Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | Saturday, June 14th, 2025 | 2:00 PM

During our afternoon trip on Kestrel, we got to cruise around the Canadian Gulf Islands and spend time with two different families of Bigg’s Killer Whales! We left Friday Harbor and headed north up San Juan Channel. Shortly after crossing the Canadian border, we stopped near Saturna Island to view a group of harbor seals resting on a small island. We then continued northwest to catch up with a group of whales that had been reported...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | Thursday, June 12th 2025 | 2:00 PM

Today's afternoon trip took our breath away, especially if you're a porpoise…

When we left Friday Harbor, we were excited to begin searching for wildlife along San Juan Channel. We made our way to Spieden Island and got to see a number of bald eagles and harbor seals. We circled around Spieden and soon reached a group of Bigg’s Killer Whales! This was one of my favorite families the T123s, and we could see Stanley’s large dorsal fin...

Kelly | M/V Kestrel | Sunday, June 8th 2025 | 2:00 PM

Our first truly HOT day of the season! A perfect day to be on our high speed vessel the M/V Kestrel. We quickly made our way interisland, following the ferry route past the mouth of East Sound and eventually into the open Rosario Straight. Our first stop was for harbor seals scattered about Peapod Rocks, lounging in the hot sun. Next, we continued North East investigating a report of 7 Killer whales identified as the T124B's. When first...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | June 7th, 2025 | 2:00 PM 

Kestrel departed Friday Harbor this afternoon in search of wildlife, and we certainly got what we hoped for! Today’s trip had the most species of marine mammals I have seen in a single trip, all under the most perfect weather conditions. We began by traveling south in San Juan Channel, stopping at Goose Island to see cormorants and admire Cattle Point Lighthouse. The skies were so clear today that we could also see Mt. Rainier in the...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | June 3rd, 2025 | 2:00 PM 

We had quite the adventure on our afternoon Adventure Whale Watch today, full of lots of wildlife and exploration! We began by heading north up San Juan Channel, and quickly found a group of harbor seals near Yellow Island. As we continued north, we soon saw a few boats near Saturna Island and ended up among a group of three Bigg’s Killer Whales. This turned out to be three members of the T100 matriline, and they were slowly traveling east...

Kelly | M/V Kestrel | Monday, June 2nd 2025 | 2pm

Best humpback day of the year? I'll say it! We B-lined it for the reported location of 2 humpback whales in the Straight of Juan de Fuca. Taking a left outside Friday Harbor and heading south down San Juan Channel. We made a quick pit stop at Goose Island, covered in harbor seals, gulls and cormorants. Perfect glassy sea greeted us as we made our way in the Straight. The humpbacks had already been identified as Pop Tart and Sandstorm. After a few...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | May 31st, 2025 | 2:00 PM 

This afternoon’s Adventure Whale Watch left Friday Harbor in high spirits as the skies cleared and gave us a beautiful, sunny cruise up San Juan Channel. Our first stop was at White Rocks, where we saw two bald eagles and a number of harbor seals! We got great looks at the many varieties of colors of the seals, and even saw a few swimming in the water around the island. We then continued our travels north, past Waldron Island and towards...

Kelly | M/V Osprey| Monday, May 26th 2025 | 2pm

We took a left outside Friday harbor and were instantaneously treated to a look at a bald eagle sitting in the trees by Friday Harbor Labs. This area always seems to be a hotspot for these impressive raptors. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a nest close by, tucked away in the evergreens. We stopped for some quick looks at harbor seals lounging on the rocks next to Jones Island, always delighting us with there ever so elegant sausage bodies. 

Movi...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | May 25th, 2025 | 2:00pm

Today’s 2pm Adventure Whale Watch headed out of Friday Harbor in search of whales under sunny skies. We began heading south in San Juan Channel, spotting harbor porpoises and a few harbor seals before making a quick stop at Goose Island to view cormorants and the Cattle Point Lighthouse. We continued south west through Cattle Pass towards the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and eventually saw a few other boats ahead of us among a group of Bigg’s...

Kelly | M/V Osprey | Saturday, May 17th 2025 | 12:30pm

Peak season is officially here! Whales are showing up all over the Salish Sea. We took a quick left out of Friday Harbor and motored up San Juan Channel to investigate a report of killer whales in Canadian water. On our route to Canada we slipped over the top of San Juan Island and into the Haro Straight. This bigger body of water gave us a few quick looks at some harbor porpoise, swiftly surfacing off our starboard side. 

Not long after...