The best time of year for port angeles whale watching is from march. March 22, 2014 predictions call for a good salmon year. This trip, which leaves the harbor in morning or afternoon, features indoor seating for everyone, an outside viewing deck, as well as a snack bar and. Field identification guide to northern puget sound gray whales 2 mb pdf file cascadia research has been conducting photoid research on gray whales in n puget sound since 1990 as a part of a larger study of gray whales in the pacific northwest.
Puget sound express launches its seattle whale watching tours out of edmonds they also host whale watching trips out of port townsend, which is technically 18 miles from downtown. Seattle whale watching tours maydecember port townsend 4hour whale watching tour mayoctober port townsend san juan island whale watching tour mayseptember port townsend to san juan island passenger ferry. South puget sound public whale watching tours for family. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to tracking the health of orca whales in the puget sound as. About puget sound express for the hanke family, it seems like puget sound express has always been part of their lives. Puget sound express familyrun whale watching tours. Would you like to see orca whales, the olympic peninsula and the san juan islands. Join puget sound express for whale watching tours on the fastest, most comfortable boats in the nw. See orcas, humpback whales, and all the majestic wildlife throughout the salish sea on our tour out of. For 33 years, puget sound express has set the standard for exciting whale watching tours and wildlife tours around the olympic peninsula and the san juan islands.
Puget sound is known as orca country, and seattle is the only city in the u. In the evening my friend thomas nielson reported 34 killer whales hdg south with many ww boats. Puget sound express from port townsend san juan islands. Dec 21, 2017 port townsend is also the launching point for whale watching tours aboard the puget sound express. Were blessed to live in whats been called the american serengeti, with some of the highest concentration of whales and dolphins and sea life anywhere in the world including our totem species. Noaas northwest fisheries science center placed a tag on an adult male dubbed k25, in puget sound last dec. The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont. Today we found t7 pod killer whales out near smith island, and we also spotted the first gray whale to return to puget sound this winter.
A male gray whale that feasts on shrimp in the puget sound every year was spotted over the weekend, marking the start of an annual stay in washington state inland waters by a small but peculiar. Whale watching at olympic national park my olympic park. The seattle metros only halfday whale watching tour. Ours is a familyrun business, with three generations of knowledge and caring at the ready. See orcas, humpback whales, minkes, and all the majestic wildlife in the san juan islands departing just 15 minutes north of downtown seattle.
Few people know these waters like puget sound express. Cross sound express whale watching gustavus 2020 all. Orca numbers in decline the dorsal fin of one orca whale is seen as another swims behind in puget sound at sunset as seen from seattles west seattle neighborhood, oct. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the puget sound express in connection with this deal. Take a virtual puget sound express whale watching tour now. Its the only halfday 45 hours, guaranteed whale watching trip in seattle.
From may october we run most days, leaving port townsend in. When we were driving home, i started to ask tove what her favorite. Puget sound express operates out of edmonds and port townsend less than two hours away from seattle on the olympic peninsula. Resident gray whales return to puget sound the seattle. We also offer custom whale watch tours and personalized group charters up to 28 passengers. From may october we run most days, leaving port townsend in the morning stopping in. Depart from seattleedmonds for the metro seattle areas only halfday whale watching tour, or port townsend on. The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont need a. It takes about an hour to get from edmonds to the san juans on their foilcatthen you have a couple of hours to spot whales and porpoises.
Transient orcas seen feeding on gray whale south of whidbey island. You will visit the popular town of friday harbor for shopping, island cuisine, and sightseeing. Orca spy hopping since 1981, our passenger boats have. A study prepared for international fund for animal welfare in 2009 estimated that million people went whale watching globally in 2008. M ost residents of the pacific northwest think about whale watching, with their minds drifting to the coast to see 20,000 gray whales migrate each spring, or find themselves daydreaming of boating around the san juan islands, watching orcas in their natural environment. Puget sound express whale watching is now running 412hour excursions out of edmonds marina, just a few minutes north of seattle. When is the best time for port angeles whale watching. Three generations of family have helped visitors have lifechanging experiences with some of the most majestic creatures on the planet.
Puget sound express whale watching tour seattle bloggers. Together, the two started leading weeklong sailing adventures across the pacific northwest in 1981 and eventually started whale tours. Depart from port townsend on the olympic peninsula for 4 hour and daylong tours, or depart from seattleedmonds for the metros only halfday whale watching tour. Passengers and crew onboard the glacier spirit saw the 2nd largest whale species in the world today. May 07, 2015 guaranteed whale watching tours from port townsend olympic peninsula and seattleedmonds direct to the san juan islands. Nov 27, 2018 with cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, puget sound is the goto place for whale watching, meaning seattleites dont have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home. The signature tour of puget sound express is a daylong cruise on the glacier spirit combines orca watching with an onboard naturalist, and a tour of the beautiful san juan islands.
Our coast guard inspected vessels travel farther and faster than other tours, allowing you the best chance to see whales and other wildlife. Granny, worlds oldest known puget sound orca whale, missing and presumed dead at 105. Each spring, majestic gray whales migrate from the southern waters north to alaska. Guaranteed whale watching tours from port townsend olympic peninsula and seattleedmonds direct to the san juan islands. Were blessed to live in whats been called the american serengeti, with some of the highest concentration of whales and dolphins and sea life anywhere in the world including our totem species, the orca. Guests will depart from the washington state convention center at 8 am and head to the edmonds marina where they will board the puget sound express tour boat and set out on a 45 hour tour.
With our first whale watch and wildlife tour in two weeks time, we are all hoping for a great season. Puget sound express offers a variety of whale watching cruises for you to choose from all easily accessible from the olympic peninsula. Contact us 206 8423700 395 winslow way east bainbridge island, wa 98110. Chart of sightings by species by month with big thanks to thorsten lisker for researching, designing, and building this incredible map and the printed handouts for participants at the orca network sightings training at the langley whale center sept. Here you will frequently spot gray whales yearround right from the beach. You can view maps that follow the whales movements this winter. From the hotel, to the food, to the recreation everything was awesome. Lynn batson whales south of useless bay whidbey island.
Seattle whale watching with puget sound express seattle. With cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, puget sound is the goto place for whale watching, meaning seattleites dont have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home. Puget sound express gray whale tours each spring, majestic gray whales migrate from the southern waters north to alaska. Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity cf. Whale watching tours with puget sound express my olympic park. San juan island whale watching tour puget sound express. Puget sound express guaranteed whale watching in seattle and port townsend. The carcass of an 18yearold male, designated j34, was. A male gray whale that feasts on shrimp in the puget sound every year was spotted over the weekend, marking the start of an annual stay in washington state inland waters by. While we have wonderful boat tours that give you a great perspective, sometimes the whales schedule doesnt exactly match tour schedules. Sightseeing tours whale watching washington port townsend. So i, along with a few other visit seattle staff members, made my way about 20 minutes north to the port of edmonds for a morning excursion.
The hanke family has been operating whale watching tours with puget sound express for 30 years. Todays encounter occurred southwest of dungeness spit near sequim, wa. We booked our puget sound express whale watching tour the night before we left seattle it was the only thing we planned the entire weekend. Whale watching with puget sound express visit seattle. Whale watching tours, the taz near glacier bay, alaska. Tracking killer whales with satellites encyclopedia of. Whale watching tour seattleedmonds puget sound express. Puget sound express is wellrespected for their whale watching tours.
The authors write that the list serves as a foundation for determining the occurrence of new species and the disappearance of others, enables selection of species as indicators for ecosystem health, and also provides a basis for. Jan 03, 2017 granny, worlds oldest known puget sound orca whale, missing and presumed dead at 105. The death this week of another puget sound killer whale makes 2016 one of the worst in recent history for the endangered marine mammals. Puget sound express is a family owned business thats cruised people around the sound for more than 25 years. Upon arrival, we met up with pete, sherri, sarah, and christopher hankethe family that owns and operates all puget sound express tours.
About cross sound express whale watching to begin with. However, thanks to the work of orca network in providing detailed, daily sighting reports on their social media pages, you stand a good chance to spot a whale from owen beach or the dalco passage overlook if. I already knew the answer our whale watching adventure. Puget sound express attractions tour operators page. Jun, 2018 that said, when i was asked to participate in a whale watching tour with puget sound express, i couldnt refuse. Go whale watching at point defiance southsoundtalk. All tours include quality binoculars for your use, snacks and an assortment of hot beverages. Whale watching from land whidbey and camano islands. The seattle metropolitan area now has its firstever halfday whale watch option. For 31 years, puget sound express has provided thousands of travelers with funpacked and fascinating tours on the waters in the san juan islands and around the victorian seaport of port townsend, washington. Were blessed to live in whats been called the american. Three generations of our family have helped visitors have lifechanging experiences with some of the most majestic creatures on the planet. We are the only company on the olympic peninsula that offers a daylong tour combining whale watching with a port of call on san juan island. Sometimes the action gets started before we even leave the dock as this bald eagle posed nicely.
Seattle, washington 98112 northwest fisheries science center. Id like to find a public, halfday or whole day guided tour of at least the south region of puget sound, also leaving from somewhere close to olympia where family lives, on a large, comfortable vessel with snack bar and restroom, that would cruise around the islands in the sound. Guaranteed whale watching tours puget sound express. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Cross sound express is an authorized concessionaire in glacier bay national park and preserve. Spring has sprung in the pacific north west and everyone is ready to get back on the water. Seattle whale watching san juan safaris san juan island. Dec 10, 2019 port townsend san juan island whale watching tour. Puget sound express edmonds 2020 all you need to know.
A fin whale a rare sighting indeed, as we havent encountered one in the salish sea since 2016. To live in whats been called the american serengeti, with some of the highest concentration of whales and dolphins and sea life anywhere in the world including orcas, is truly amazing. Puget sound express port townsend 2020 all you need to know. Gray whale tours each spring, majestic gray whales migrate from the southern waters north to alaska. Depart from seattleedmonds for the metro seattle areas only halfday whale watching tour, or port townsend on the olympic peninsula for daylong and multiday tours. Puget sound express whale watching tours downtown seattle. Whale watching from land whale watching is a favorite activity in and around puget sound.
Located in the heart of puget sound, the peninsula is surrounded by over 300 miles of shoreline and is situated between the dramatic mountain olympic and cascade mountains ranges of washington. As a familyowned and operated business for over 30 years, visitors return again and again. The excursions begin in march with the advent of the gray whale migration. Puget sound express, an education partner with the center for whale research which is dedicated to the study and conservation of whales in the pacific northwest, has been offering whale watching excursions for over 30 years. With 3 generations of family dedication and experience, we guarantee youll see whales or your next trip is free. We just spent a random early spring weekend in port townsend, which is a fun little coastal town.
A naturalist explains the different types of wildlife indigenous to the san juan archipelago, including bald eagles, seals and orcas. This daylong whale watching cruise in the san juan islands is also the official ferry route between port townsend and friday harbor. We will cruise with puget sound express which is based in langley during gray whale season. In 2015 with support from dnr, cascadia conducted expanded dedicated surveys, photoid, initial tag deployments to examine. Puget sound express has been operating whale watching tours for 29 years, and in that time we have always endeavored to make your trip a lasting memory. Orca numbers in decline orcas in puget sound pictures. Let us help you begin your fantastic adventure by downloading our free vacation guide. With 3 generations of family dedication and experience, we guarantee youll see whales or your next trip is. Whale watching industry of greater puget sound a description and baseline analysis.
Port townsend is also the launching point for whalewatching tours aboard the puget sound express. Even if we didnt see whales the day we went out, it would have been fun. Suzanne russell and morgan schniedler ruff northwest fisheries science center. Seeing a whale at point defiance isnt a guarantee, even if there is a whale in the area, as they are wild and unpredictable animals. The following list is based on a compilation by gaydos and pearson 2011, first published in northwestern naturalist no. Granny, worlds oldest known puget sound orca whale. We offer whale watching and wildlife tours in the san juan islands, north of seattle.
When you join san juan safaris on a whale watching tour, youll have a great chance to observe orca whales in their natural environment. While plenty of commercial tours will charter you around the sound, whale watching does not always require a boat. According to a release from puget sound express, the groups came across the t101. North puget sound gray whale photoid and feeding study. Depart from port townsend on the olympic peninsula for 4 hour and daylong tours, or depart from seattleedmonds for the metros only half. Whale watching tours with puget sound express my olympic. Port townsend seattleedmonds whidbey island tour details seattle whale watching tours. Resident gray whales return to puget sound the seattle times. Raised in the puget sound his entire life, pete hanke honed his seafaring abilities alongside his father, pete sr. In 2015 with support from dnr, cascadia conducted expanded dedicated surveys, photoid, initial tag deployments to examine feeding behavior, and. The whale trail runs from british columbia to washingtons olympic peninsula, down the. Satellite tagging has become an important tool for tracking puget sounds southern resident killer whale populations. Puget sound the kitsap peninsula is for those who are drawn to the sea.
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