Skip to main content
Image
pc: Olivia Esqueda, April 2025. T065Bs.

Rainy Afternoon with Bigg's Killer Whales in the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Olivia Esqueda | April 28th, 2025 | M/V Osprey | 2:00pm

Despite the PNW spring rain, today’s trip turned out to be so much fun! We were able to spot many birds as we traveled down San Juan Channel into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, admiring Cattle Point Lighthouse along the way. After searching through the misty backdrop, we spotted the T065B’s- a matriline of Bigg’s Killer Whales. 

This ecotype of orca feeds on marine mammals and is commonly found in the greater Salish Sea area. We are very...

Image
Bigg's Killer Whale T063/Chainsaw

A Wealth of Whales and Wildlife in Active Pass

Lauren | M/V Osprey | Saturday, April 26th | 12:30 PM

Today’s tour was a testament of how much can change in an instant in the world of watching whales. Out here we are at the will of the wildlife, and although we prefer it that way, the whales have a funny way of humbling us humans and our plans.

We left the dock with a report of two Bigg’s Killer Whales by Moresby Island. Moresby Island is a Canadian Island located just northwest of Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island. Turn Point is famously...

Image
tail slap

Biggs Killer Whales T19s & T49's Enjoy a Snack

Kelly | M/V Osprey | April 13rd, 2025 | 2pm

The gorgeous spring weather had everyone in a wonderful mood as we left Friday Harbor and took a left up San Juan Channel.  A quick stop at Sentinel Rock gave us wonderful looks at Harbor Seals, taking full advantage of the real estate that low tide provides. We continued west, quickly crossing over the border and entering Canadian water. Blows in the distance! A group of 8 killer whales were ahead, hugging the coast of Brethour Island. These whales...

Image
pc: Olivia Esqueda, 4.21.2025

Bigg's Killer Whales Hunt Harbor Seal by Spieden Island

Olivia Esqueda | April 21st, 2025 | M/V Osprey | 2:00pm 

What a fun day out on the water with Bigg’s Killer Whales! We headed north through San Juan Channel until we reached the area where San Juan Channel and Spieden Island meet. This is where we first spotted the T065B’s milling around the lush, nutrient filled waters. T065B [Chunk, female born in 1993] is a marine mammal eating orca traveling around with her three calves, T065B1 [Birdsall, male born in 2011], T065B2 [Nettle/Corvis, born in...

Image
HUMPBACK

Juvenile Humpback followed by a Biggs Killer Whale Surprise!

Kelly | M/V Osprey | April 19th, 2025 | 12:30pm

The sun began to peak out from behind the clouds just as we turned left out of Friday Harbor. Heading up San Juan Channel, past Flattop Island and into Boundary Pass we investigated a humpback whale report. After a moment of searching in the general area, the whale appeared! A small slinky humpback came up for a breath. His pattern was to come up for a couple quick breaths and then down on a long dive. These dives ranged from 5 to 11 minutes. One...

Image
pc: Olivia Esqueda, 4.14.2025

Bigg's Killer Whales Hunting by Spieden Island

Olivia Esqueda | April 14th, 2025 | M/V Osprey | 2:00pm

We love sunny days with calm seas and whales nearby- which is exactly what this afternoon brought! We started off our trip heading north through San Juan Channel until we came upon Spieden Island. This privately owned island has the largest bloom of pink flowers (invasive and a part of the geranium family) that we have seen in years and, contrasted with the green shoreline and the mouflon sheep lambs prancing around, it engulfs the...

Image
T049C under Mt. Baker

Bigg’s Killer Whale T049C/Neilson zig zagging towards Rosario Strait

Lauren | M/V Osprey | Wednesday, April 9th | 2:00 pm

Today was our first tour aboard the M/V Osprey, our largest vessel in the fleet. A fully booked tour on our largest vessel can mean only one thing… Summer is coming! We boarded our eager passengers and headed out of Friday Harbor. We had a report of an animal south of Lopez Island, but with the report being pretty far away, we had no time for prior stops. We cruised south in San Juan Channel and through Cattle Pass, taking looks at the Olympic...

Image
pc: Maxx Kinert, San Juan Safaris

Bigg’s Killer Whales the T049A’s in Bedwell Harbour

Lauren | M/V Sea Lion | Monday, April 7th | 12:30 pm

Our Classic Whale Watch & Wildlife tour left the dock and headed north in San Juan Channel. Rain was in the forecast, so we prepared for a wet ride, but thus far the skies above looked clear. Our first stop was to the Cactus Islands to view some hauled-out harbor seals. We love seeing harbor seals out here. Their thriving population is a product of the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act. Before 1972, many pinnipeds were killed for their pelts...

Image
pc: Olivia Esqueda, San Juan Safaris

A “Bigg” Spring Surprise! Our day with the T046B’s and their brand-new killer whale calf!

Lauren | M/V Sea Lion | April, 5 2025 | 12:30 pm

The spring equinox is always welcomed here in the Pacific Northwest. The long winter nights spent dreaming of daylight, warmer days and clearer skies are suddenly behind us. This year, the equinox brought us something even dreamier than a season change, it brought us a baby whale. On March 20th, 2025 the T046B’s were seen travelling in eastern Juan de Fuca Strait with a new calf in tow. In every encounter, the calf was seen surfacing in the...

Image
pc: Olivia Esqueda, San Juan Safaris

A Saturday with 7 Killer Whales in San Juan Channel

Lauren | M/V Sea Lion | March 29, 2025 | 12:30 pm

Our Saturday, March 29th Classic Whale Watch and Wildlife tour was a success before even leaving the dock. That’s because 10 minutes before our tour departed, killer whales were found right outside of Friday Harbor! We left the dock and alerted our guests that luck was on their side and instructed them to look for dorsal fins in the distance. Sure enough, not even 15 minutes into our trip we were on scene with 7 Bigg’s Killer Whales. The whales we...

Start your next adventure today! View All Tours