Whale Watching Report

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Fresh Sushi Flying Through the Air

"Leaving the dock today we sat under a patchy blue sky! Upon leaving the marina we found a couple of California Sea Lions hauled out on a channel marker, showing off their immense size and fortunately not their foul smell! Continuing into Possession Sound we found ourselves completely engulfed in a very thick layer of fog! Moving slowly we ventured towards Gedney Island where we found a break from the fog! This fog-free pocket extended up towards Camano Island allowing us to see a mature Bald Eagle fly directly overhead!! Moments later we found a pair of Bald Eagles sitting on a rocky beach! The male was feeding near the waters edge while his mate sat supervising from a nearby log!! Our journey took us further north where we found a very hungry California Sea Lion who violently thrashed about at the surface with a huge salmon in his mouth!! A couple of Glaucous-winged Gulls couldn't resist an opportunity to snag a bite and hovered above the massive penniped!! We also enjoyed observing a raft of over 500 Western Grebes, feeding Dall's Porpoise, swimming Harbor Seals, a small group of Brant Geese, Surf Scoters, Rhinoceros Auklets and groups of Bonapart's Gulls!! Although we had a great day out on the water, spending quality time with the wildlife in the area , each of our guests will have another opportunity to join us again for free since we didn't see whales!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 6:40 PM   0 Comments

Friday, November 28, 2008

"Under a blanket of clouds we departed the Everett marina towards Possession Sound. As we exited the marina we slowed down to visit with a couple of hauled out California Sea Lions! After a few moments one sea lion repositioned giving our guests the opportunity for a photo shoot before sliding back into the water! Continuing on our way westward we found another sea lion lounging on another channel marker, from a distance the sea lion actually looked like a huge log that found a resting place on the marker! Proving it is always good to take a closer look! At Clinton we got a great look at a Washington State Ferry as it made its way to port! Our journey took us north up Admiralty Inlet and into Hood Canal where we found Ancient Murrelets, Bald Eagles soaring above the channel and perched high in trees, Surf Scoters, Western Grebes, Cormorants, hauled out Harbor Seals, Bonaparte's Gulls, Glaucous-wing Gulls, Harbor Porpoise, Red-necked Grebes, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots and Common Murres! In Hood Canal we watched a group of hungry birds in a frenzy due to the activities of a Harbor Seal under the water! We eventually had to make our way back to the dock where we found more California Sea Lions sitting a top pontoons near the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln! Before leaving a few began barking, showing us just how vocal they really can be!! Our guests will have another opportunity to join us again for free since we didn't see whales on today's adventure, because we guarantee whales on every trip!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 9:22 PM   0 Comments

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Whales in Admiralty Inlet!

Hot off the whale phone there are Orcas in Puget Sound!  Looks like L pod is heading towards Seattle just before the Thanksgiving holiday!  Hopefully they will hang around all weekend!  Our next trips from our Everett location will be departing at 11 AM on Friday November 28th, Saturday November 29th, and Sunday November 30th! 

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 9:16 AM   0 Comments

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Super Pod! J, K, and L pods  approximately 80 whales sighted near Victor Gulf Buoy headed East!
We have perfect Fall weather in the forecast and whales in the area. The next tours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday departing from Everett at 11:00 a. m. 

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 9:37 AM   0 Comments

Saturday, November 22, 2008

100+ Harbor Porpoise!!

"The Island Explorer 3 headed out of the Everett marina with blue skies and sun! Our first wildlife sighting as we left the marina was 3 California Sealions one on the marker defending his spot and the other 2 trying to jump onboard with him. We made our way around the southend of Whidbey island and headed north up Admirality Inlet were we encountered several more California Sealions and harbor porpoise. There were 10 Stellar Sealions hauled out sunning themselves on the rocks. They put on quite a vocal show for us, our passengers got to hear the difference between the two types of Sealions we saw today....the California Sealions have the famous "bark" were the Stellar Sealions have more of a "growl". As we came back around the south end of Whidbey Island we were surrounded by 100-150 harbor porpoise! This was one of the best sightings that we have had of harbor porpoise. Most of the time they are very shy and elusive but not today! We witnessed lots of "porpoising" (speed swimming) and even a couple of what appeared to be porpoise breaches!!! Our passengers had a most enjoyable trip and will be coming back again with us to use their fluke passes....good for life till they see whales!!!"-Naturalist Jami Nagel

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 10:09 PM   0 Comments

Friday, November 21, 2008

We will be departing at 11:00 a.m. this Saturday, November 22nd from our Everett location.
The Orca Whales have been sighted East of Race Rocks today!!!

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 1:12 PM   0 Comments

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Ruffles Sighted!

Ruffles and presumably the rest of J pod are back in the area!  The old man of the sea was just reported near the VG buoy!!

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 2:41 PM   0 Comments

Orca Whales Inbound from Victoria!

This coming Saturday, November 22nd we have a trip departing at 11 AM from our Everett location and the weatherman is sure being kind!  Looks like we are in for another beautiful Autumn day in the Pacific Northwest!  News also reached us yesterday afternoon that a group of Orca Whales were cruising eastbound of Victoria!!  

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 9:50 AM   0 Comments

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Summer Weather in November!

"We began our day under blue skies that where dotted only sparingly with wispy clouds! Inside the marina along side the dock we were able to see with much clarity the Olympic Mountains and the nearby Cascade Mountains! As we departed the marina a large winged Great Blue Heron flew close to the waters edge towards the shallow waters of Jetty Island where it would land on one of its resident pilings. As we edged out into Possession Sound a group of California Sea Lions were spotted hauled out the pontoons located by the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln! These large pennipeds were lounging, each laying clam to his own! We ventured further out into the Sound stopping for a closer look at a sea lion hauled out on a channel marker, another one of their favorite haul out locations! We continued west ward towards Admiralty Inlet enjoying the glass calm water conditions! At Possession Point a mated pair of Bald Eagles were spotted. We ventured closer for a better look as they sat perched high in a tree, watching the events of the day unfold. It was mid-channel once arriving in Admiralty Inlet that Mount Rainer and Mount Baker came into view!! Our adventure lead us north along the shoreline of Whidbey Island where we found Common Loons, Western Grebes, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Harbor Seals and Cormorants enjoying the beautiful day! Just north of Bush Point we crossed the channel towards Marrowstone Island where we found some quick moving Harbor Porpoise enjoying a meal of bait fish in the current line! Then it was onto Colvos Island for a look at over 20 Harbor Seals hauled out on its rocky terrain along side the Cormorants and gulls! We departed heading into Hood Canal were we found more Harbor Seals, a Long-tail Duck, and a group of Ancient Murrelets!! Soon we found ourselves heading around the north end of the Kitsap Peninsula towards Possession Sound and the marina. Before returning to the dock we stopped to peek in on a pair of sleeping California Sea Lions on a channel marker! The smarter of the two was using his buddy as a pillow, while the other was left to rest his head on the cold hard metal!! Since we didn't see whales on today's trip our guests will get to join us again for free, for life until they see whales with us! It's our guarantee!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 7:13 PM   0 Comments

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Surprises Around Every Corner! - Sunday, November 9, 2008

"The Island Explorer 3 was welcomed just outside of the Everett marina by a very hungry Harbor Seal! His eyes may just have been bigger than his stomach for in his mouth was a 20 lb. salmon! The seal struggled at the surface to eat the large fish as the gulls began to close in on his prize!! A hundred yards from the feeding Harbor Seal were a couple of his cousins hauled out on a channel marker. The California Sea Lions were quite vocal! May be trying to decide whether or not to help their fellow penniped out! Having the two different species of pennipeds so close really allowed our guests to see the difference in size and physiology! We continued further westward in Possession Sound where we found California Sea Lions swimming! At Possession Point we turned north hugging the Whidbey Island shoreline! A lone Heerman's Gull was amongst some feeding Glaucous-winged Gulls and Cormorants that were all enjoying a meal of bait fish! Our journey north ended at the Keystone just as the Pearce County Ferry was arriving back to the terminal! Along Marrowstone Island we found a group of Harbor Porpoise feeding in the current quickly disappearing back into their watery realm! We continued towards Hood Canal where we found a mature Bald Eagle perched high on the top of a conifer! It was like a beacon at the point appearing like a lighthouse with the sun striking its white head feathers! Nearby we found a small rocky island that was spilling over with wildlife! Over 30 Harbor Seals sat atop its rocky shoreline, cormorants perched wherever they could find room, Surf Scoters swam nearby and a Great Blue Heron sat like a statue at its highest point! We also found along the way today Common Loons, Western Grebes, Pigeon Guillemots, and even a Belted Kingfisher back at the dock! Although we didn't find whales today it was another amazing day out in the sound and our guests get to join us again for free, for life until they see whales with us!! This is because we guarantee whales on each trip!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 9:56 AM   0 Comments

Double Rainbow Over Admiralty Inlet - Saturday, November 8, 2008

"Our adventure began just outside the marina with a visit with a couple of California Sea Lions hauled out on a popular Channel Marker!! Each appeared a different shade of brown indicating the lighter brown one had been there longer! Pennipeds haul out on islands, channel markers, rocks and even docks in order to dry off and warm up after hours in the frigid waters! After visiting with the lions of the sea we ventured towards Possession Point and out into Admiralty Inlet! We crossed the channel towards Kingston and began heading north bound. We were nearly to Point No Point when news came over the radio that a nearby boat was missing one of its SCUBA divers! Immediately we changed our course to aid in the search! After informing our passengers of the emergency they responded with binoculars in hand searching right along with the crew! It wasn't long after arriving in the vicinity of where the diver should be that we found him!! Relieved and happy he wasn't hurt we held our position near the diver while his boat came to pick him up! Thanks to the efforts of everyone on board the Island Explorer 3 we saved a life!! Not only was the diver thankful for our assistance, but so was the U.S. Coast Guard being that we saved them thousands of dollars in fuel and man hours that would have been expended in the search! As we left the rescued diver boarding his boat we all noticed that a rainbow had appeared near where we had found him! We resumed our quest for wildlife as we headed into Hood Canal. Salmon were leaping at the surface and Harbor Seals were bobbing in the water as we approached the William A. Bugge Bridge! At the north end of the Kitsap Peninsula a breathtaking full arced rainbow connected the Peninsula to Whidbey Island with a partial second rainbow beside it! Unfortunately a whale wasn't at either end of the rainbow, but our "pot of gold" today included sea lions, seals, Harbor Porpoise, cormorants, Western Grebes, Surf Scoters and one lucky diver! We guarantee whales, so that means all of our guests get to come again for free, for life until they see whales with us!!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 9:08 AM   0 Comments

Monday, November 3, 2008

First of November First Trip Back In Everett!

"Saturday the Island Explorer 3 left from the Everett marina on calm water and in ideal conditions for spotting wildlife! We didn't have to wait long before spotting wildlife, for right outside of Jetty Island we found a couple of California Sea Lions hauled out on a channel marker while one swam circles around looking for room! We continued towards Clinton stopping at another channel marker to visit with another group of sea lions! These channel markers seem to be prime real estate for the sea lions! We continued past Clinton towards Kingston enjoying swimming sea lions and even a Harbor Seal eating a salmon at the surface!! Our journey took us north towards Marrow & Indian Island before turning southward down the Hood Canal. Salmon were seen breaching at the surface! One unlucky salmon appeared in the mouth of a hungry Harbor Seal. His eating attracted gulls which hovered near the seal in hopes for a morsel! Moments later our guests enjoyed great looks at Harbor Porpoise as the slowly rolled through the water before disappearing. With the floating bridge in sight we made the turn north bound. Although we had a wonderful day out on the water, visiting with a wide variety of wildlife and experiencing some events worthy of National Geographic's coverage, we unfortunately didn't get to visit with any whales. Our guests will have the opportunity to join us on another trip free for life until they do see whales with us! This is because we guarantee seeing whales on every trip! Other wildlife seen on our adventure included: Western Grebes, Pelagic Cormorants, Red-necked Grebes, Surf Scoters, Glaucous-winged Gulls, breaching Salmon, Common Loons, and Rhinoceros Auklets!" - Naturalist Kate Janes

posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 11:28 AM   0 Comments