Whale watching in washington state with so many different departure locations, companies, and boat styles to pick from when choosing a whale watching trip, it can get confusing. Spring migration the spring migration season is when the gray whales migrate from their baja mexico breeding lagoons to their feeding grounds in the arctic. We offer a website and email list of recent whale sightings to increase opportunities for seeing the whales it always helps to know when they are in the neighborhood. My dates are flexible but i would prefer to go in april. They spend their summers up north alaska, british columbia, washington state and their winters down south, which includes cabo san lucas. The fall migration takes place from october to february as the gray whales begin to head back south to warmer waters with pregnant females taking the lead. The 5 best whalewatching spots in washington culture trip. A few gray whales reside in the states nearshore waters during portions of the summer. Where is the best place to go whale watching in washington state. Watch 20,000 gray whales migrate along the washington coast. School bus sized gray whales migrate march through may. Does anyone know if this is a good time to whale watch. Whale watching in washington washington waterfronts.
Whereand howto see whales and orcas in the puget sound. Orca whales usually pass through the islands in greatest numbers between midmay and midoctober when the salmon runs are strongest, although its possible to spot them through the rest of the year. Theres nothing quite like seeing puget sounds largest and most. Experiencing the gray whale migration visit long beach. Gaze at humpback whales along the whale trail visit port. If youre in tacoma, skip the traffic of downtown seattle an drive up the peninsula for one of the best whale watching locations in washington state. The olympic peninsula in washington state is known for being an untouched and pristine corner of the world. It took an island adventures whale watching tour barely 15 minutes to find some of them on the companys first gray whale.
This is the best place for whale watching in sequim. There are two peak gray whale migration seasons to know for the best whale watching in oregonfrom march through may and from middecember through midjanuary. Whale watching cabo best time whale watch cabo tours. The gray whale may soon be removed from the unity state endangered species list because the 1991 population was equal to or larger than prehunting population numbers. For gray whales the best viewing months are march, april and may when they are migrating south. Southern resident killer whales are classified as an endangered species by the u. However, whale migration also makes the washington state coast great for spotting minke whales, humpback whales which produce the renown whale songs, and gray whales, which are found only off the coast of korea and the west coast of north america as they migrate from alaska to the baja peninsula in northern mexico.
Any location with an ocean view may yield whale sightings, and morning light with the sun at your back is best. Id like to go to seattle for several reasons but my main reason would be to whale watch. The puget sound is home to a number of resident orca whales. I highly doubt you will see any orcas in october in this area of the pnw if you go out one day on a boat in that month. Sail through breathtaking deception pass, and travel through the protected waters of the salish sea, while trained naturalists educate passengers about the remarkable ecosystem and its wildlife with a focus on whale and sealife conservation. With a population of about 600 whales along the west coast from washington to california, combined with their small size, long dives, and elusive nature, this species of whale is difficult to study. Explore the sites using the interactive map below or click the button to find a filterable listing of sites, amenities, and commonly seen marine mammals. During the peak whale migration, the crew at ocean sportfishing charters takes guests out on their familyfriendly tours seven days a week, seeing whales on almost every single trip. Orca whales travel through the pacific year round, so you can catch a glimpse of them just about any time. Whale watching tours in washington state that provide responsible whale watching. Whale watching in washington features numerous charters, cruises, tours and excursions for watching orcas, killer whales, pods, gray whales. Learn more about whale watching season in seattle including the best. The san juan islands, located 140 km north of seattle in the heart of salish sea, is the most famous place for orca whale watching. The whale trail is made up of a unique collaboration of government and state agencies, as well as environmental and educational nonprofit organizations, which include the washington department of fish and wildlife wdfw, noaa fisheries and the olympic.
These are the second smallest baleen whale and feed on small schooling fish and invertebrates. Whale watching faqs what is the best time of the year to see orca whales. Try whale watching from the shore at alki beach in west seattle, just a short drive or water taxi trip away from downtown. Best time to whale watch in seattle seattle forum tripadvisor. Best whale watching locations in washington state island. Seattle whale watching guide 2019 clipper vacations. Washington state is home to diverse and abundant species of marine mammals, from the inland waters of the salish sea to the wild pacific coast. In the high season for whale watching, they usually do well. Whale sightings are common off the coast of oregon and washington, but unless youre accustomed to identifying dorsal fins and spouts, it can be hard to make out what kind of whale. The whales of puget sound whidbey and camano islands. This is one of the most popular activities in the area during migration season and should.
Our everett tours offer the rare opportunity to see these gentle giants feeding in calm. The goal of this site is to help give a little more insight to the whale watching industry and to help the consumer make the best decision for what is going to work. Gray whales travel over 3000 miles to feed near island adventures everett departure location. John calambokidis, a research biologist at cascadia research, a marine mammal nonprofit in washington state, said he has noticed significant changes during this migration season, too. Migrating gray whale watching in washington state island. The first gray whales have already made it to washington state. The purpose of orca networks whale sighting network and education project is to encourage observation and increase awareness and knowledge about the southern resident community of orcas j, k and l pods, and foster a stewardship ethic to motivate a diverse audience to take action to protect and. While we do not guarantee whale sightings on our tours, 20 years of sightings data shows that we do have a 90% chance of seeing whales during the peak months of june september. During this migration, they eat virtually nothing for at least 4 months and live on body reserves. To report whales please go to the orca network sightings report page, or email orca network. Daylong whale watching tours from seattle, around whidbey island, to the iconic san juan islands.
Whale watching in washington state washingtoncoast. Also, whale watching tours depart from the city of anacortes located on. Whale watching is not difficult, but a few tips make it easier. Prime whale watching season on the olympic peninsula runs from may through october. Close enough to smell their spray, ocean sportfishing charters offers whale watching tours through may, depending on tides and how well the whale season is going. Scientists warn of potential whale dieoff as spring. Seattle to san juan island day trip with whale watching often seen during the spring in the salish sea, mammaleating orcas hunt other marine animals that feed on. According to reports, hundreds of dead whales washed up on the beaches between alaska and mexico during last years migration season. With a donation or an adoption of a whale you can help to make the world a place where whales and dolphins are free and safe. San juan island 90 miles north of seattle is the best place for orca whale watching as we are located in the heart of salish sea. The greatest whale watching value in the state just 30 minutes from seattle.
While the gray whales are here, common loons and doublecrested cormorants share the saltwater, prior to the birds inland migrations. One record setting gray whale, varvara, traveled from the kamchatka peninsula, russia to baja, mexico and back again. Puget sound waters teem with wildlife that attracts these mammals. Sarah anne lloyd how to see whales in the san juan islands. Dead gray whale found in elliott bay was the 7th stranded. Whale watchers spot an orca at lime kiln state park. Where is the best place to go whale watching in washington. Orca network encourages shorebased whale watching, or watching for whales while commuting on washington state ferries. This special limited season focuses on gray whales that migrate along the west coast, stopping to feed in local waters on their way back to alaska. It took an island adventures whale watching tour barely 15 minutes to find some of them on the companys first gray whale trip of the season out of the port of everett on march 7. Home to charming towns such as sequim, the peninsula is famously home to the ruggedly beautiful and wild olympic national park. Friday harbor, the witchy setting for the 1998 film practical magic starring nicole kidman and sandra bullock, is a whalewatching hot spot. Best time for whale watching in california condor express.
Meanwhile, some 20,000 pacific grey whales make their annual migration route along vancouver islands west coast. They then migrate back to the tropics segregated by sex and age, the older and pregnant whales migrating first, with the sexually immature whales bringing up the rear. Mammaleating orca whales biggs or transient orcas best time to view. Whale watching in washington state orca whale watching in.
Killer whale orca conservation and management washington. Orca whales in washington are seen year around though most often during the whale watch season beginning in april and running through september. I know a friend of mine who used to be a whale watch guide on boats here tells me that august is even a iffy month for spotings as they are already starting to move out of the area often even in late august. An estimated 85 orcas live in the waters around southern vancouver and the southern gulf islands. The eastern pacific population of the gray whale migrates through washington waters when traveling between its alaskan feeding waters and its mexican breeding waters.
It is not yet clear what triggered the whale dieoffs last year. She travelled,988 miles 22,511 kilometers in 172 days. Oregon state parks celebrates the migration twice per year during whale watch weeks in late december and late march. The beach is a popular spot for seals and their pups to rest, making it a draw for orcas as well.
Check the whale migration season california calendar and schedule your cruise. Whale watching in washington state orca whale watching. The long migration of the gray whale takes them from the warm waters of baja, mexico to the colder waters of northern alaska. As spring gray whale migration begins, scientists watchful for another dieoff. Two dead gray whales in san francisco bay speak to unusual. Puget sound waters teem with wildlife that attracts these mammals close to the shore. Whale watching in seattle orca whale watching and gray. The wa whale watching season has started early with humpback whales already beginning the northern migration to the kimberley. In recent years, march may and october november, have had similar sighting success. The season they are usually seen is late may to early september. The gray whales of puget sound are called the sounders. However, despite these protections, the population has fallen from 98 whales in 1995 to just 74 in 2018. Whales native to washington state include orca whales, gray whales and. Generally, the larger, older whales migrate the furthest north.
Take full advantage of whale watching season in the pacific northwest. Humpback whales can also be spotted in and around the waters off northwestern washington state. Check the california whale migration season calendar and schedule your cruise. The whaleplanner february a whale watching infographic. The heights around the lewis and clark interpretive center and north head lighthouse offer the best viewing. The best time to go whale watching in washington state is during the beginning of january as well as from march to may. Early january is the peak of the migration, but whales can be spotted middecember through early february. Whale watching is a yearround activity on the oregon coast with gray whales by far the most commonly seen. Located on san juan island with no more than 2,500 residents, friday harbor is accessible by floater planes and the washington state ferry. With the northern migration of gray whales beginning midmarch, this coastal park, which features a lookout tower. The gray whale that was found dead in elliott bay on april 15 was the seventh that has been found stranded in washington state so far this year, according to cascadia research collective. From march through may, gray whales take a side trip from their northern migration to feed on the abundant shrimp population around whidbey and camano islands. These include the 34 gray whales that were stranded in the waters of washington state, seattle times reported.
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