A string of back-to-back sun-filled days and some amazing whale watching trips have made for one fabulous week. And it’s not just the whales we’re seeing. If you’re a fan of cute marine mammals, there’s no better time to see harbor seals and Steller sea lions sunbathing on rocks. Our very own onboard naturalist Stephanie Raymond gives us this special report.

San Juan Island Whale Watching

“Last Friday we headed south between Whidbey and Marrowstone Islands, with Mount Rainier on the horizon and seabirds of all sorts surrounding us on the water. We started our whale watching early, with a humpback whale right off Point Wells during our northbound leg. We saw the whale fluke twice, and while we waited it for it to resurface a large pod of harbor porpoises favored us with a close pass. Many great blue herons and harbor seals were hanging around on Strawberry Island in Deception Pass.”

“During the Whale and Sealife Search, we headed up into Swanson Channel along Pender Island in British Columbia, where we had spectacular viewing of J2 Granny and family. We even saw her foster-son L87 Onyx, who was traveling with K14 Lea’s family. It was nice to see the resident pods mixing it up a bit at last, hopefully that means more salmon are returning to the Salish Sea as autumn approaches.”

The sun sets as group of orcas splash and play. Photo: Vadym Graifer
The sun sets as group of orcas splash and play. Photo: Vadym Graifer

“We kicked off the southbound leg with Steller sea lions, black oystercatchers, Heermann’s gulls and cormorants on Whale Rocks in Cattle Pass, and continued back to Seattle with two mountain ranges in view under clear blue skies.”

“This week, our wildlife highlights included Steller sea lions porpoising in the current at Whale Rocks in Cattle Pass and a leisurely visit with L47 Marina’s matriline at Hein Bank. Marina’s family includes one of the new babies born in 2015, whose name is being voted on this month (more info at the Whale Museum website). Gorgeous flat water on our southbound leg revealed many harbor porpoise and hundreds of seabirds in Admiralty Inlet.”

A pair of harbor seals take a break from swimming to catch some sun. Photo: Clipper Naturalist Justine Buckmaster
A pair of harbor seals take a break from swimming to catch some sun. Photo: Clipper Naturalist Justine Buckmaster

The sunny summer days are still upon us, but there are only a couple of weeks left! Now is the best time to experience “humpback heaven” on the Salish Sea, and your best bet for spotting our black and white orca locals. Make a splash this summer and see Northwest marine wildlife like never before!

Book Your Whale Watching Trip Now