Seven short-format San Juan Islands sea kayak tours, three guides, one show-stopping orca sighting during a bioluminescence paddle, and a day trip that pulled in orcas, bald eagles, great blue herons, and harlequin ducks on the same tour. Here’s what came off the water this week.
Trip Log
Kaia Baird — Bio Paddle, Sunday, June 29
Southwest winds at 7G11 kts, roughly 6-inch waves. Kaia’s group spotted bull kelp, sea lettuce, Dungeness crabs, phytoplankton, and got a good look at the microscopic life driving the bioluminescence show. Solid, uneventful conditions — the kind of paddle where the water itself does the talking.
Kaia Baird — Day Trip, Sunday, June 29
Light 3G7 kts throughout the tour with 6-inch waves. This one delivered the wildlife of the week: orcas, bald eagles, great blue heron, bull kelp, harlequin ducks. Harlequin ducks in particular are always a treat — small, striking, and surprisingly at home in the tide rips.
Ellen Atkinson — Bio Paddle, Tuesday, June 30
The headliner of the week: orcas at Dinner Island during dinner. SW winds at 5–10 kts with a 2-ft chop or less. When the whales showed up, Ellen made the safety call — moved the group closer to shore because guests were nervous about being out with orcas near dusk. Group then paddled the north end of Dinner Island, hugged the shoreline to Jackson Cannery, and rode the bioluminescence back along the beach to the commercial site. Wildlife also included harbor seal, bull kelp, and rock weed.
Orcas at Dinner Island during dinner. When the whales showed up, Ellen made the safety call.
Ellen Atkinson, Bio Paddle — June 30
Emma Starner — Bio Paddle, Thursday, July 2
NW winds at 1–2 kts, essentially flat water, less than 3-inch waves. Emma logged rock weed, geese, bull kelp, and heavy plankton — the kind of dense plankton bloom that lights up the wake beautifully.
Ellen Atkinson — Day Trip, Friday, July 3
Two Griffin Bay day-trips back-to-back with light southerlies at 5–10 kts and calm 1–2 ft seas. Wildlife between the two trips: bull kelp, rock weed, harbor seals, great blue heron, seagulls, a bald eagle, sea lettuce, and cormorants.
Emma Starner — Bio Paddle, Friday, July 3
SW 6G10 kts around 8pm, dropping to 5G10 by 11pm, less than 6-inch waves. Emma spotted bull kelp, harbor seals, rock weed, moon jellyfish, and geese. Moon jellies drifting through a bioluminescent bloom is one of the more surreal things you can see on the water here.
Ellen Atkinson — Day Trip, Saturday, July 4
Light southerlies (5–10 kts) briefly backing to SW and W, smooth to light chop under 2 ft. Wildlife included harbor seal, bald eagle, great blue heron, sea lettuce, and eel grass. An easy holiday-weekend paddle.
Wildlife Roundup
Everything spotted across all seven trips:
- Marine mammals: Orcas (×2 trips), harbor seals (×5 trips)
- Birds: Bald eagles (×3), great blue heron (×3), harlequin ducks, cormorants, seagulls, geese
- Invertebrates: Dungeness crabs, moon jellyfish, phytoplankton (bio)
- Plants & algae: Bull kelp (×6 trips), rock weed, sea lettuce, eel grass
Weekly Numbers
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Total tours | 7 |
| Guides | Kaia Baird, Ellen Atkinson, Emma Starner |
| Wildlife species observed | 18+ |
| Orca sightings | 2 tours (Day + Bio Paddle) |
| Weather | SW 5–10 kts, waves ≤ 2 ft |
| Reroutes | None (short trips) |
Weather Recap
A calm, guide-friendly week. Winds mostly SW at 5–10 kts, waves 2 ft or less, and one exceptionally flat NW night on July 2. No cancellations, no weather-driven reroutes on the short trips.
Book Your San Juan Islands Kayak Tour
Bioluminescence, day tours, and half-day paddles are running all summer.