Whale Watching Report

Orca Whales are southbound from Point Roberts and The Island Explorer 3 is northbound to show our guests whales! Stay tuned to the Whale Report for updates from Naturalist Kate Janes!

A Slow Surface (Tahlequah J35)
Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

"We may have started our day with rain that eventually gave way to a light mist, BUT the weather broke just before we came on scene with the Orcas of J pod and the remainder of the day was spent in the company of blue skies! Today we found the orcas just south of Point Roberts very spread out. We eventually peeled off with the eastern most group and enjoyed some great looks at Ruffles, J1. There were a few young guests on board who were quite thrilled to meet one of the wild celebrities from the Free Willy Movie! Then IT happened. After our time with Ruffles we noticed two other whales further south. We parallel one for some time and then suddenly there was a direction change. Tahlequah (J35) decided she wanted to watch some humans!! With our engines now out of gear we just sat back and enjoyed what happened next. She appeared at our stern surfacing a couple of times then we watched her swimming just under the water along the port side!! During this period of time she was really moving, then about midship she just stopped. Still underwater we could see her eyepatch as she appeared to be looking up at us on the Island Explorer 3!! Then very slowly she rose out of the water, took a breath and then quickly swam off!! What a breathtaking gift. We not only spent time with Tahlequah & Ruffles, but we also saw Granny (J2) & Polaris (J28- who is Tahlequah's sister)! Also on the trip we visited with 7 Bald Eagles, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Harbor Seals, Pacific Madrone Trees, Marbled Murrelets, Harbor Porpoise, and Pacific Loons." - Naturalist Kate Janes