Whale Watching Report

Sunday, March 30, 2008

4 Gray Whales


Naturalist Jami Nagel reports from the Island Explorer 3: "We began the trip with liquid sunshine that turned to the real thing about halfway through the tour! We found 3 Gray's off Possession Point feeding. We ID'd two out of the three as #44 also know as Dubknuck and #21 (in photo). Cascadia research first saw #44 (Dubknuck) in 1991. We also saw a fourth whale feeding in the area. On our way back toward Everett we had 2 groups of playful but somewhat shy harbor porpoise that gave us some great looks, large rafts of Western Grebes, several California sealions cruising around and of course sunning themselves on the green marker to the entrance of the marina."

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 10:17 PM   0 Comments

Saturday, March 29, 2008

A Whale of a Day!



Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes


"It is not uncommon to be greeted not only by our crew at the dock but most often the local wildlife stops by to say "welcome aboard"!! Today Norman (named by the staff last season), a friendly Harbor Seal, showed up during the crew introductions for an inspection of the passengers! I am happy to say that Norman approved them all to come whale watching aboard the Island Explorer 3! On the days Norman is checking out other boats in the marina one of three pairs of Mallards will hop out of the water onto the dock for a quick photo shoot (re: the above photo)! It wasn't long after departing the marina that we found 2 Gray Whales near Whidbey Island! We weren't with these gentle giants long when Captain Michael was notified over the radio that there were some lost divers in the area and that our services were needed for the search! Not only were our passengers understanding of the emergency, but many grabbed binoculars and took post at the rails scanning the water for signs of people in the water! After a few minutes we were notified that the divers were safe and sound! We then resumed whale watching!! Our good deed was rewarded by not 2 but 3 Gray Whales resting close together!! They just lingered at the surface allowing our guests some great photo opportunities!! We were also showered with luck at the Gray's fluked at least 12 times!! What a day!! We also visited with California Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Western Grebes, Pigeon Guillemots, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Cormorants and a Great Blue Heron!"



posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 8:00 PM   0 Comments

Thursday, March 27, 2008

3 Gray Whales Sighted Today!

This Spring day was a mixed bag of weather but our guests got to see whales! Stay tuned to the Whale report for an update from our Naturalist! "A circumnavigation of Gedney Island lead us to Gray Whale #56! Our guests had the opportunity to capture #56 fluking as a Washington State Ferry passed in the background! We then headed north in search of more of nature's treasures and found another Gray Whale!! This one provided our guests with an experience of a lifetime! They were actually able to smell its breath! During this visit there was an incredible 3 minute period when it actually hailed!! We continued south into the blue skies and back towards the dock! Just south of Gedney Island Captain Shane found the 3rd Gray Whale of the day!! As a whole we experienced: sunshine, varying wind, hail, blue skies, California Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Western Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Pigeon Guillemots, Cormorants and 3 Gray Whales!"

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 3:26 PM   0 Comments

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Whales Near Gedney Island!

"To start our trip off today we found ourselves in the company of some very talkative California Sea Lions!! These large pennipeds we hauled out on channel markers giving our guests a great opportunity for a photo op! They struck a few poses and at the end of our visit waved us a farewell! We headed around the north end of Gedney (a.k.a Hat) Island and found our friend Patch (#49) the Gray Whale! He wasn't alone, #56 was swimming right alone side him almost in unison!! After a few great looks we headed north to Camano Head to visit with some Bald Eagles, Western Grebes, Glaucous-winged Gulls, and a shy Harbor Seal! As we made our way back to port we met back up with #56 and Patch for some final photos!! Just as we were departing the wind changed and our guests experienced the stench of the Gray Whale's breath!! It was another great day with the whales and wildlife!"

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 6:42 PM   0 Comments

Monday, March 24, 2008

March 22 & 23rd Tours!

"Both Saturday & Sunday's tours visited with Gray Whales! On Saturday's tour our guests visited with all 5 Gray Whales that we have currently found in the area! We visited with more than 5 Bald Eagles while enjoying a beautiful Spring day. On Sunday we didn't find the Easter Bunny, but Patch, #49, and #531 showed up just off the Port Clinton ferry terminal! Our guests found themselves experiencing the "liquid sunshine" that Washington is known for as we spent time with the graceful giants! Later we journey towards Camano Island and witnessed a Bald Eagle participating in catch and release! The Eagle found itself with a fish too big to carry so, reluctantly I imagine, it had to return it to the waters of Saratoga Passage! We also saw California Sea Lions, rafts of Western Grebes, Surf Scoters, Pigeon Guillemots, Cormorants, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Harbor Seals, and Harbor Porpoise!!"

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 12:25 PM   0 Comments

Friday, March 21, 2008

There He Blows!!

"It was another beautiful day out on the water! A slight breeze and blue skies accompanied us aboard the Island Explorer 3 on our quest for Gray Whales! First stop however was to see the Eagles at Camano Head! A juvenile Bald Eagle showed off its mottled brown features, proving you don't have to be "bald" to be an Eagle!! Did you know the term "bald" is Dutch for white? Not long after visiting with the eagles Captain Shane spotted the blow of a whale! Too our delight it was yet another new whale in the area!! Joining the ranks of the other four Gray Whales in the area is #356! Our guests not only enjoyed the Gray Whale and Eagles but also California Sea Lion, a raft of 250+ Western Grebes, Pigeon Guillemots, Harbor Seals, Mallards, and Cormorants!"

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 7:51 PM   0 Comments

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Gray Whales Sighted on Every Tour for 2008!

Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

A great start to our 2008 season with sightings on 100% of the tours so far this year! The wind has kicked up a little today but that's no problem for the Island Explorer 3 - we're on scene with the whales right now, 12PM, 1.5 miles north of Camano Head. More details coming soon from today's tour! "We not only found Gray Whales today, but we found the 4th whale of the 2008 season! Joining #531, 56 & 49 is number 44, whom we were able to identify despite a small chop in Saratoga Passage! Prior to getting on scene with the Gray Whales our guests spent some time checking out a Bald Eagle's nest on Camano Island and even saw Surf Scoters just off Gedney Island!! We also spent time with California Sea Lions both in and out of the water!! Although the two pictured above appear to be quite lazy, they in fact are thermo-regulating (keeping themselves warm)!!"

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 12:04 PM   0 Comments

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Gray Whales near Langley!!

Naturalist Kate Janes reports from aboard the Island Explorer 3: "Gray skies melted away to blue as our trip got underway! Prior to heading north up Saratoga Passage we visited with some lounging California Sea Lions, enjoyed a fly-by of a couple of Pigeon Guillemots, and saw a raft of a dozen Barrow's Goldeneyes!! Our binoculars were out searching for the exhalations from Gray Whales as our quest took us up to Langley were we found #531 & #49! Yet again our passenger's enjoyed the aroma of the Gray Whales breath!! Captain Shane did give our noses a break and positioned us up-wind from the whales!! Patch, #49, gave us some great looks as he showed off his white patch and even fluked giving all on board a bit of good luck!! Throughout our adventure we saw Western Grebes, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Harbor Seals, Canada Geese, Mallards, and both Pelagic and Brandt's Cormorants!!" Our next trips out of Everett are at 11 am on March 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th and 30th!

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 4:14 PM   0 Comments

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Calm Seas and Sunny Skies!




"Gray Whales in Sight!," reports Naturalist Kate Janes from The Island Explorer 3. Today's tour was a private charter and our guests enjoyed a beautiful, sunny March day with the whales and lots of wildlife! Stay tuned to the Whale Report to hear about whale breath and other details on today's tour! "Many of our guests came prepared for the elements, however the nose plugs were left at home! Why nose plugs you may ask? Well, if you find yourself downwind of a Gray Whale as it surfaces you may experience its "all day breath" (it sure makes you thankful that we may just suffer from morning breath) !! It definitely makes an already unforgettable experience even more so!! These two pictured above (#531 & #49, Patch) were just two of three Gray Whales whom we visited. The third decided to feed alone today and in quite an peculiar spot. This whale (number undetermined due to situation) found himself in the delta in 10 feet of water feeding!! With almost each dive the whale would twist flashing us a glimpse of half a fluke!! We also saw a California Sea Lion feeding on a Salmon while his lazy friends were hauled out on a channel marker! Pelagic & Brandt's Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemot's, Harbor Seals, and various gull species were also seen!!"


Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 4:44 PM   0 Comments

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Gray Whales Sighted!


Another great tour today, finding Gray Whales soon after leaving our dock! We had some rain and some sunshine and our guests got to see whales and lots of wildlife! Stay tuned to the Whale Report for details on today's tour from Naturalist Kate Janes! " It was another dynamic day out in the Puget Sound! Our guests experienced a wide array of wildlife AND weather! It may have started out a little damp but we ended up with patches of blue sky mid-trip that lasted through till the end! Shortly off the dock our guests were treated to a choir of California Sea Lions, followed by a raft of 300 + Western Grebes!! It was only to get better from there! Just off the west side of Camano Head towards Whidbey Island the exhalations of the Gray Whales were spotted! We spent quality time with # 531, #56, and good o' Patch, #49! Some of our guests were even lucky enough to capture the quintessential Washington State photo, as the whales swam parallel to one of the Washington State Ferries! We visited with 3 Bald Eagles, checked out where they call "home", and even witnessed a California Sea Lion making a meal of a Salmon!!"
Photo by Naturalist Kate Janes

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 5:57 PM   0 Comments

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

March 11, 2008

A great shot by Bart Rulon in 2007. The folks on our March 8th, 2008 trip got quite the sensory overload when the lovely scent of the Gray Whale's exhale wafted over the boat!

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 1:50 PM   0 Comments

Monday, March 10, 2008

Gray Whale Photos from March 8th

Here are two great shots by passenger Scott Pudwell, one of our many repeat guests. Thank you for sending these in Scott!





posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 9:43 AM   0 Comments

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Gray Whales Sighted March 8th, 2008!

3 Gray Whales were sighted today from the Island Explorer 3 on our first tour for 2008!! More details coming soon from Island Adventure's Naturalist, Kate Janes! "A great day with the whales to start or 2008 season! We had 3 Gray Whales sighted only 40 minutes after leaving the dock! We identified the whales as #531, #56, and #49 Patch, who is an annual visitor to this area. The Island Explorer 3 was near Camano Head where our guests got to see 3 Bald Eagle nests - we spotted 3 adult eagles and 1 juvenile. We also got to see a California Sea Lion feeding, Pigeon Guillemots, Glacous-Winged Gulls, Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants, Canadian Geese, and our friendly dock-side Harbor Seal, Norman paid us a visit!" Next tour will be March 15th! 

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 2:42 PM   0 Comments

Monday, March 3, 2008

2008 Whale Watch season is here!

The spring whale watching season is literally just around the corner! Our first tour is on Saturday, March 8th at 11 AM departing from Everett. The sighting reports have been active the last two weeks with the first Gray Whale spotted near Everett on or around February 25th, J pod in the San Juan area about the same time, and on February 29th, L pod orcas were near Seiku, WA and J pod orcas were off Victoria, BC! Sounds like a great start to our 2008 season!! More and More Grays should be showing up near south Whidbey Island each week. We are so excited to start off the season in a few days!

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 4:17 PM   0 Comments