Written by Alison
on Sep 08, 2026

T49As Along Jones Island

T49As Along Jones Island

August 20 2026 PM – This afternoon we left the dock with a report of Orcas not far from Friday Harbor. We had some time so we thought we would go and check out some other wildlife first. Our first stop just at the Bull Kelp beds just off Turn Island. We got some nice looks at our new visitor to the San Juan Islands this summer, a Sea Otter. It was all wrapped up in the kelp taking a nap, so cute! We continued south to Whale Rocks to check out the Steller Sea Lions. There were a few rowdy ones but most of them were resting and thermoregulating on the rocks. We headed back north caught up to the T49A’s as the traveled along the Jones Island shoreline. This family group of whales included the 40 year old mother, Nan, her sons, 15 year old Nat, 12 year old Neptune, 4 year old Smoosh Face, daughter 9 year old Nebula and the youngest member of the family Nimbus who was born this spring! They kept heading north, zigzagging between Flat Top and White Rock which are both part of the federal San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. In one of the pictures, if you look close you can see Smoosh Faces cute under bite as he surfaces next to his big brother Nat. Nimbus was pretty cute too, surfacing high, next to mom. Eventually it was time to leave the whales to see what else we could find. We headed over to Flat Top Island where we found Harbor Seals and Bald Eagles! Another great afternoon on the water!

Photographer and Naturalist: Alison Engle – Instagram: @AlisonEngleArt – Website: www.AlisonEngle.com – Instagram: @WesternPrinceWildlife – Facebook: Western Prince Whale Watching Adventures

Written by Alison
on Sep 08, 2026

T49As Along Jones Island

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