Category: Blog

Whales & Wildlife Report – June 1, 2014 – Orca Whales Seen!

Another great day in the San Juan Islands with clear sunny skies and calm seas. We were able to have a great look at members of J-pod today, this time on the west side of San Juan Island near Lime Kiln. It sounds like this great weather is set to last through the week –… Continue reading Whales & Wildlife Report – June 1, 2014 – Orca Whales Seen!

Whales & Wildlife Report – May 31, 2014 – Sunshine & Orca Whales!

It’s been an amazing day in the San Juan Islands today – lots and lots of sunshine, calm waters and Orca whales! We found several members of resident group J-pod up near Turn Point, off the west side of Stuart Island near the lighthouse. After a great time watching them swim off-shore, we headed into… Continue reading Whales & Wildlife Report – May 31, 2014 – Sunshine & Orca Whales!

Whales & Wildlife Report – May 25, 2014 – Humpback & Orca Whales Spotted!

Hope everyone’s having a great Memorial Day weekend. Our Whale Watching Adventure cruise is off to a great start – we started the day heading south past Lummi, Eliza, Vendovi, Sinclair and Cypress Islands. Then, just 90 minutes into the cruise, we found a Humpback whale! After a good look we started hearing reports of… Continue reading Whales & Wildlife Report – May 25, 2014 – Humpback & Orca Whales Spotted!

Bird Watching Cruise Report – May 3, 2014

Migrants of May (Photos courtesy of Jim Bachman) What a beautiful day we had two weeks ago out on the Salish Sea. Our travels started out on the South side of Bellingham out of Fairhaven. We crossed Bellingham Bay heading south. Here we encountered dozens of Bonaparte’s gulls in their full breeding plumage. They are… Continue reading Bird Watching Cruise Report – May 3, 2014

Local Orca Whale Group J-Pod Seen On Today's Whale Watch!

We took a local school on a whale watching field trip today and were lucky enough to find members of the local resident Orca whale group J-Pod. They were up north of the San Juans – it was a bit of a trek getting up there, after searching in the heart of the islands for… Continue reading Local Orca Whale Group J-Pod Seen On Today's Whale Watch!

January 27 Update On Orca Whale L-87’s Movement / New Animated Map

It’s been interesting following local Orca whale L-87’s movement over the last month or so. Unfortunately, the tag stopped transmitting a few days ago. Battery failure doesn’t seem to be the cause, so most likely the tag fell off. To conclude this tracking effort, NOAA has added an animated map that shows the movement of… Continue reading January 27 Update On Orca Whale L-87’s Movement / New Animated Map

January 16 & 22 Update On Orca Whale L-87’s Movement

NOAA issued two updates in the past week showing the movement of Onyx (L-87), along with members of J pod. They covered quite a distance, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Saratoga Passage to the east of Whidbey Island, and down south near Tacoma. It is fascinating to see just how far they go… Continue reading January 16 & 22 Update On Orca Whale L-87’s Movement

January 14 Update On Orca Whale L-87’s Movement – Headin' West

NOAA’s latest update on resident Orca Whale L-87, nicknamed Onyx, shows that he’s moving west, along with members of J-Pod. As of January 14th, they were out near Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States. The whales were definitely on the move over the last four days, travelling about 300 miles or… Continue reading January 14 Update On Orca Whale L-87’s Movement – Headin' West

January 10 Update On Orca Whale L-87's Recent Movement

NOAA issued an update on resident Orca Whale L-87, nicknamed Onyx, on January 10th. It looks like Onyx, as well as the members of J-pod with him, are in the same area. However, the chart below shows their movement, with them circling Texada and Lasqueti Islands. We will continue to post updates here, or you… Continue reading January 10 Update On Orca Whale L-87's Recent Movement