Tag: San Juan Islands

Bird Watching Cruise Report – July 7, 2017

We set out on Friday to go to Smith Island, the only place in the San Juan Islands that has a nesting colony of tufted puffins. Unfortunately, the weather was too windy to venture out of the protection of the islands. Smith Island is a few miles south of the San Juans in unprotected waters.… Continue reading Bird Watching Cruise Report – July 7, 2017

An Unforgettable Day Of Orca & Humpback Whales In The San Juans

I started working for San Juan Cruises as finals week was wrapping up, not really knowing what I was getting into. As a student at Western Washington University, I was looking for a fun summer job so I could stay in Bellingham for summer break. I had never been whale watching before applying, so I… Continue reading An Unforgettable Day Of Orca & Humpback Whales In The San Juans

Whales & Wildlife Report: Great Orca & Humpback Whale Sightings Continue

The season is going great so far, with lots of great orca and humpback whale sightings. We’ve now done 4 Deluxe whale watching tours, plus several school field trips, and have seen orcas and/or humpbacks on every trip so far, with tours taking us west and north of the San Juan Islands so far. With… Continue reading Whales & Wildlife Report: Great Orca & Humpback Whale Sightings Continue

The 2017 Whale Watching Season Is Underway – Humpbacks & Orca Whales

Our 2017 season kicked off with decent weather, but excellent whale sightings! We found a playful, active Humpback on Saturday, just north of Saturna Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands, and Sunday was Orca whales – lots and lots of Orcas (J-Pod) on the west side of San Juan Island. Thanks to Jim Bachman, we… Continue reading The 2017 Whale Watching Season Is Underway – Humpbacks & Orca Whales

New Evening Whale Watching Tour Added This Summer

This summer we have added a new whale watching tour that will go out Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during July and August. It’s a great chance to see the islands when summer weather is at it’s peek, while having a great chance of seeing whales and other wildlife. The evening is capped with a delicious,… Continue reading New Evening Whale Watching Tour Added This Summer

Photos From August 27th Bird Watching Cruise

We had a great bird watching cruise this past weekend, a trip that took us through the middle of the San Juans, then north to Sucia and Patos Islands. We saw a nice variety of birds, with seals, sea lions and a Humpback whale as well. Thanks to Jim Bachman for his incredible photos from… Continue reading Photos From August 27th Bird Watching Cruise

Whales & Wildlife Report: Whale Watching Season In Full Swing With Lots Of Great Sightings In July

It’s been a spectacular season so far, with lots of great Orca and Humpback whale sightings, with several days that we’ve had multiple sightings. Summer weather has finally arrived as well, so now is really a great time to go out to the islands on a whale watching cruise. Our deluxe and half-day whale watching… Continue reading Whales & Wildlife Report: Whale Watching Season In Full Swing With Lots Of Great Sightings In July

End Of Season Report – Lots Of Whales & Sunshine All Summer Long!

What an amazing season this was – the weather was close to perfect with lots of warm sunshine, but this was topped by the number of whale sightings. With the season over we saw whales on just over 95% of our cruises, and there was a great variety of whales to be seen as well.… Continue reading End Of Season Report – Lots Of Whales & Sunshine All Summer Long!

Bird Watching Cruise – 7-5-15 – Smith Island Puffins

On our final Bird Cruise for the season we went to Smith Island. Smith Island is the only place left in the San Juan Islands where the elusive Tufted Puffins nest and raise their young. It is a remote island and offers the birds an isolated nesting spot. Tufted Puffins usually have the same mate… Continue reading Bird Watching Cruise – 7-5-15 – Smith Island Puffins