San Juan Island 3 day sea kayak tour spies dozens of porpoise!

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for April 2nd:

Well Noelle and I just returned from our first multi day sea kayak tour of 2010! We had a great, cheerful group and were both happy to get out on the water and dust some cobwebs off our paddling skills. We left Friday Harbor, paddled north and on Day 3 arrived at Roche Harbor-- all without retracing our steps.

Despite varying inclement weather our cheerful group made the best of each day. We were able to paddle around the Wasp Islands, hike around Jones Island State Park and explore the west side of San Juan and Henry Islands. It's definitely springtime here in the San Juan Islands, and the blossoms are in bloom!

I think I can safely speak for the group when I say everyone's highlight was setting off across San Juan Channel on Day 3, and stopping to listen to the dozens of harbor porpoise that were surfacing quietly on all sides of us. We got some great looks at a few pairs just a few hundred feet away, and could hear them breath as they surfaced. It was such special moment, and I was grateful for the chance to share a little island magic.

San Juan Island 3 hour sea kayak tour spies a hunting Steller sea lion

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for March 27th:

Today I paddled out on a 3 hour kayak tour. It was a bit windy out but the overcast clouds created the most beautiful colors-- all of the islands to the west were clothed in wonderful shades of blue.
We saw harbor seals, courting bald eagles and lots of shorebirds.

As we were paddling down the west side of Henry Island we spied a Steller sea lion surfacing a few times just a few hundred feet away! This big guy was hard to identify at first because he surfaced upside down-- coming to breath with just his chin (and then chest) showing. Later that afternoon when I spoke with an experienced captain he suggested that seals or sea lions surface like that when they are hunting and do not want to take their eyes off their prey. Wonder what this Steller was looking at down there?

San Juan Island sea kayak 3hr tour spies variety of wildlife

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for March 23rd:

Today I was able to paddle out with a lovely family new to the Northwest. Luckily for us we had gorgeous weather and could see clear to the Olympic, Cascade and Vancouver Island mountain ranges. The wildlife was visible as well, with a number of harbor seal sightings, various shorebirds seen and heard and even three harbor porpoise. I thoroughly enjoyed showing off a bit of the splendor of the islands, and the Pacific Northwest!

For me the highlight was spotting so many bald eagles, including one that was hunting. As we paddled along the cliffs of Henry Island, we saw an eagle take off from its perch, fly out over the water and swoop down. Three times it dove with talons outstretched, climbed back up, kited (back beating its wings to maintain position) and dove again. This is extremely taxing on the eagle, as they are not built for agile flying and kiting, but broad soaring. Despite all that effort, however, it did not catch anything.

Later I spoke with Brian about the eagle's behavior and he informed me that what the eagle had been hunting for was likely a diving bird. Eagles will watch a bird dive down and be poised to snatch it as soon as it comes up for air. That's why the eagle will kite and dive again-- knowing the bird must come up and cannot swim too much further, as opposed to a fish which will dive and not near the surface again.

All in all, a really interesting sight.

Spring at San Juan Outfitters, Friday Harbor

San Juan Outfitters' wildlife update for Saturday March 13th:

It's springtime here on the island-- which means the weather is likely to change at a moment's notice, the animals are all getting ready for courtship or mating, and it's simply gorgeous out. Today I saw an adult bald eagle fly by with a large stick in it's beak-- building a nest I presume. Although bald eagles are believed to mate for life, each year they will make 'improvements' to their nest by adding on more and more sticks until the tree can no longer support the nest.

One of the most amazing looks at wildlife I've ever had here on San Juan Island was when I saw two bald eagles performing courtship aerials of swoops and spins in the sky, all while crying out. The highlight of the display was when the two eagles locked talons and spun down towards the ground. At the last second they let go and flew up again.

Keep those eyes on the sky, and you too might be lucky enough to glimpse these magnificent birds in flight (and courtship!)

San Juan Island sea kayak and whale watch for March

San Juan Island wildlife update for March 4th, 2010:

Happy March everyone! February was such a mild, gorgeous month (not quite usual) so we'll wait to see what kind of weather March brings!

This week there have been many reports of gray whales feeding off of Whidbey Island further east in the Salish Sea. Here is what the Orca Network has to say: "In Washington, Gray whales were once thought to be strictly seasonal travelers along the outer coast. We now know that these waters are more than just a stop on a migratory route for some. Two small groups of Grays often turn east into Washington's inland waters, usually during the spring northern migration. Some of them stay all summer.

The first group seems to know where the best feeding grounds are. From six to ten Grays return most years to northwestern Whidbey Island or southeastern Whidbey Island and Port Susan, Camano Island, feeding on ghost shrimp and tubeworms for several months. In recent years (2008-2009) more gray whales have been reported feeding in more areas around Whidbey Island, including Holmes Harbor and along Whidbey Naval Air Station and Joseph Whidbey State Park near Oak Harbor. They also appear to be arriving earlier - some in January - and staying later - some not leaving until July.

The second group visiting inland waters seems unfamiliar with the feeding areas, and are often emaciated when they arrive, possibly already dying of starvation. Hungry Grays usually arrive in Puget Sound in spring and summer, after four or five months in southern waters with little to eat." (Source: http://www.orcanetwork.org/nathist/graywhales.html)

We don't see as as many Grays here in the San Juan islands, likely because the conditions that make this prime orca whale habitat (deep and steep channels, cold fast currents) are not conditions that Grays love (shallow water with much sediment). If you're around Whidbey Island, however, now is a great time to keep a lookout for those whales!

More new calves for Southern Resident Killer Whales, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island

San Juan Island wildlife update for February 23, 2010:

The population of the Southern Resident Killer (Orca) Whales is still on the rise! Sunday was the first sighting of brand new calf L114, to first-time mom L77, Matia. This birth brings our current total to 89 whales!

Typically in the winter months the southern resident orca whales disperse and travel much more, so last week's SUPERPOD of all three resident orca pods (J, K, & L) together in the straits was cause for excitement!

Here at San Juan Outfitters we're excited for the population to rise, and looking forward to another great season of sea kayaking and whale watching here on San Juan Island.

Photo credit: Jeanne Hyde
Newborn L114 is showing it's pectoral flippers in the foreground, and an adult male, L85 Mystery is behind.

San Juan Island whale update

San Juan Island wildlife update for February 20th:

It's technically winter here-- although all this sunshine would make anyone doubt it-- and although it's not prime whale season here in the Salish Sea, they've been popping up everywhere!

This week a humpback was spotted off the southern tip of Whidbey Island, a gray whale spotted near Camano Island and a small pod of four orcas were spotted in the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca (south of Vancouver Island).

San Juan Island orca (killer) whale update

San Juan Island whale watch update for February 12th 2010:

Both resident (fish eating) and transient (mammal eating) killer whales, also known as orca whales, live in the waters surrounding the San Juan Islands. The Salish Sea is home to a huge amount of biodiversity, allowing animals large and small to thrive. There is a lot of research being conducted on the whales, and one way scientists gather information is by recording underwater acoustics using hydrophones. This allows data on whales to be collected even when they are out of sight. One such hydrophone is in the water just off Lime Kiln Lighthouse here on San Juan Island.

Just yesterday the vocalizations of transient orcas were recorded off the point. It's exciting to know they are here, even if they are hard to spot!

San Juan Island sea kayak and whale watch company: whale update

San Juan Island wildlife update for Tuesday, February 9th:

Six new births within the Southern Resident Orcas brings the total number to 88. That's quite a rise from the previous few years, and scientists are eagerly awaiting more research to determine whether this rise will continue, or if it is a fluke. More detailed information can be found at either www.orcanetwork.org or www.whalemuseum.org.

Meanwhile, here's a picture of the newest calf born right around New Year's Day!

Photo by Jeff Hogan - NOAA permit #781182400.

San Juan Island sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak tour wildlife update for February 6th:

I paddled out for my first trip of the season today, and what a day! The weather was perfect and the wildlife certainly on display. There were so many different kinds of winter birds-- scoters, mergasers, buffleheads, cormorants, bald eagles, kingfishers, guillemots, auklets and more. The highlight of the trip for me was when two harbor porpoise surfaced behind our boats a few times. They seemed to be feeding, but moved off before we could get some really good looks.

All in all, a great start to the 2010 season, and I look forward to paddling again soon.

Sea kayak tours in November! (San Juan Island, WA)

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for Monday, November 2nd.

Today I paddled out for a few hours with a lovely local couple who were celebrating their wedding anniversary. We started out under gray skies and were quickly paddling in the rain. Although it was November, and thus well after the tourist season was over, it was beautiful.

We identified all sorts of birds today, from the Harlequin duck's defined white markings to the soft gray spots of the Bonaparte's Gull in winter plumage. There were grebes, guilemots and cormorants diving for fish, gulls wheeling in the sky and four bald eagle's maintaining their watch.

The water was quiet, so it was a nice chance to slip out and see what most people miss in winter.

San Juan Island sea kayak tour sees orca whales

San Juan Island sea kayak tour wildlife update for September 5th:

I paddled out today amid strong winds, and was really surprised and pleased to see some resident orca whales! We saw some of J pod traveling down the Haro Strait (we were able to confirm the identity of the whales with the help of our whale watch boat). Although July and August are the best months to see the resident orca whales, they spend time in this area year round, and so can be seen at any time.

Orca whales spotted on 3 hour sea kayak tour on San Juan Island

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for August 27th:

Today I paddled out of Roche Harbor on a 3 hour tour and we spotted orca (killer) whales! Thanks to our whale watch boat I received the whale report before leaving the harbor, but was not sure if we would be able to see the whales as they were already headed north in the Haro Strait. We paddled out to the kelp forest off Henry Island and as we were eating some seaweed, looking for seals and listening for eagles we saw some killer whales! There were quite a few whales visible, so I knew they were resident killer whales (which congregate in large numbers)

They were members of the southern resident orca community and were headed north at a brisk pace but we saw lots of large, dark dorsal fins slipping in and out of the water. Although the whales were out in the strait, it was a pleasant surprised to see them on our short tour!

After we saw the whales we headed down south a ways and looked for some swimming harbor seals and a bald eagle or two. The real highlight of the trip came on our way back when I was paddling alongside Kevin and his young son Ryan and a harbor seal pup decided to come check us out. It popped up alongside our boats, just inches away from Ryan! It swam to their rudder, popped up underneath the paddles and swam belly up under my boat. I could even hear its claws click on the underside of my kayak as it went underneath. This is the time of year when the weaned seal pups are starting to investigate their surroundings on their own, so I was excited to see it upclose!

Harbor Seals swim by San Juan Island sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for Friday August 29th:

Yesterday I paddled out on a 3 hour sea kayak tour with guests from Idaho. The water level was so high that most haul out rocks were covered so I wasn't sure we'd see any harbor seals but as we paddled down the west side of Henry Island we were suddenly surrounded by harbor seals. 6 or 7 of them surfaced all around us, curious and calm but wary too. One large adult repeatedly surfaced eating a HUGE fish. With each appearance a little more of the fish disappeared! At one point a little pup came over to investigate us and surfaced both between our boats and alongside my bow. It was neat to see the little one, but I was glad it kept its distance.

It was a gorgeous, calm day out on the west side and there were few boats to be seen or heard. Simply lovely.

San Juan Island sea kayak multi day tour

San Juan Island sea kayaking wildlife update for August 23rd, 2009:

On our last day of a 2 day sea kayaking trip, we managed to sneak in a group photo! It was wonderful to have a 'girl's only' trip.

Great weather, great food and most importantly, great company!











Photo credit: Peggy Howard

San Juan Island 3 hour sea kayak tour spots whales again!

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

Whales were spotted along the southern and western sides of the island today, and one of our guides Tim reported back that he'd seen 6 or 7 individual orca whales during his 3 hour kayak tour. It's always exciting to see the whales, whether from a kayak or from our whale watching boat, but it isn't always possible during our 3 hour tour, so we're especially pleased that he and his guests were able to see them as well!

San Juan Island Sea Kayak- Eagle

Greetings all!

Our guide, Joe, just returned from his 10am 3-hour sea kayak tour and had an amazing tour. While they were near Henry Island's McCracken Point they saw an Eagle swoop down, land in the water and fifteen seconds later pulled itself out with a fish in it's talons. It was an amazing sight. Shortly there after our guests, Jim and Marylynne paddled near a huge lion's mane jellyfish.

San Juan Island Sea Kayak- Wildlife

San Juan Outfitters Sea Kayak Tour Update for August 5th:

Today our guide Megan had an awesome familly sea kayak tour! They saw red rock crab, purple and green shore crab, mossy chiton, and an abundance of ochre sea stars when they got out on Posey Island to stretch their legs. Later that afternoon she took out a group of adults on a Bicycle Adventures specific tour, where they paddled to a kelp bed and saw two bald eagles relaxing in a nearby tree on McCracken point.

UPCLOSE look at killer whales during San Juan Island sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for August 2nd:

Today I paddled out with two friends from Seattle who were excited to see all the wildlife the San Juans have to offer. We were getting some great looks at bald eagles, sea birds and harbor seals and were taking a short break in a forest of bull kelp when the report came in that whales were in the Haro Strait and headed south-- towards us! We watched as whale watch boats moved down the strait and then noticed that a few whales were much closer to shore--to us. At this point we couldn't paddle offshore into a strengthening current and into the path of the whales, so we hunkered down into the kelp forest and watched the whales swim by just a few dozen feet from our boat. That was exciting enough in its own right, but then we saw the dorsal fin of a large male and it seemed to be headed right towards us! It came closer and closer and closer with each breath-- we began to get nervous as it seemed to be on direct course towards us-- until it finally broke the surface of the water just a few feet from our boat. His dorsal fin towered above us, waving slowly, and we could clearly see that it was Ruffles, or J1, a resident killer whale in the J family. Ruffles is one of the largest males in the entire Southern Resident Community, and to see him just a few feet away was certainly humbling. For my guests it was the satisfying of a dream.

What a great-- up close-- look at the killer whales!

San Juan Island Sea Kayak-- Whale Sighting!

San Juan Outfitters Sea Kayak Tour Update for July 21st:
Megan, one of our Kayak guides, reported that the guests on our 3 hour sea kayak tour were so excited to see K-Pod while they were paddling on the west side of Henry Island. They had just gone past McCracken Point on Henry Island when they happened to spot orcas in K-Pod going north towards Stuart Island. It was an amazing sight to see!

Mother harbor seal and pup surface next to child on San Juan Island 3 hour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for July 20th:

Today I paddled out under gorgeous skies with a small family, and we were on the hunt for wildlife! We've been seeing a great number of harbor seal pups lately, especially out on the west side, where there are a number of safe haul out spots for them. It was great to view them at a distance, and listen to their vocalizations, but even better to see them close up. As we were paddling near a forest of bull kelp, a mother seal and her pup surfaced just a few feet from the kayak of a young girl. She was tickled pink to see the animals so close, as were we all!

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 Sea Kayak--Oyster Catchers and Moon Jellies

San Juan Island Sea Kayak Report for July 13th:


Today, during out 3 hour sea kayak tour, we were paddling on the south side of Posey Island and saw about six Black Oyster Catchers, beautiful birds with distinctive red and long beaks, chattering loudly and scouring the intertidal zone for food. Oyster Catchers are native to the San Juans and it is always exciting to see them in action.

Also due to the flood tide there were also a significant amount of Moon Jellies spotted near the shoreline of Henry Island. They ranged in size from 1 to 10 inches in diameter. It was quite a sight.

Gorgeous sunset greets 3 hour sea kayak tour on San Juan Island

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for July 11th:

Today was a pretty fantastic day all around-- gorgeous weather, active wildlife and calm water. As we rested in the bull kelp forest, we kept a sharp lookout for harbor seals, and were rewarded when a mother decided to haul herself out of the water and on top of the kelp just a few dozen feet from our boats. There she proceeded to get comfortable and nurse her pup!

Earlier that day we'd been resting in the same spot when an eagle flew down from its nest on McCracken Point and landed with a splash in the water below. It remained in the water for a few moments, having obviously tried to pick up some dinner that was heavier than expected, before flapping those great wings with some difficulty and becoming airborne yet again (without anything to eat).

After leaving the kelp forest we paddled south and checked out yet another bald eagle nest and there we saw clearly the eaglet in the nest, and watched as it flapped its wings over and over again.

It was an absolutely perfect day for a sunset paddle with the cloudless blue skies of the afternoon giving way to cloud cover at dusk-- creating a dramatic display of pinks, reds and purples in the sky.

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.

Bald eagles galore during San Juan Island 3 hour sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for July 9th:

Today we paddled out hoping to see some wildlife, and were rewarded with bald eagle sighting after bald eagle sighting! Stretching from Roche Harbor over to Pearl and Posey Islands, and over the western side of Henry Island were eagles along every few points. It was great to see bald eagles in all life stages from eaglets in the nest, to immatures flying solo, to a mature mated pair standing guard.

Each day we'll be able to see those eaglets develop a little more, and it's a great way to chart the progress of the season.

Sea lion seen during San Juan Island 3 hour sea kayak tour

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

Today Joe reported back spotting a Steller sea lion out on the west side of Henry Island. While observing harbor seals at rest and play, Joe and his guests spotted something that looked a little out of the ordinary. Upon further observation he concluded it must be a Steller sea lion. As these large marine mammals are more common in the spring, so it was a quite a surprise to see one at this time. We'll keep our eyes open for the next few weeks and hope to see more-- and learn more-- about these visitors.

San Juan Island Sea Kayak-- Foxes, Eagles and Mink...Oh My!

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife report for July 8th:

As our morning 3 hour sea kayak tour pushed off from the dock there was a slight drizzle but as they continued on their tour the sky cleared and they were treated to a wildlife extravaganza. They spotted two bald eagles on a beach, a mink scurrying along the shoreline, a raccoon lurking in the grass and two red foxes resting under a madrona tree. The guide, Joe, said that today shaped out to be one of his best days of paddling so far.

San Juan Island sea kayak tour spies on river otter family

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for Tuesday July 7th:

After a few 3-hour sea kayak tours today, Noelle reported back having seen a group of orcas out in the Haro Strait. Although the whales were far off, it was still a treat to see them again after a day's absence. Her other highlight included seeing an adult female river otter with her young. To see a family with kits is always exciting as they are often elusive.

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!

San Juan Island sea kayak tour sees whales (again!)

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for July 5th:

Joe returned to Roche Harbor after a 5 hour orca search tour with his guests. As his paddlers were in great shape they paddled south down San Juan Island before heading west to loop up and around Henry Island. Their 12+ mile paddle brought them into the Haro Strait where they could see our resident killer whales heading south. Although the orcas were in the distance, Joe and his guests were excited to see them.
For San Juan Outfitters today makes the 5th straight day we've seen orcas on our 3 and 5 hour sea kayak tours, not to mention the whale watch tours. It's been a great week full of whale activity here on the west side!

Whales are a July 4th treat for San Juan Island sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for July 4th:

Yesterday Deborah set off on a 5 hour "Orca Search By Kayak" sea kayak tour and boy did they find whales! Deborah reported that the southern resident killer whales were spread out across the Haro Strait, and her group was in the perfect position to see a lot of activity from the whales as they swam past. While normally the protocol (for kayaking when whales are present) is to paddle offshore, yesterday the currents were so strong that it would have been potentially dangerous to have her group spread out and paddling separately so as the whales came closer Deborah brought her guests into a forest of bull kelp and had everyone sit tight. Once there the whales came closer than even she expected. The whales came into the kelp, and at one point surfaced so close to Deborah that "she could have reached out her 6ft paddle and touched it".

Truly a spectacular whale encounter for the whole group, and what a treat during such a celebratory weekend!

Gorgeous sunset seen from 3 hour sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for July 3rd:

This evening I paddled out of Roche Harbor for a sunset tour, and boy was it spectacular. I think sunset tours are my favorite because we saw all the local critters-- bald eagles and eaglets, harbor seals, harbor porpoises-- but also had the waters to ourselves as most recreational boaters had already turned in.

This trip we were especially lucky to have seen a few harbor porpoises out feeding and also a mother harbor seal giving her young pup a ride on her back. It was a nearly cloudless day, and the colors were spectacular, so I'm glad we stayed out a few extra minutes to watch it truly set.

San Juan Island 3 hour sea kayak tour has truly spectacular encounter with killer whales

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for Wednesday, July 1rst:

This morning I paddled out with two couples for a 3 hour sea kayak tour from Roche Harbor. While we paddled down the west side of Henry Island we saw a large number of whale watch boats out in the Haro Strait. As we drew closer we could make out small black dorsal fins surfacing out there, and could even see some of the larger splashes from these southern resident killer whales tail slapping and breaching. As my guests didn't have to rush back to the docks, we decided to extend our trip and cross our fingers that whales would come our way.
While we sat off the southwest corner of Henry watching the whales from a distance I saw 5 or 6 whales come around Kellet Bluffs very close to shore. We brought our kayaks together to form a raft and watched as a few whales continued in our direction. When one large male dived on one side of us and surfaced on the other, we thought we had seen it all, so we were all the more surprised when a female with a very young calf did the same. When those two surfaced they were not more that 25 feet away!! We were so close to those animals, and could see the dorsals wobble a bit on the surface. It was truly an incredible encounter, and one not likely to be soon forgotten!

Rescue Training

San Juan Island sea kayak update for June 29th & 39th:

Samantha, Noelle, Nick, Joe, Megan and I just returned from a two-day intense training session with Body Boat Blade, a sea kayaking instruction business on Orcas Island. BBB is one of the best kayaking schools in the world, so it was a fantastic opportunity to learn from the leaders in this field. It was a great chance for us guides to get one-on-one instruction from experts and bring our skills to the next level. We practiced essential paddling moves from high braces to rolls, and also worked on our rescues. While all of our guides are skilled paddlers and can demonstrate a number of rescues and self-rescues, it was so much fun to put on some dry suits, jump in, and learn much more.

Kayaking in the San Juans can be challenging and potentially dangerous so it's important to be paddling through the area with experienced guides who are familiar with each channel, each island outcropping, the tidal exchanges and the strength of the currents--both of which change each day. This training with BBB has given us a deeper look at the water in our backyard, and we are excited to further practice our skills out on the straits!

Rain doesn't damper spirits on sea kayak

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 24th:

Yesterday started off gray and rainy, so I was pleased that my guests were not deterred by the cool weather. We made sure to dress appropriately with warm layers and raincoats, and headed out. It's absolutely essential that everyone who intends to go out on the water always brings clothing to stay warm and dry-- even in summer that means a fleece or other non-cotton layers, and a windbreaker or raincoat. It's always better to be prepared than caught unawares!

I love paddling when it's gray and misty out, especially when the water is almost absolutely still and it's hard to distinguish between sky and sea. We saw lots of wildlife yesterday, a sunflower sea star, a large group of playful and curious harbor seals, bald eagles, sea birds and even a harbor porpoise! The coolest thing was watching two adult down on the beach by the waters edge, and seeing one adult walk into the water and appear to lunge after prey in the low tide zone. I've never seen a bald eagle go 'wading' so that was really amazing!

3 hour sea kayak tour sights orca whales!

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 23rd:

I'm SO pleased to be able to write about my own killer whale sightings today! This past week we've been seeing killer whales on multiple 3 hour, 5 hour and multi-day tours and whale watch trips, but today was the first time I've been the one to spot them!

I paddled out with a lovely family from California, and the seven of us made our way down the west side of Henry Island. As we could see over a dozen boats clustered together out in the Haro Strait, we started to look for killer whales. Although the whales were spread out and at a distance, we could see well enough to make out all the individual dorsal fins, the sprays of exhalations, and even the single breach! It was neat to be able to discern the tall males from the smaller females and juveniles.

It was such a great experience to be able to sit off shore and watch two different groups of killer whales swim by. So great, in fact, that not even this sight of four harbor porpoises surfacing 100 yds from our boats could distract us from the killer whales.

3 hour sea kayak tour sees killer whales!

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 22nd:

Joe was pleased to report back that he spotted whales (for the third time this week!) during his 3 hour sea kayak tour departing from Roche Harbor. Although he and his guests had to contend with a strong running tide and a brisk wind, everyone was delighted to glimpse those large critters.

This past week has been full of fantastic wildlife sightings-- from new seal pups to killer whales just feet away. Between our whale watch tours and our hourly, daily and multi-day sea kayak tours, we've had a lot of killer whale sightings in the past few days, and as the resident orca whales are all in the area now, and we hope they'll find enough salmon here in our waters to keep them close by for the months ahead.

Harbor seals surface and play for San Juan Island sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 21rst:

This afternoon, with the morning rains abated, I paddled out for a 3 hour sea kayak tour with a lovely couple from Seattle. We were hoping to see all sorts of wildlife, and were very excited so many harbor seals came to play by our boats. While sitting on top of a forest of bull kelp just off McCracken Point, we saw first one, then two, then three, four, five and finally a dozen or so seals surfacing all around us. We watched a few patrol the outside edge, but were rewarded for our patience as a handful of seals decided we posed no threat, and proceeded to calmly surface just feet away! These individuals were surfacing on their backs, just poking their noses up to breath, and showed us close looks at their chests and bellies. It was super neat to see all the different markings on each seal-- from a Dalmation pattern to almost all black.

These seals surfaced again and again, riding the currents till they were just feet from us and then silently slipping under our bows. So neat!

Harbor porpoises pop up in front of sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 18th:

Today I paddled out on a 5 hour sea kayak tour with guests from all over the U.S.. We set off under graying skies, and encountered strong currents and big waves right off the bat. As we rounded Kellett Bluffs, we found ourselves paddling through rough water with the wind at our backs and waves breaking all around us. It was exciting to be paddling through such big water, and everyone had a wide smile on their face!

The skies cleared up and it ended up being a gorgeous day for a paddle, with two exciting wildlife encounters to boot! Just as we paddled out of the rough water a harbor porpoise emerged 30 feet off our bows. Although it became hard to spot as it swam through breaking waves, we saw it surface a few more times-- and quite close!

Then, as we sat in a forest of bull kelp, a few harbor seals began popping up all around us. They didn't seem surprised to see us, or disturbed at all. A light gray adult surfaced between our kayaks and twirled on the surface, showing his belly, closing his eyes slowly and snorting. Such a great chance to see a seal up close!

5 hour sea kayak tour paddles hard...

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 17th:

I paddled out on a 5 hour Orca Search sea kayak tour today, and enjoyed my day with some hearty guests who were able to gamely paddle through some rough breaking waves. We were crossing our fingers that the resident killer whales on the south side of San Juan Island would continue to head north towards us. The whales moved northbound all the way to the lighthouse (Lime Kiln State Park) but then, alas, they turned away and moved out of range.

Although we were disappointed not to see any whales today, it means I'll be the more excited for them next time!

Posey Island is a perfect lunch stop for private sea kayak

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 16th:

Today I paddled out of Roche Harbor on a private sea kayak tour and we paddled over to Posey Island for a picnic. Posey Island-- at high tide one of our nation's smallest state parks-- is a lovely spot to take a break, rest, relax, watch the sunset and even stay the night.

As we returned to the harbor we were fortunate enough to glimpse a mink scampering along Pearl's shores, a river otter playing off the Tarte's dock and then a harbor seal sunning its head in the shallow water.

Overnight sea kayak trek in the San Juan Islands

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 9th and 10th:

Yesterday Joe, Nick and I along with new guides Megan and Tim returned from a little overnight kayak trip of our own. We paddled out to Stuart Island for the night, and then returned to Friday Harbor the second day. The gorgeous blue skies and calm waters let us take advantage of the area and explore some new routes. We saw lots of eagles and sea birds, and even found a small pod of harbor porpoises foraging off the western point of Speiden Island.

Gorgeous sunset awaited San Juan Island sunset kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for Sunday, June 7th:

This evening one of our new guides Tim paddled out on a 3 hour sunset sea kayak tour, and boy was it gorgeous out! The calm waters north of Henry Island allowed for an almost perfect reflection of the sun going down. It was briefly obscured by a low lying cloud bank just above Salt Spring Island, but then slipped down to reveal a huge, glowing red orb. It was a perfect night for a paddle!

Wind picks up for San Juan Island sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for Friday, June 5th:

Joe returned from his 3 hour tour in high spirits today. Not only did he have fantastic guests that were ready to encounter anything that came their way, but they had a great time looking at the animals out there. Although they worked against strong winds to fast moving currents, their upbeat attitudes ensured that everyone had a good time.

They were rewarded with up close wildlife encounters including sea birds, bald eagles and of course, our local harbor seals. Joe said the highlight was the two seals that were playing near the surface as at one point they came to within 10 feet of the boats and stayed for 5 minutes simply swimming around.

Harlequin ducks surface and dive in unison

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 4th:

This morning I saw out a large group of Harlequin ducks feeding out on the calm water. While they're a common sight on our sea kayak tours, this was the first time I'd seen so many grouped together while swimming. I watched for a few minutes and saw the dozen birds all diving and surfacing in unison; using their large numbers to corral and cooperatively hunt their prey.

Harbor seals start slapping for San Juan Island sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for June 1rst:

One one hand I can't believe it's already June 1rst and on the other, the absolutely stunning weather of the past week makes it feel like it should be August already.

This afternoon I paddled out on a special tour with two lovely ladies from Colorado. The water was as smooth as glass all around us, so we were able to see the antics of some seals from far off. A few males were out and about practicing their mating displays, so we got to hear the double flipper slap and see the big splashes from a ways away. It's always exciting to be able to see, identify and interpret animal behavior, and today was no exception.

While crossing to Pearl on our return, we saw a juvenile bald eagle on the beach defending its prey against two adults. As we got a little closer, the juvenile took off (while vocalizing loudly) and one of the adults swooped in while the other stood guard. What they ate I don't know, but it had lots of fur-- raccoon or mink, methinks.

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)

Two day sea kayak tour full of wildlife!

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for May 16th & 17th:

Well I've just returned from our first overnight sea kayak trip of the season and have to report back a wonderful success. The weather was absolutely perfect and the wildlife certainly put on a great show, so that coupled with delicious snacks and good company made for a great weekend.

Steve and Robin were Washingtonians with an appetite for adventure, and I'm glad I could deliver. We met in Friday Harbor and walked down to our exclusive launching docks where we discussed the menu, the weather and tide predictions and our combined goals for the trip. It's important to us at SJO that everyone has a wonderful trip, and we'll do anything in our powers to achieve that-- whether that's getting up early to go fishing or birding or staying up late to point out constellations. Robin turned out to be a botanist, so our chance to see Yellow Island in bloom was welcomed. It was lovely to walk around a gorgeous, colorful island and learn even more about each flower. We saw blossoms of every color thanks to the chocolate lily, little pinks, purple camas, stonecrops, shooting stars, Indian paintbrushes and even prickly pear cacti in bloom.

Wildlife was a large focus of this trip, and it started off well with almost immediate sightings of black-tailed deer on the beach and bald eagles soaring overhead and next to us. By the end of the second day we'd gotten up close and personal with a family of mink (one coming within a few feet of Robin!), seen river otters fishing in our little cove, spotted numerous harbor seals both swimming nearby and lounging in the sun on close rocks, identified a few different types and colors of sea stars in the intertidal zone, walked around our site in the company of friendly deer, heard the insistent cry of black oystercatchers each day, and watched a small pod of harbor porpoises feed just off shore of our camp. After all the wildlife seen on the first day, we hardly had expectations for more, however the best was yet to come.
It happened after dinner as we had settled on a grassy overlook to watch the sun set over Salt Spring Island. It was a gorgeous sunset, full of bright colors and puffy clouds. We were concentrating on the sunset, so it was a great surprise to see the harbor porpoises resurface. This time their tiny black dorsals made a beautiful contrast against the glassy pink waters-- fantastic!

All in all, this overnight was a fantastic trip-- I can't wait to see what else lies in wait for this summer.

P.S. This weekend's trip was also a great example of going car-less on the San Juans. Steve and Robin left their car at Anacortes and walked on to the ferry the morning of our departure. After arriving at Roche Harbor the second day, they were shuttled back to Friday Harbor via our company van just in time to walk on to a late afternoon ferry home.
P. P. S. Pictures to follow.

3 hour sea kayak tour sights orca whales!

San Juan Island sea kayak tour wildlife update for May 15th:

Today Noelle paddled out on a 3 hour sea kayak tour, and along with the more common bald eagles and harbor seals, she and her guests were also thrilled to sea some killer whales! The slow, northbound moving group of whales were in the Harbor Strait between Henry Island and D'Arcy Island, CA. Granted, they were in the distance, but everyone could see dorsal fins and the spouts created by exhalation. It was a gorgeous, calm sunny day for a paddle, so what a great bonus to see whales too!

Once back at the desk, we were able to confirm that those whales were indeed J pod, which has been seen daily for the past week or so. We hope to continue to see the whales regularly, both from sea kayaks and the whale watch boat!

5 hour sea kayak tour paddles hard...

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for May 14th:

Hege and I paddled out for a 5 hour tour this morning, and while we were hoping to see whales, we were content with a long, hard paddle and numerous bird sightings. The clouds from earlier lifted and we had bright sunny skies with us all day (my sunburned face will attest to that!). As Hege was a great novice paddler and happy to keep moving instead of examining the flora and fauna up close, we sailed around Henry Island and headed down to San Juan County Park back on San Juan Island. From there we worked our way back up along to shoreline to Roche Harbor. All in all, we paddled about 15 miles today, which felt great. Although I often prefer to take it slow and steady, it was nice to mix up the pace and push ourselves. I know we'll both be feeling this tomorrow!

As for the bird sightings, along with multiple bald eagles, we saw a loon out on Open Bay, double-crested cormorants spreading their wings to dry, a few pelagic cormorants tucked into a rookery, crows fly overhead with materials for their nests, and three separate pairs of Canada geese standing guard over their goslings on a grassy bank. It was fantastic to see different birds displaying such varied behavior.

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!

Sense of humor prevails through San Juan weather changes

San Juan Island wildlife sea kayak update for May 11th:

Today I paddled out for a 5-hour sea kayak tour with Sarah & Randy from Indiana. While we didn't see whales or porpoises, we were lucky enough to experience just about every type of weather the San Juans have to offer! We started under low, thick gray clouds, which parted to sunny bright blue skies, then turned into blustering wind and some serious rain.

I was thankful that Sarah & Randy had such great senses of humor, and kept up some positive attitudes about the experience. It was absolutely gorgeous out there, with the panoramic view across the Haro Strait taking it all in-- heavy storm clouds, fog and mist, warm sunshine, mountains in shadow, bright green hills, wind whipped white caps and calm, glassy waters. The color contrasts were fantastic, and I truly wished I'd been able to photograph it all!

Harbor porpoises make an appearance for sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for Saturday, May 9th:

I am glad so many folks decided to come kayaking today as it was absolutely gorgeous here on the west side. My first tour of the day was special, as it was just Dan and Joan with me, and we got to really relish the quiet perfection. They were native Washingtonians, so it was a treat for me to be able to show them a side of these islands (and their state) they'd never seen before.
My second tour was also pretty neat as the wildlife really came out for the four couples I was guiding. We had numerous bald eagle sightings and harbor seals popping up quiet close to some of our boats. I was pretty content with that and just enjoying our paddle when one of my guests, John, spotted something way in the distance. It was a harbor porpoise or two! They were surfacing quietly, and moving quite quickly, so we were able to see them just a few times before they'd already moved past our range. After that I spotted a red fox trotting along the beach, and a river otter surfacing briefly to round off our trip. All in a day's work!

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!

Bald eagle attempted a catch today during sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for May 7th:

Noelle paddled out on a 3-hr tour this afternoon, and reported back a quiet day out on the water. Her highlight was seeing an eagle soar off the point and hover above the water with talons extended, although it did not catch anything.

Bald eagles have truly incredible vision. These birds see about four times better than a human with perfect vision. Their two foveaes, or centers of focus, allow them to see perfectly both in front and to the side of them at all times. Their abilities are much talked about, but for good reason. Researchers say that while soaring at an altitude of 1000 feet, bald eagles can spot prey in an area of about three square miles.

We're lucky to have three active bald eagle's nests within an easy paddle, and take great interest in learning more about these birds as the spring develops.

Guest testimonial from San Juan Island sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak tour update for May 7th:

It's always wonderful to hear again from guests who have gone out with us, and we just received the following email and pictures from Larry Z. Thank you Larry! We are very much looking forward to meeting you and your wife in September!

"Dear San Juan Island Outfitters,

The Roche Harbor sea kayak tour with you today (May 3) was the highlight of my introduction to the Pacific Northwest!

Even though I am 6' 2", I fit fine into the tandem sea kayak. The weather was perfect - sunny and just a little breeze. We saw many playful harbor seals, sea birds and majestic bald eagles. I was also surprised that kelp does taste pretty good!

The in-depth knowledge, professionalism and pleasant personality that naturalists Aileen and Noelle exhibited added a lot to this tranquil and fulfilling sea kayak tour - Thanks again! Now that I have explored the area, my wife and I are planning a vacation to San Juan Island in mid. September. We are already looking forward to a sea kayak tour with San Juan Outfitters!

I plan to tell my friends in the midwest and around the country that your kayak tour is the best way to "Get back to nature" in the San Juans! Thanks again!

Best Regards,

Larry Z"

Windy weather for Roche Harbor sea kayak tour

San Juan Island sea kayak wildlife update for May 4th:

Today was a very windy here in Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. Wind came in gusts, waves were irregular, and the clouds just kept rolling in. Being able to safely navigate these waters at all times is a must, so today when the waves built up too high, we were forced to cancel our afternoon sea kayak tour.

Here at San Juan Outfitters we pride ourselves on our attention to detail and commitment to safety, so while we'd love to paddle out in search wildlife everyday, sometimes the weather is not on our side. That being said, it looks like this patch of weather will clear up as we head for the weekend, so we're looking to get back out on the water very soon!