While exploring the Salish Sea with us, guests may observe an incredible variety of wildlife above, below, and along the water.

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Marine Mammals

Marine mammals we may encounter include Bigg’s orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, gray whales, harbor porpoises, Dall’s porpoises, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and California sea lions.

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Endangered Southern Resident orcas may be observed from shore. Our vessels do not approach or conduct viewing tours of Southern Residents and are required to remain at least 1,000 yards away.

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Seabirds and Coastal Birds

Birds observed from the water may include tufted puffins, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, pigeon guillemots, marbled and ancient murrelets, loons, grebes, scoters, harlequin ducks, black oystercatchers, phalaropes, terns, gulls, cormorants, bald eagles, and other coastal seabirds.

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Birds of the Shore, Wetlands, and Uplands

From shore, wetlands, and nearby upland habitats, we may observe trumpeter swans, mallards, northern pintails, gadwalls, northern shovelers, green-winged teal, dunlin, greater yellowlegs, American coots, great blue herons, belted kingfishers, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, northern flickers, Anna’s hummingbirds, kinglets, wrens, siskins, juncos, sparrows, and occasional horned larks or northern shrikes.

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Intertidal and Marine Invertebrates

In the water, we may encounter lion’s mane, egg-yolk, and comb jellies. Shoreline exploration can reveal barnacles, crabs, mussels, oysters, clams, limpets, snails, chitons, sea anemones, sea stars, sea cucumbers, marine worms, and other fascinating invertebrates.

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Fish of the Salish Sea

Fish are an essential part of the Salish Sea food web. Participants may observe or learn about salmon, Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, surf smelt, rockfish, sculpins, greenlings, gunnels, suckerfish, and other coastal fish that support seabirds, marine mammals, and the broader ecosystem.

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Eelgrass, Kelp, and Seaweeds

The surrounding habitat is equally diverse, with native eelgrass and seaweeds such as rockweed, sugar kelp, bull kelp, sea lettuce, sea cauliflower, Turkish towel, and Turkish washcloth. These underwater habitats provide food, shelter, and nursery grounds for many Salish Sea species.

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Rare and Unexpected Sightings

Occasionally, our trips produce extraordinary and unexpected sightings. Past observations have included a horned puffin, sea otter, brown pelican, giant barnacle, sixgill shark, and even a wedge-tailed shearwater observed within a feeding aggregation near Buckeye Shoal.
 

Every Trip Is Different

Wildlife sightings vary by season, location, tides, weather, and other conditions. Some species are present year-round, while others—including puffins and migratory seabirds—are most often observed during particular months. No two Salish Sea experiences are exactly alike.