Local wildlife species
Our waters and shorelines are home to abundant sea life, migrating birds, and sea birds. While out on your adventure, keep your eyes peeled for some wildlife.
Seals, sea Lions & Porpoises
Harbor Seals
Phoca vitulina
Commonly seen basking on rocks or swimming in the inlet's calm waters.
Steller Sea Lions
Eumetopias jubatus
Large, noisy, and often seen lounging on buoys or rocks.
California Sea Lions
Zalophus californianus
Smaller than Steller sea lions and known for their playful behavior.
Dall's Porpoise
Phocoenoides dalli
Known for its playful nature, striking black-and-white coloration, and high-speed swimming, they often travel in large numbers and can be mistaken for orcas upon first sighting.
Harbor Porpoises
Phocoena phocoena
Shy and elusive, these small cetaceans are often spotted darting through the waters.
Dolphins & whales
Southern Resident Orcas
Orcinus orca
The Southern Resident orcas hunt the Salish Sea for nutrient-dense salmon. Divided into three pods: J, K, L, they can often be found using the Admiralty Inlet as they travel between the open ocean and Puget Sound.
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
Though more common in the offshore open ocean, these dolphins can sometimes be found playing in our local waters.
Transient Orcas
Orcinus orca
Also known as Bigg's killer whales, are frequently spotted in Admiralty Inlet, hunting marine mammals like seals and sea lions with remarkable teamwork and stealth.
Gray Whales
Eschrichtius robustus
Migrating gray whales occasionally pass through the inlet during their seasonal journey along the coast.
Minke Whales
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Smaller baleen whales that can occasionally be spotted feeding.
Sea Birds and migrating birds
bald Eagles
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Majestic bald eagles soar above the inlet, hunting for fish or perched along the coastline.
Pigeon Guillemots
Cepphus columba
These seabirds with black-and-white plumage are often seen diving for fish in the shallow waters.
Common Murres
Uria aalge
Occasionally seen leaping and playing in the waters of the inlet, these dolphins are known for their playful nature.
Black Oystercatchers
Orcinus orca
These iconic killer whales are often seen hunting salmon in the inlet, particularly in the summer months.
Belted Kingfishers
Megaceryle alcyon
Known for their spiky heads and sharp bills, kingfishers hunt for fish along the inlet's shores.
Caspian Terns
Hydroprogne caspia
These seabirds are often seen flying over the water or diving for fish with their long, slender bills.
Rhinoceros Auklets
Cerorhinca monocerata
Medium-sized seabirds with a distinctive "horn" on their beaks, often spotted diving for fish in the waters of Admiralty Inlet, particularly in spring and summer.
Surf Scoters
Melanitta perspicillata
With their striking black-and-white plumage and colorful bills, are commonly seen diving for mollusks and other marine invertebrates along the coast.
Western Grebes
Aechmophorus occidentalis
Elegant birds that swim gracefully in the water, they are often seen in Admiralty Inlet, especially during breeding season.
Red-Breasted Mergansers
Mergus serrator
These diving ducks are often seen hunting for fish in the inlet’s waters.
Double-Crested Cormorants
Phalacrocorax auritus
These black seabirds are frequently seen perched on rocks or diving for fish in the inlet.
Whimbrels
Numenius phaeopus
These large shorebirds with long, curved bills are often spotted along the shorelines of Admiralty Inlet, foraging for invertebrates.
Bufflehead Ducks
Bucephala albeola
These black seabirds are frequently seen perched on rocks or diving for fish in the inlet.
Sandpipers
Calidris spp.
These large shorebirds with long, curved bills are often spotted along the shorelines of Admiralty Inlet, foraging for invertebrates.
Seals, sea Lions & Porpoises
Dolphins & whales
Sea Birds and migrating birds
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
Though more common in the offshore open ocean, these dolphins can sometimes be found playing in our local waters.
Kingfishers
Megaceryle alcyon
Known for their spiky heads and sharp bills, kingfishers hunt for fish along the inlet's shores.
Great Blue Herons
Ardea herodias
Tall, elegant wading birds, often seen fishing in the shallow waters of the inlet.
Caspian Terns
Hydroprogne caspia
These seabirds are often seen flying over the water or diving for fish with their long, slender bills.
Rhinoceros Auklets
Cerorhinca monocerata
Medium-sized seabirds with a distinctive "horn" on their beaks, often spotted diving for fish in the waters of Admiralty Inlet, particularly in spring and summer.
Surf Scoters
Melanitta perspicillata
With their striking black-and-white plumage and colorful bills, are commonly seen diving for mollusks and other marine invertebrates along the coast.
Western Grebes
Aechmophorus occidentalis
Elegant birds that swim gracefully in the water, they are often seen in Admiralty Inlet, especially during breeding season.
Red-Breasted Mergansers
Mergus serrator
These diving ducks are often seen hunting for fish in the inlet’s waters.
Double-Crested Cormorants
Phalacrocorax auritus
These black seabirds are frequently seen perched on rocks or diving for fish in the inlet.
Whimbrels
Numenius phaeopus
These large shorebirds with long, curved bills are often spotted along the shorelines of Admiralty Inlet, foraging for invertebrates.
Bufflehead Ducks
Bucephala albeola
Small diving ducks, they are common in the inlet during the colder months, foraging for small fish and invertebrates.
Sandpipers
Calidris spp.
Small shorebirds, often seen scurrying along the edges of the water, foraging for tiny invertebrates in the mud and sand.
Bald Eagles
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Majestic bald eagles soar above the inlet, hunting for fish or perched along the coastline.
Pigeon Guillemots
Cepphus columba
These seabirds with black-and-white plumage are often seen diving for fish in the shallow waters.
Common Murres
Uria aalge
A common seabird, murres are excellent divers and can often be seen swimming underwater.
Black Oystercatchers
Haematopus bachmani
These birds with bright orange bills are often seen along rocky shorelines, prying open shellfish.
Southern Resident Orcas
Orcinus orca
The Southern Resident orcas hunt the Salish Sea for nutrient-dense salmon. Divided into three pods: J, K, L, they can often be found using the Admiralty Inlet as they travel between the open ocean and Puget Sound.
Transient Orcas
Phocoenoides dalli
Also known as Bigg's killer whales, these species of orcas can be found hunting marine mammals like seals and sea lions with remarkable teamwork and stealth.
Gray Whales
Eschrichtius robustus
Migrating gray whales occasionally pass through the inlet during their seasonal journey along the coast.
Minke Whales
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Smaller baleen whales that can occasionally be spotted feeding in the waters.
California Sea Lions
Zalophus californianus
Occasionally spotted in the inlet, these sea lions are smaller than Steller sea lions and known for their playful behavior.
Harbor Porpoises
Phocoena phocoena
Shy and elusive, these small cetaceans are often spotted darting through the waters.
Dall's Porpoise
Phocoenoides dalli
Known for its playful nature, striking black-and-white coloration, and high-speed swimming, they often travel in large numbers and can be mistaken for orcas upon first sighting.
Harbor Seals
Phoca vitulina
Commonly seen basking on rocks or swimming in the inlet's calm waters
Steller Sea Lions
Eumetopias jubatus
Large, noisy, and often seen lounging on buoys or rocks.