Gray Whale

Gray whales, like humpback and minke whales, belong to the baleen whale family. Instead of teeth, these whales have baleen, fringes of keratin, the same material our hair and fingernails are made of, growing from the roof of their mouths. Baleen looks a bit like the bristles on a push broom, and help the whales filter small fish, large plankton and other prey from the water. Unique among baleen whales, gray whales fill their vast mouths with mud from the sea bottom and filter it through their baleen to capture shrimp and other small animals.

The average adult gray whale reaches 40 feet and weighs up to 35 tons. They have robust bodies that are mottled gray, marked with barnacles and orange patches that are caused by parasitic whale lice. To spot this animal, look for a tall and heart-shaped blow near shore as they feed in shallow water. These whales have no dorsal fin and sometimes show their tails when diving.

Humpback Whale

Once an extremely rare sight in the Salish Sea, humpback whales are becoming frequent visitors here as their Pacific populations recover from over-hunting early in the last century. Humpbacks are migratory, spending their summers along the Pacific Northwest coast and returning to winter breeding areas in Hawaii or off the Central American coast. Members of both populations may be seen in the Salish Sea.

Humpback whales can reach up to 50 feet in length and weigh 40 tons. They have dark gray backs with a small, crescent-shaped dorsal fin perched atop a rounded hump, for which they are named. These whales have long pectoral fins, usually much lighter in color than the rest of their bodies. Individual humpback whales can be identified by the shape and markings of their tail flukes, which they may show above the surface at the beginning of a deep dive. Using baleen plates as minke whales do, humpbacks feed on krill and small forage fishes.

Minke Whale

Minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whales. To feed, the minke takes in a huge mouthful of water; then, using its tongue, pushes the water back out of its mouth catching small fish and plankton in its bristly baleen.

Minke whales are dark gray to black with a white underside and a white patch on both front flippers. They often have a pale chevron behind their heads. Adults grow to an average size of 30 feet and weigh between five and ten tons and females tend to be larger than males.

The minke are usually solitary but may be seen in groups of up to three whales. They spend most of their time feeding, but have been known to breach, usually three times in a row, and are most commonly observed making dolphin-like dives in the water. To spot a minke whale, look for a low, bushy blow at the water line as well as a broad black back and small dorsal fin.

Harbor Porpoise

These relatively shy animals are one of the world’s smallest cetaceans, rarely growing more than five feet in length. Those who live in the Salish Sea, unlike populations in the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, remain here year round instead of migrating. Harbor

porpoises rarely show more than their dark gray or dark brown backs and small, triangular dorsal fins above the surface of the water. They may be seen traveling alone or in small groups. Their small size makes them challenging to spot in choppy seas, but they are easily visible when surfacing in calm waters.

Harbor porpoises eat a diet of squid and small forage fishes, such as herring and smelt. While behaviorally they are very different from the Salish Sea’s other porpoise species, the Dall’s porpoise, the two species have been known to breed together resulting in a hybrid resembling a harbor porpoise in appearance but behaving more like a Dall’s porpoise.

Harbor Seal

This is both the most common marine mammal in the area and the easiest to spot. They have short necks, small front flippers and are unable to pull their hind flippers under their bodies. This makes their movements out of the water ungainly and inchworm-like, landing them the nickname “crawling seal.”

Harbor seals’ distinct torpedo shape is the result of a thick layer of fat, called blubber, that insulates them from the frigid waters of the Pacific Northwest. The shape is also important in making the seal hydrodynamic so it can swim quickly and efficiently. Their spotted fur varies from nearly white to almost black, and adults are on average six feet in length and weigh about 250 pounds.

These seals are incredible hunters and are able to dive up to 600 feet deep and stay submerged over 25 minutes to find their prey of fish. Look on rock outcroppings near the water line and beaches for their familiar shape stretched out for a mid-day nap.

Stellar Sea Lion

Sea lions differ from seals in a variety of ways. They have elongated necks and long front flippers that are used for propulsion when swimming. They are also able to pull their hind flippers under their body. This enables them to use their flippers for four-legged movement, hence the name “walking seals.”

The Steller sea lion is the largest in the region and the least commonly seen. The males are much larger than the females averaging nine feet, 1,500 pounds and seven feet, 600

pounds respectively. They are light brown to blond but appear tan in the water. The males also develop a thickened neck and mane as they age. Steller sea lions are opportunistic feeders and may be able to dive to 600 feet or more.

California Sea Lion

This species is the most abundant sea lion in the area even though it is almost exclusively males who are seen here. Most females remain at their breeding grounds in California year-round while the males migrate north.

They stay from fall through late spring, feeding on fish and preparing for the summer breeding season. California sea lions are dark brown and appear black when in the water. The males also develop a prominent raised forehead called a sagittal crest. Females average five feet and 250 pounds. To spot California sea lions, look on rock outcroppings close to the water. They are also quite fond of lounging on buoys and docks. Their dog-like barks are also a sure indication of their presence.

Salmon

Salmon are anadromous fish. They are born in fresh water, migrate to salt water and return to fresh water to spawn. After the returning adults reproduce, they die, their bodies providing nourishment to the river system. The salmon’s life is not an easy one and mortality is high. On average, a female salmon will lay approximately 4,000 eggs but only two will survive to return to their spawning grounds.

There are five species of salmon found in the Salish Sea. These are the Chinook, Coho, Chum, Pink and Sockeye. Chinook are the largest salmon species. At full growth they vary from 5 to 30 pounds. When these fish exceed 30 pounds, they are often called “king” or “tyee” salmon. The largest Chinook on record weighed an incredible 126 pounds.

The best time to view salmon is during the late summer and fall when they are returning to their native streams. They can be seen struggling up salmon ladders at dams or you may glimpse them in shallow water as they swim upstream.

Jellyfish

The Salish Sea is home to many jellyfish species, from tiny, translucent sea acorns to the large lion’s mane jelly that can reach more than two feet in diameter. Jellyfish use stinging tentacles to ensnare their prey. Smaller species eat plankton while larger species may also eat small fish. The bioluminescent crystal jellyfish is common during summer months in the San Juan Islands.

Plumrose Anemone

Plumose anemone are quite common in Puget Sound, and are usually found in slow moving water either in shallower coastal waters or at great depths. They are also frequently seen growing on docks and pilings. These anemones have a column or “body” that is about 20 inches tall and are easily recognizable by their abundant, branched tentacles that create a feathery, plumose effect for which they are named.

Plumose anemones have two different types of tentacles, for feeding and for defense. Plumose are typically an opaque white color, but orange, salmon and brown versions have also been seen. To spot plumose anemones, look on rocks, dock pilings or even on the underside of floating docks.

Barnacle

Barnacles are inter-tidal crustaceans found living on hard surfaces such as rocks. As larva, barnacles resemble crabs and live amongst the coastal plankton. When adulthood approaches, the barnacle finds a rock or other appropriate surface to live on permanently.

Once a place is chosen, the barnacle flips over and glues its head to the surface using a very powerful adhesive. (The adhesive that barnacles excrete is the strongest in nature — so strong it was used in dentistry.) It then secretes a shell around itself and lives out its life filtering food out of the water with its bristly feet. There are several different species of barnacles found on our beaches. To find them, look for their white or gray “houses” attached to rocks, boat hulls, pilings, etc. during low tide.

Bald Eagle

The bald eagle is a large bird of prey with a wingspan over seven feet and weighing up to 15 pounds. The females are typically about 20 percent larger than the males. They are opportunistic feeders eating anything from carrion to live fish. This eagle has eyesight that surpasses human capabilities by as much as eight times. They use this ability to track fish and small mammals from the air.

Adult bald eagles are dark brown with striking white heads and tails. A bald eagle’s white feathers do not appear until they are between three to five years old. Juvenile bald eagles are brown, mottled with white in the chest and the undersides of their wings. Bald eagles mate for life and return to the same nesting site each year.

The San Juans boast one of the largest nesting sites in the lower 48 states. To spot these birds, look for what appears to be a golf ball hanging in a tree. This will most likely materialize into the white head of an adult bald eagle. They may also be found on beaches, eating dead salmon that are too heavy for them to lift.

Osprey

These raptors live around both fresh and salt water, eating almost exclusively fish. They can sometimes be confused with bald eagles but are smaller, with a wingspan of five feet and weighing only three pounds. Adults are dark brown with white on the crest of their heads and a prominent dark eye stripe.

These birds build bulky nests in trees, on sheds, poles, docks and on special platforms built for them by environmental groups and local utility agencies. It is easiest to spot this bird while it is in flight. Note how their narrow wings bend back at the wrist like a gull’s. They can also be observed hovering over the water before diving and snatching their prey feet first.

Great Blue Heron

This is arguably the most distinct and recognizable bird in the Pacific Northwest. They are four feet tall, gray birds with a black stripe extending over their eyes. Their white fore neck is streaked with black. The great blue heron is a year round resident to the bays, salt marshes and rocky coasts of this region. They stalk through the shallow water on slender legs while plunging their long, sharp bills under the surface to capture fish, frogs and other small aquatic animals.

Herons nest high in the treetops close to water. They have a six foot wingspan and are the only heron-like birds to fold their necks back into an “S” shape during flight. To spot a great blue heron, look for them wading near rocky beaches, through kelp beds and along the beach during low tides. To spot them in flight, look for their “S” shaped necks. Deception Pass is a favorite heron hangout.

Cormorant

Three different species of cormorants inhabit in the region. The most common are the Pelagic and the Brandt’s cormorant. Cormorants are dark in color with colorful, bare facial skin, set back legs and long hooked bills. Though not closely related to pelicans, these birds also have a small throat pouch used for feeding and breeding purposes.

Unlike most water birds, cormorants do not have waterproof feathers. This allows them to dive to depths of 200 feet or more to capture herring and other small fish. When they surface, they cannot fly immediately and must dry their wings by spreading them away from their bodies and flapping them. The best way to spot cormorants is to look for them drying their wings on rocky outcroppings and on top of buoys.