Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | 12:30 pm
After leaving the dock in Friday Harbor, M/V Osprey booked it south through San Juan Channel towards reports of a T-party, or three families of Bigg’s Killer whales, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As we approached the scene, I had no idea that this was about to be my favorite encounter of the season thus far, and it is safe to say the entire crew shares these sentiments.
This afternoon was special for multiple reasons:
- Large T-parties like this are rare! By far the biggest group of Bigg’s whales I had seen in an incredibly long time.
- Galiano and Spouter are one of the most iconic brother-duos of the Salish Sea, and known to hunt Minke whales
- The best way to describe what these whales were doing is dancing and partying and simply having the best day ever. Takaya, a young female, breached seven consecutive times! We were further spoiled by cartwheels, handstands, porpoising, and insane peduncle throws.
- One individual even rolled on their back and slapped both pectoral fins on the surface of the water, which was one of my favorites!
Here are the three matrilines of marine-mammal eaters that were present at the T-Party:
- T019/Nootka/Mooyah — female, born before1965
- T019B/Galiano — male, born in 1995
- T019C/Spouter — male, born in 2001
- T049A/Nan — female, born in 1986
- T049A3/Nat — male, born in 2011
- T049A4/Neptune — male, born in 2014
- T049A5/Nebula — female, born in 2017
- T049A6/Charlie II — male, born in 2022
- T049A7*/Nimbus — born in 2026
- T046B/Raksha — female, born in 1988
- T046B2/Akela — female, born in 2008
- T046B2B/Takaya — female, born in 2023
- T046B4/Quiver — male, born in 2014
- T046B6/Sol — female, born in 2019
- T046B7/Tala — born in 2023
- T046B8*/Pi — born in 2026
- T046B2/Akela — female, born in 2008
The stars must be in alignment because we even caught a humpback in San Juan Channel just outside of Friday Harbor on the way home:
- Graphite (BCX2077), Hawaii breeding population, first seen in 2019.
It is hardly an exaggeration to say that it could not have gotten any better than that; thank you to all who joined us today on a truly memorable day out there on the water. We hope that you guys enjoyed as much as we did!
Check out the photos from today at: https://sanjuansafaris.smugmug.com/
More information on the Pacific Whale Watch Association: https://www.pacificwhalewatchassociation.com/