The past few days on the water have resulted in awesome wild life encounters. Last weekend, multi-day guides Nick & Andrew and 14 very hardy guests departed from our exclusive location in Roche Harbor for a 3 Day/2 Night Multi-Day Kayak Tour. The sun gods were not smiling on us, which translated into a soggy first two days on the water. However, Nick & Andrew reported that their guests were tough and well prepared for any kind of weather! The sun finally made an appearance (and guess what!?) so did the Southern Residents! Guides Nick, Andrew, and their guests were rounding the light station at Turn Point on Stuart Island when J pod & K pod made a surprise appearance and rolled right through the kelp just a few yards from their rafted kayaks.
Overnight guides Don & Jacob had a very unique transient mammal-eating killer whale encounter during their overnight tour just a few days ago. Approximately 12 transients (later identified as the T49s and subgroups) traveled right over Danger Shoals, which is just at the mouth of Spieden Channel. Don, Jacob, and guest where having lunch on the remote beach of Gossip Island and saw the killer was traveling together slowly with synchronized breathing and diving patterns. Most likely, the orcas were in a resting state in which they shut down half of their brain, cluster close together, and synchronize their breathing & movements.
Guide Bri had a close encounter with J26, Mike, on her half-day kayak tour. Kayak guides Chris & Alicia both reported seeing tons of new baby harbor seal pups! Pupping season is upon us! The pup will ride on mommas back while she is swimming. They are so curious and came right up to guests on Alicia’s tour.
J26 also gave guests aboard the Sea Hawk a great look with two HUGE full bodied breaches just outside Mosquito Pass yesterday afternoon. Naturalist Kevin & Captain Brian stayed with J & K pods for almost 2 hours as they traveled south along the West Side of San Juan Island. The day before (with Captain Brian & Naturalist Kevin) again, J26 was the displaying some exciting behavior. The Sea Hawk was shut down & floating just off of Eagle Point on the West Side of San Juan Island. J26 was traveling near our vessel and suddenly started tail slapping and thrashing at the surface. He was chasing and hunting salmon about 20 yards from the Sea Hawk!