Westport Seabirds specializes in bird-watching tours on the continental shelf outside of Grays Harbor. Grays Canyon, an underwater canyon, attracts many pelagic bird species including the black-footed albatross, the laysan albatross, the south polar skua and the fork-tailed storm-petrel. Westport Seabirds also offers mid-summer trips to the outer slope to view deep-water pelagic species such as Leach's storm-petrel. While the tour specializes in sea birds, the guides also point out marine mammals such as the harbor porpoise, the California gray whale, sea lions and seals when they are encountered. All tours depart from Westport Harbor in Westport, Wash., which is about two and a half hours southwest of Seattle. The tour provides coffee and water but all food and other beverages should be brought by the guest along with warm clothing and binoculars.
Westport Seabirds
P.O. Box 665
Westport, WA 98595
360-268-9141
westportseabirds.com
The Puget Sound Express offers several trips including whale-watching tours, puffin viewing tours and a bird migration tour. The bird migration tour takes guests to Protection Island a National Wildlife Sanctuary, the nesting sight of almost 70 percent of seabirds. The island is home to one of the last nesting areas of tufted puffins in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the puffins, guests also will be able to see rhinoceros auklets, glaucous-winged gulls and harbor seals. The tour departs from Point Hudson Marina in Port Townsend which is about two hours north of Seattle.
Puget Sound Express
27 Jackson St.
Port Townsend, WA 98368
360-385-5288
pugetsoundexpress.com
Sea Quest Expeditions offers kayak whale-watching tours and birding tours. The pelagic bird tour takes guests to San Juan Island in Puget Sound, home to more than 300 bird species and a nesting spot for many pelagic sea birds. Among the pelagic species of birds that guests can expect to see are pelagic cormorants, rhinoceros auklets, ancient murrelets and pigeon guillemots. Several species of shore birds and migratory birds also are seen on the island. Sea Quest offers tours from five hours to three days and can even customize a tour based on the birds you want to see.
Sea Quest Expeditions
P.O. Box 2424
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
888-589-4253
sea-quest-kayak.com
San Juan Safaris specializes in killer whale viewing tours around San Juan Island and Friday Harbor. Tours take up to 40 people on a three-and-a-half-hour tour either mid-day or at sunset from April to October. The tour operator provides binoculars, jackets and blankets as well as a heated cabin. Each tour is hosted by a naturalist and whales are spotted on 95 percent of the tours. In addition to killer whales, guests often see porpoises, harbor seals and sea birds. Tours depart from Friday Harbor or Roche Harbor on San Juan Island.
San Juan Safaris
Friday Harbor
San Juan Island, WA 98250
800-450-6858
sanjuansafaris.com
