"If you want a guarantee of seeing an orca, go to Sea World", our naturalists on the MV Sea Lion said after we boarded. With no expectations other than a safe journey in the Salish Sea, we departed snug and sunny Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA.
The boat was immaculate and stable, and the crew knowledgable and charming.
The many whale watching companies communicate with each other constantly regarding where orca sightings are occurring. Shortly after setting sail, Captain Pete plotted a course for an area in Haro Straight near the international border with Canada. While cruising there, we saw bald eagles wheeling overhead, pelagic cormorants and pigeon guillemots, and great blue herons amongst other sea birds. Of course the islands themselves are covered in various trees such as towering Douglas firs, western red cedar, madrone and even oak trees on Spieden Island.
Within a half hour or so we entered somewhat less protected waters with swells and a little chop. It was there that we spotted a trio of orcas identified by their unique "saddle patches". It was an exciting and incredible experience observing these creatures. We paralleled them (outside of the legal designation of safe distance) for nearly a half hour. They stayed close together and were large, medium and small, surfacing regularly and moving steadily. One of them breeched completely out of the water. We loved it!
This trio was identified as Jpod;
Alki, Echo and Sonic (a calf). There are many websites, Facebook and Twitter accounts for each resident individual whale. (Cool!)
We motored ahead of them a ways and spotted a large male orca named Mike; a sibling to one of the girls in the earlier group. His huge dorsal fin was impressive.
All too soon it was time to turn back. We gently cruised between Henry Island and Roche Harbor. There we saw many sea lions and seals lounging in the sun on the rocks. There was a large flock of Canada geese walking their goslings on the shore.
We saw more of the seals on Spieden Island and a bald eagle perched in a tree near the shore.
I want to thank Geneva Dane for setting this up and going with me for this delightful 3 hour trip. She is a friend and employee of San Juan Safaris.
Rhoda Flint