped down after the eagle. Of course the eagle was vocalising loudly, and so was this bird. The only other raptors I've ever seen on Henry have been the osprey and peregrine tail and then hear the unmistakable cry of a red-tailed hawk.falcons, but this didn't look or sound like either. When it wheeled back we could see that rufous. It was pretty incredible to see a hawk out here in an area where the wooded cliffs drop sharply to the deep water below.

I can't wait to find out what tomorrow will bring!

San Juan Island sea kayak tour investigate Bull Kelp forest

San Juan Island sea kayak tour wildlife update for April 27th:

Today was simply a beautiful day out here at Roche Harbor, WA. The sun was shining, skies were blue, and even a brisk breeze didn't deter my guests, Harris and Ruby, who were used to much warmer weather down in Miami. We were lucky in that we saw half a dozen or more Bald Eagles soaring, perching, whistling and watching above us. Most of the harbor seals were busy snoozing on the rocks, but one quietly came much closer and examined us much to our delight. All in all, it was a fantastic day! I'm glad my enthusiasm was shared by my guests, and now I'll let Harris' words and photos speak for themselves:

"Dear Aileen,
It has been a pleasure to work with Brian, Noelle and yourself from our initial phone call through the conclusion of our kayak trip. Ruby and I can't thank you enough for showing us such a great time. We have traveled extensively and this San Juan vacation will be remembered as one of our very best ever. Certainly our kayak trip with you today was the highlight of our vacation to San Juan. The beauty and magic of the sights and sounds were matched only by your knowledge, professionalism and adorable personality. Best of luck in all your future endeavors.
We will spread the word of San Juan Outfitters to all of our friends in Miami and elsewhere and
look forward to coming back to visit you soon.

Harris and Ruby"

Sea kayak tour takes a closer look at new jellies!

San Juan Island sea kayak tour wildlife update for April 21rst:

Roche Harbor was gorgeous today with bright blue skies and that perfect warm spring breeze that marks the beginning of a new season. I paddled out into the sunshine with Yvette and Matt and we were pretty pleased with what we found.

The animals were out in full force today-- we got a close up look at a bald eagle hopping on the rocks nearby, a river otter repeatedly surfaced chewing something tasty and seals popped up all around our kayaks looking at us curiously.

For me, the most interesting part of the day was seeing all kinds of new and strange jellies (formerly called jellyfish). We caught a few and examined them closely, and confirmed the identification of Catablema nodulosa, a pretty, clear jelly with a gelatinous cap and light brown frilly stomach. I'm hard at work learning more about these jellies-- along with their Latin name, so I can remember it!

San Juan Island whale watch tours see orcas hunting successfully.

San Juan Island whale watch update for April 20th:

Well what a day! Noelle and Captain Nancy headed out for a whale watch tour yesterday with sunny skies ahead. Transients were in the area, and Noelle was pleased to report back great views of some extremely active orcas. "Transient" means these killer whales (orcas) have a large home range and often pass through the Puget Sound. These whales have been spotted as far south as Monterey Bay, CA where they prey on gray whales resuming their long migration north. When in this area they are often hunting porpoises, seals and sea lions.

Yesterday Noelle, Nancy and all the passengers witnessed a lot of activity and movement by these whales including huge full breaches out of the water! Other naturalists agreed that they were likely hunting porpoises, and eventually made a kill.

Also exciting was the appearance of T-40, a large male with a distinctive hooked dorsal fin who is normally found near Alaska. After hunting the whales split apart and the large male disappeared-- only to be spotted later by Kellet Bluffs by Noelle.

San Juan sea kayak tours glimpsing nesting cormorants

San Juan Island sea kayak tour update for April 19th:

Today I paddled out for a 5-hour tour with a lovely couple from Oklahoma. It's always a great feeling to be able to showcase the marine environment to folks who don't often see it. Plus, they loved seeing so many harbor seals up close! We hung out in the kelp beds with a few seals who kept surfacing nearby and checking us out. It's still early in the season, so they're just getting used to kayakers again!

The highlight of the day for me was paddling by the Pelagic Cormorant rookery down on the south side of Henry Island, just northwest of San Juan Island. The cormorants are back! We hung out for a minute or two, watching mated pairs rub necks and gurgle to one another while balancing on tiny rocky ledges. It was a pretty special sight, and a definite sign that spring has come!

Nature update from San Juan Island WildlifeTours

Down at the Roche Harbor docks the whale watch and sea kayak staff are getting ready for the busy season ahead--painting, sanding, staining and waxing just about everything in sight. We've been taking advantage of the good weather this week to get our 'office' in top shape, and today was no different. Although the To-Do list was mounting I kept getting distracted by the Belted Kingfishers noisily splashing by the banks on the other side.

These blue and white birds are pretty entertaining to watch; buzzing to each other constantly, flitting by my head, and diving into the water with a splash before swooping back to their perches above the water. From a tall piling next door they keep watch over these waters. They're looking for fish, frogs, insects, small mammals, crustaceans--pretty much anything!

I like having them for neighbors and the diners at the Madrona Bar & Grill in Roche Harbor get a great ringside seat to all their activity. It's days like these-- spending the day outside in the sun with kingfishers diving into the water before me-- that I am reminded again how fortunate I am to have this job...

Sea kayak tour investigates Pigeon Guillemots

San Juan Island Sea Kayak Report from April 13th:

Today we paddled out to the west side looking for critters, and took a closer look at the Pigeon Guillemot. These glossy black and white birds, chunky in stature, are easily recognizable by their bright red legs and feet. I like these birds as they are especially easy to spot on open bays, and often swim quite close to the docks. When diving underwater looking for bottom fish, the Guillemot propels itself with its wings.
This little guy is related to the puffin, and also nests on rocky cliffs and islands. These are busy parents, feeding their young up to 16 times a day! All that food gets put to good work immediately-- both chicks triple their weight in under two weeks.
Next time you see one swim or fly by, listen for their repeated cry of "cheep"!

Transient Orcas with a Calf

San Juan Island Whale Watch report from Saturday, April 11th:

The predicted rain held off for us, and Captain Brian P. and I headed out into the sunshine as we left San Juan Island in hopes of whales. Reports of whales off the Saanich area of Vancouver Island held true for us, and as we came close to shore we sighted them. At first it looked like a small group of two individuals, but as we drew closer we could identify two adult whales and one small calf! The calf was surfacing and swimming in sync with its mother.

After observing their behavior for a few minutes, Brian informed the guests that the whales were most likely hunting harbor seals, and probably teaching the young calf to hunt. Although calves might nurse up to two years, after one year they'll start to take solid food and it's the job of its pod to teach it how to forage and hunt. According to my research, all members of the pod-- both male and female-- assist in the raising of the young. With females reproducing only once every five years or so, and just half of those calves making it past their initial first year, each new addition to the pod is an important one.

I feel very lucky to have spotted such a young whale, and it was a delight for all to see.

Transient Pods sighted!

San Juan Island Whale Watching report for Friday, April 10th:

Well, it's early in April and we've had great success spotting wildlife the past few days. On Friday Captain Nancy and I left Roche Harbor with gray skies overhead. There were reports of Transient Orcas near Fulford Harbor, and we crossed our fingers we'd make it across the Haro Strait before they disappeared. Luck was with us as we drew close to the southern tip of Salt Spring Island, and we watched as a large group of transients, 6 in all, slowly moving around the bay. Although the male was evidently the largest, it would have been an older female in the group who was in charge. The male was easiest to identify, of course, with his almost 6-foot dorsal fin towering above the rest. With 3 foot dorsal fins, females and juveniles of both sexes look alike. Once the males mature at 15, however, their dorsal begins to grow until there is no mistaking the sexes.

We watched this group for a long time, as they surfaced and breathed in unison. As they began exploratory dives and started to move away, we too moved off.

The most extraordinary thing happened on our return course-- just as everyone settled back into the toasty cabin, or curled up with blankets to enjoy the scenery on the ride home, we encountered another pod of transient whales! This time there were about 5 transients together, and we were extremely happy to get not one, but two glimpses of whales up close.

What a day!