Written by Traci
on Jun 19, 2016

Western Explorer Whale Watching: June 15, 2016

We headed north from Friday Harbor into the Canadian Gulf Islands to catch up a family of Bigg’s Killer whales, the T124As! We mostly watched them travel along. Things changed a little on into our encounter and we got to witness a successful Harbor seal hunt. You can see the Harbor seal in some of the images below.

Lunging at the seal

Grabbing the seal

The Harbor seal head is right by the dorsal fin of the whale.

The Western Prince II looks on from a respectful distance while T124A works on a Harbor seal. See the blood?

Written by Traci
on Jun 19, 2016

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Western Prince II: September 20, 2016 ...

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Western Prince II: September 30, 2016 ...

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Western Explorer PM: September 24, 2016 ...

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Western Explorer PM: September 22, 2016 ...

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Western Prince II: October 5, 2016 ...

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Written by Nina

Western Prince II PM: September 22, 2016 ...

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Western Prince II PM: September 15, 2016

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Western Prince II PM: September 15, 2016 ...

This afternoon we had a great encounter with a large number of Southern Resident Orcas, al ...

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Western Explorer AM: September 13, 2016 ...

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Western Prince II PM: September 5, 2016 ...

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Western Prince II PM: September 7, 2016 ...

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Western Prince II AM: September 7, 2016 ...

Pictures include the Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island with the Olympic Mountains in ...

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Western Explorer AM: September 6, 2016 ...

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Western Explorer AM: September 8, 2016 ...

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Western Explorer AM: September 5, 2016 ...

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Western Explorer PM: August 30, 2016 ...

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Western Explorer AM: August 29, 2016 ...

My goodness! Was this a pretty amazing encounter! We had multiple whale reports in the are ...

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Western Explorer AM: August 27, 2016 ...

A beautiful morning on the water searching for whales! A Humpback whale was found that we ...

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Western Prince II AM: August 28, 2016 ...

As promised, here are your photos from our trip around Speiden Island with the Transient O ...

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Western Prince II: August 27, 2016 ...

Wow!! I’m still smiling from our encounter with Transients way up in the Strait of Geo ...

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Western Prince II PM: August 23, 2016 ...

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Western Prince II PM: August 31, 2016 ...

The timing was perfect to check out the kids (harbor seals) in the pool. Approximately 2 ...

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Western Explorer AM: August 22, 2016 ...

An awesome morning on the water with part of J and Kpod! The whales were being pretty acti ...

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Western Explorer AM: August 18, 2016 ...

A beautiful morning on the water with Southern Resident Killer whales! We got to see a bit ...

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Western Prince II PM: August 25, 2016 ...

Today was one of the hottest days of the year and what better way to spend the day then on ...

Written by JB

Western Prince II: August 12, 2016 ...

A beautiful day in the Salish sea with Southern Resident Killer whales! ...

Written by JB

Western Prince II PM: August 22, 2016 ...

We definitely don’t get many days like the one we had on the 22nd!!! Great seals and t ...

Written by JB

Western Prince II PM: August 13, 2016 ...

What a fantastic day we had out on the water. Harbor seals, Stellar Sea Lions and of cou ...

Written by JB

Western Prince II AM: August 20, 2016 ...

What an amazing day this was with K Pod!!! On behalf of Captain Dennis, Katie, and mysel ...

Written by Alison

Western Prince II PM: August 17, 2016 ...

We left the dock quickly as we knew that the whales were heading away from us and into rou ...

Written by Nina

Western Prince II PM: August 18, 2016 ...

Ever wonder how many whales are too many or what a Steller sea lions teeth look like? The ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer PM: August 16, 2016 ...

WOW! An incredible day with three species of cetaceans. We first got to see a Gray whale i ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer AM: August 11, 2016 ...

The Bigg’s encounters have been just amazing lately! We caught up with the T46’ ...

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Western Explorer AM: August 10, 2016 ...

Another fantastic day in the Salish sea with a large group of Bigg’s Killer whales ( ...

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Western Prince II PM: August 9, 2016 ...

A beautiful afternoon with Js and Ks! Fantastic conditions and foraging whales made for a ...

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Western Explorer Sunset: August 8, 2016 ...

A fellow whale watch operator’s boat was having issues as they left the dock, so our ...

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Western Explorer AM: August 8, 2016 ...

Such a fantastic day! We started out with a rumor of a few orcas inter-island near Friday ...

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Western Explorer PM: August 9, 2016 ...

Wow….what a magical day. To be able to sit in flat calm water watching J Pod foraging ...

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Western Explorer AM: August 9, 2016 ...

That was a great encounter with J Pod—getting to see them pass by the Turn Point Lightho ...

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Western Prince II AM: August 8, 2016 ...

So great to see the T18/T19s with “Mr. Floppy Fin”. He’s still hanging around whic ...

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Western Prince II AM: August 6, 2016 ...

That was a great encounter with the T75s. Getting to see them take a seal was amazing, a ...

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Western Prince II PM: August 6, 2016 ...

What a fantastic day we had with the transients up in the Strait of Georgia. ...

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Western Explorer PM: August 2, 2016 ...

Here are the highlights of my pictures from our trip with the T65As….we sure did have to ...

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T19B Rocked my world today! Fabulous day on the Western Prince. We had a large group of T& ...

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Western Explorer PM: August 6, 2016 ...

We left the dock knowing we had a group of Bigg’s Killer whales in the area, so to t ...

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Western Explorer AM: August 4, 2016 ...

It was a very still and beautiful morning when we set out in search of whales. We went all ...

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Western Explorer PM: August 3, 2016 ...

We were so fortunate that later in the afternoon J pod and part of L pod had moved just in ...

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Western Prince II PM: August 2, 2016 ...

What a special treat!! For only the second time in 10 years I got to see another Gray whal ...

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Western Prince II PM: July 27, 2016 ...

We were very lucky to have whales close by today and 2 species no less! On the way down ...

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Western Prince II AM: July 26, 2016 ...

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Today brought unexpected delights! We first caught up with at least 2 Minke whales that we ...

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What an amazing trip with orcas fishing and spyhopping, followed by that tremendous encoun ...

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Western Prince II AM: July 16, 2016 ...

What an amazing day we had with not only those active orca whales but also the amazing hum ...

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Western Explorer AM: July 21, 2016 ...

We started out checking out the many seals sunbathing on Goose island. Also on Goose islan ...

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Western Explorer PM: July 20, 2016 ...

Our afternoon took us to the south end of San Juan Island where we got to watch part of L ...

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A beautiful morning encounter with some of Lpod! L85 “Mystery” and L89 “ ...

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On our afternoon tour, we caught back up with some of Lpod who were still socializing on t ...

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Western Prince II AM: July 19, 2016 ...

We had a fantastic tour this morning! We had lots of little groups from L pod on the sout ...

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Western Explorer AM: July 18, 2016 ...

We started our tour on a lovely sunny morning! We heard some of J pod and L pod were movin ...

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Western Prince II: July 13, 2016 ...

We met up with part of J-pod as they came around Turn Point and headed South. We had the ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer AM: July 13, 2016 ...

Timing as they say is everything. Today that was surely the case. There has been a large g ...

Western Prince II AM & PM: July 10, 2016

Written by Nina

Western Prince II AM & PM: July 10, 2016 ...

A day of surprises and special encounters close to home. On our first trip of the day, we ...

Experience Western Prince Whale & Wildlife Tours

Written by Ivan

Experience Western Prince Whale & Wildlife Tours ...

What’s a whale watching tour with Western Prince like? Check out our new video highl ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer AM: July 13, 2016 ...

What a fun adventure today! We saw some wonderful wildlife today in more flat calm conditi ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer AM: July 11, 2016 ...

What a wonderful trip!! We were very fortunate a Humpback whale was not far from Friday Ha ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer AM: July 9, 2016 ...

Beautiful conditions and lots of whales made for a fantastic Western Explorer trip! We wer ...

Written by JB

Western Prince II: June 26, 2016 ...

Another fantastic day on the water in the Salish Sea! We had an encounter with Bigg’ ...

Written by Alison

Western Prince II: July 6, 2016 ...

Boiling reef was boiling yesterday afternoon. Crazy water – just lovin’ these ...

Written by JB

Western Explorer PM: July 5, 2016 ...

WOW WOW WOW!! While it’s always great out on the water every day, our trip on Tuesday ...

Written by JB

Western Explorer AM: July 5, 2016 ...

Such a wonderful adventure today! Our suits might have been dampened, but it was pretty ...

Written by JB

Western Prince II: July 4, 2016 ...

So cool to see L87 Onyx (the big guy in the photo below) hanging out with J2 Granny (105 y ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer: July 6, 2016 ...

We had a wonderful day out on the water with several groups of Bigg’s Killer whales, ...

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: July 5, 2016 ...

Our day started off with a little drizzle and overcast skies with a report of orcas a bit ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer: July 4, 2016 ...

We left the dock knowing there were several groups of Killer whales spotted! What a terrif ...

Written by Alison

Western Prince II: June 29, 2016 ...

What a great day we had with these two adult male Biggs (Transient) Killer Whales. They ...

Written by Nina

Western Prince II: June 30, 2016 ...

It was a long and beautiful boat ride deep into Canadian waters…and it was more than wor ...

Written by Alison

Western Prince II: June 22, 2016 ...

It was a spectacular day with an amazing encounter with “Biggs” Transient Killer Whale ...

Written by Katie

Western Prince II: June 24, 2016 ...

What a wonderful day of whale watching in the San Juan Islands! We had the T75B’s an ...

Western Prince II: June 18, 2016: Morning Whale Watching Tour

Written by JB

Western Prince II: June 18, 2016: Morning Whale Watching Tou ...

There is nothing quite like leaving the dock here in Friday Harbor with absolutely no whal ...

Western Prince II Whale Watching: June 17, 2016 San Juan Island

Written by Traci

Western Prince II Whale Watching: June 17, 2016 San Juan Isl ...

I decided to ride along on my day off as I heard there were some whales in the area. Katie ...

Western Explorer Whale Watching: June 14, 2016

Written by Traci

Western Explorer Whale Watching: June 14, 2016 ...

It was a beautiful day on the water with a group of Bigg’s (transient) Killer whales ...

Written by Alison

Western Prince II: June 15, 2016 ...

To start off the day with no reports, and end up with an amazing “Biggs” Transient Kil ...

Written by Nina

Western Prince II: June 4, 2016 ...

What a perfect day on the water, sunshine, calm waters and lots of wildlife! We got to enj ...

Western Explorer: May 26, 2016 Big Momma and her calf!

Written by Traci

Western Explorer: May 26, 2016 Big Momma and her calf! ...

It was a pretty breezy day on the water in some spots, but we got word that 2 Humpbacks wh ...

Written by Traci

Western Prince: May 24, 2016 ...

Today we saw lots of wonderful wildlife including Harbor seals, Steller sea lions, Bald ea ...

May 28, 2016 : Bigg’s Killer whales in the Canadian Gulf Islands

Written by Ivan

May 28, 2016 : Bigg’s Killer whales in the Canadian Gu ...

Despite it being a bit windy in the San Juan Islands today, all our whale watching guests ...

WESTERN PRINCE EARNS 2016 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

Written by Ivan

WESTERN PRINCE EARNS 2016 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLE ...

WESTERN PRINCE WHALE & WILDLIFE TOURS EARNS 2016 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE ...

Western Prince II Whale Watching: May 23, 2016 Transient Orca Superpod!

Written by JB

Western Prince II Whale Watching: May 23, 2016 Transient Or ...

Here are some highlight photos from our whale watching tour on the Western Prince on Mond ...

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: May 20, 2016 ...

What an incredible encounter we had today! There has been a large group of Bigg’s (t ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer: May 18, 2016 ...

We started our day with a report of Bigg’s (transient) Killer whales north of San Ju ...

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: May 10, 2016 ...

It was such a beautiful day as we left the dock in Friday Harbor. We did not have any whal ...

Written by Alison

Western Prince II: May 11, 2016 ...

Life in the Salish Sea is Humpback rich right now! A morning charter on the Western Pri ...

Mother’s Day on the Western Prince II: May 8, 2016

Written by JB

Mother’s Day on the Western Prince II: May 8, 2016 ...

It was a beautiful Mother’s day with the J16’s and the other amazing wi ...

Written by Alison

Western Prince II: May 4, 2016 ...

Another great day on the water with Captain Nancy! We enjoyed Steller Sea Lions hauled ou ...

Written by JB

Western Prince II: May 1, 2016 ...

A beautiful day on the water with a Humpback whale named “Big Momma” who broug ...

Written by Traci

Western Explorer: April 29, 2016 ...

It started out as a beautiful sunny day in the San Juan Island with a brisk wind. No repor ...

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: April 27, 2016 ...

We left the dock with a rumor of whales to the south of San Juan Island and headed that wa ...

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: April 24, 2016 ...

What a delight to catch up with a larger group of Bigg’s Killer whales. (transients) ...

Written by Ivan

Western Explorer: April 23, 2016 ...

Today was EPIC! We took a bit of a gamble and headed south on a long run towards a group o ...

Written by Alison

Western Prince II: April 20, 2016 ...

What a day!! Sunny, hot, whales and wildlife and it is only April!! Fun day with Katie, Pe ...

Western Prince II: April 15, 2016: T86As, T37, and T124A1

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: April 15, 2016: T86As, T37, and T124A1 ...

We left the dock trekking south towards a very far report of whales. If they kept coming o ...

Written by Katie

Western Prince II: April 8, 2016 ...

We had a glassy calm encounter with the T49A’s and T123 family groups of transient ( ...

Western Prince II: April 7, 2016: J17s & J22s

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: April 7, 2016: J17s & J22s ...

Our day started with an abundance of sunshine with hardly any wind. What a wonderful way t ...

The best time to see Killer whales in the San Juan Islands

Written by Traci

The best time to see Killer whales in the San Juan Islands ...

This is one of the most asked questions that we get! There is a reason so many peop ...

Western Prince II: April 2, 2016: Windy day with whales!

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: April 2, 2016: Windy day with whales! ...

We had reports of Killer whales in the area on the west side of San Juan Island and these ...

Western Prince II: April 1, 2016: Gorgeous day with 2 Humpback whales!

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: April 1, 2016: Gorgeous day with 2 Humpba ...

The fantastic spring weather in the San Juan Islands continues! With no reports of any wha ...

Western Prince II: March 31, 2016: A special encounter with the J17s and J22s

Written by Traci

Western Prince II: March 31, 2016: A special encounter with ...

March is generally not when we expect to see Killer whales on a regular basis around the ...

Written by Ivan

San Juan Island Whale Watching in the time of COVID-19 ...

Written by Ivan

Whale Report: November 17, 2019 Bigg’s Killer whales a ...

Written by Elah

Whale Report: September 29, 2019 – Humpback whale lung ...

Written by Elah

Whale Report: September 14, 2019 – BREACHING HUMPBACK! ...

Written by Elah

Whale Report: September 13, 2019 – Humpback Whale ...

Written by Elah

Whale Report: September 11, 2019 – Bigg’s Killer ...

Written by Alison

Whale Report: September 3, 2019 PM: Surprise sightings! Bigg ...

Written by Nan

Whale Report: August 30, 2019 AM – J pod and Steller S ...

Written by Alison

Whale Report August 27, 2019 – Bigg’s Killer wha ...

Written by Alison

Whale Report: August 20, 2019 AM – J pod and Humpback ...

Written by Alison

Whale Report: August 6, 2019 AM – Humpbacks and a Bigg ...

Written by Elah

Whale Watch Report: August 1, 2019 PM – The T65As (Mar ...

Written by Elah

Whale Watch Report: July 31, 2019 AM – Bigg’s Ki ...

Written by Alison

Whale Report: July 30, 2019 PM – The T65As! ...

Written by Elah

San Juan Island Whale Watching Season Update – The Bes ...

Written by Alison

Whale Report: July 16, 2019 AM- Bigg’s Killer whales! ...

Written by Elah

Whale Watch Report: July 16, 2019 PM – Playful Bigg ...

Written by Rayne

Whale Watch Report: July 3, 2019 – Mammal Feeding Orca ...

Written by Elah

Whale Watch Report: June 26, 2019 – Bigg’s Kill ...

Written by Alison

Whale Watch Report: June 25, 2019 PM – The T46s and T1 ...

Written by Alison

Whale Watch Report: June 20, 2019 – Western Explorer I ...

Written by Alison

Whale Watch Report: June 18, 2019 AM – Western Prince ...

Written by Nan

Whale Watch Report: June 15, 2019 AM – Western Prince ...

Written by Nan

Whale Report: June 3, 2019 ...

Written by Nan

Whale Report: May 31, 2019 ...

Written by Alison

Gray whales, Minke whale, and Tufted Puffins! Whale Watch Re ...

Written by Western Prince

Most Excellent! It’s our 5th year in a row earning Tri ...

Written by Alison

Our 2019 season so far! ...

Written by Western Prince

Our 2019 Season begins March 9th! ...

Written by Western Prince

Conservation Efforts ...

Written by Western Prince

2018 Whale Watch Season Recap Whales on 94% of tours! ...

Written by Elah

The T65As catch dinner, then play! ...

Written by Alison

Beautiful afternoon with the T137s and other wonderful wildl ...

Written by Elah

Active Bigg’s Killer whales in the San Juan Islands! ...

Written by Alison

Incredible day with Bigg’s Killer whales, Bald Eagles, ...

Written by Traci

Memorial Day Weekend Additional Trips Scheduled! ...

Written by Elah

Bigg’s Killer whales on patrol and lots of other wildl ...

Written by Elah

An afternoon with a Gray whale and Steller Sea lions! ...

Written by Elah

Sunny day with Humpback whales! ...

Written by Elah

Beautiful day with Humpback whales! ...

Whale Watch Report: July 16, 2019 PM – Playful Bigg ...

A beautiful evening in the San Juan Islands watching Bigg ...