Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | August 2nd, 2026 | 12:30pm

We were gifted absolutely perfect weather on this day, as well as extremely calm seas. This was a great start to the trip as we cruised North up San Juan Channel. We made an early stop at White Rock to view some adorable Harbor Seals that were hauled out and resting. From there we continued a bit further North in the area of Waldron Island towards a newly developing report of whales. As we were approaching, we were so excited to spot two...

Aly Liu | M/V Kestrel | Friday, July 31, 2026 | 2:00 pm 

Today was certainly among my top 3 favorite tours of the season so far. Let me tell you why.

The first stop of the day at Goose Rock in Cattle Pass did not disappoint; the rock was blanketed in pelagic and double-crested cormorants towards the top, and rock sausages (Harbor seals) on the bottom, all with Cattle Point Lighthouse in the backdrop.

Then, M/V Kestrel headed southeast towards Smith Island to reports of four Bigg’s killer whales...

Kelly | M/V Osprey | July 31th, 2026 | 12:30pm

We wasted no time traveling south through Cattle Pass and into the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Following a whale report by Smith Island, we began to slow our speed to under 7 knots as we approached the island from a half mile. This island lies in the middle of the strait surrounded by nothing else but water for miles around its perimeter. It has lately been quite the hotspot for Biggs killer whales, and in particular the family we watched today...

Lauren Tschirhart | July 28th, 2026 | M/V Kestrel | 2:00 pm 

We had some out-of-town visitors in the Salish Sea today! Members of the CA027 matriline (aka the T135’s) were found traveling with a group of Coastal Transients. All in all, we witnessed 11 killer whales, from four different matrilines, enjoying the waters of Fidalgo Bay. Seeing California Transients in the San Juan Islands is a pretty rare occurrence. There is only one species of killer whale, but they are divided into different...

Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Thursday, July 30, 2026 | 12:30 pm 

Today was the epitome of a summer July day out on the water here in the San Juans; the sun was shining, the wildlife was incredible, and the energy was high! Our first sighting of the day was a lone Stellar sea lion hugging the shore in Upright Channel, one of the prey items of the group of animals in store for us through Rosario Strait by Fidalgo Island.

Here are the two families of marine-mammal-eating Bigg’s killer whales we had the...

Kelly | M/V Kestrel | July 30th, 2026 | 2pm

Absolutely perfect summer day here in the San Juan’s as we departed Friday harbor and pointed east across San Jaun Channel. Tracing the ferry route up Presidents Channel and deep interisland, eventually spilling into the Rosario Strait. We began to slow the boat as we approached Sinclair Island, noticing many dorsal fins in the distance! This was a group of 8 Killer whales identified as the T36’s and the T37a’s made up of: 

• T036/Flapjack — female, born...

Kelly | M/V Osprey | July 29th, 2026 | 12:30pm

We pointed south in San Juan Channel towards the nearest whale report. Cruising past the scenic Cattle Point Lighthouse and eventually into the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Transiting in this bigger body of water we were treated to views of both Mt.Baker, Mt. Ranier (in the haze) and the Olympic mountain range. We began to slow our speed as we approached Smith Island, a lonely island off the coast of Whidbey Island. In the distance along the shoreline...

Lauren Tschirhart | July 26th, 2026 | M/V Osprey | 12:30 pm

Whales are wild animals, so sightings of them are never guaranteed. With that being said, we see whales on approximately 90% of our tours during peak season. Peak season is considered the months of May through September. This is because during the summer months our sightings network is the strongest and we also have an increase in migratory baleen whale species like Humpback Whales, Gray Whales and Minke Whales. Orcas are a non migratory...

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | July 28th, 2026 | 12:30pm

We left the dock full of excitement today as there was an exceptionally rare report of whales within our range. A group of 11 Transient Killer Whales were making their way North up Rosario Strait. Eight of those whales were from our Bigg's Killer Whale population here in the pacific northwest. This large of a group would have been extremely exciting regardless, but they were also accompanied by three CALIFORNIA (CA) TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES...

Lauren Tschirhart | July 24th, 2026 | M/V Kestrel | 2:00 pm

Our 2:00 pm Adventure Tour began by cruising south towards Turn Rock to see if we could spot our otter friend. There has been a sea otter hanging out in one of the kelp forests just outside of Friday Harbor for most of the summer. This otter was indeed all cozied up, wrapped in the kelp bed at Turn Rock. We got great looks at this cute critter, and also noticed a bald eagle perched on the top of a green navigational marker. Next we...