Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | September 1, 2021 | 2:00 pm

With the summer ending, each of us are reflecting on the wildlife experiences for the summer. Historically, we would have expected Southern Resident Killer Whales feeding and socializing along the west side of San Juan Island. SRKWs are now critically endangered due to the lack of salmon, specifically chinook salmon, in the Salish Sea. Typically our SRKWs would be around 70/80 days. Up until today, we had seen them 3 times… making...

Bigg’s Killer Whale T-Party in the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | August 29, 2021 | 2:00 pm

Our afternoon Kestrel adventure was a real adventure through the rolling waves of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We departed in search of a reported “T-Party,” referring to a group of multiple Bigg’s Killer Whales traveling together. Each family group includes mom, who is the head matriarch, and each of her calves. Here are the attendees of this T-Party:

T18 (Female, 1955)

T18...

Abby | M/V Kestrel | 2pm | 8/28/2021

Captain Eric and I headed south again for our second trip of the day, word of two teenagers still hunting around the Chain Islets in between Discovery Island and Oak Bay in Canadian waters. We first stopped for a “rock sausage” extravaganza. There were harbor seals aplenty on our way through San Juan Channel, their big globular eyes watching us drift past their rocky haul-out site.

Once we crossed the glassy Strait of Juan De Fuca, we set eyes on...

Abby | M/V Kestrel | 10am | 8/28/2021

Captain Eric and I zoomed out of the harbor, sighting reports coming from Victoria. As we zipped through the glassy Strait of Juan De Fuca, smiles beamed amidst the bright sun rays that started breaking through the morning clouds. There were already a few boats viewing the family (T041’s) that had been spotted in Canadian waters this morning, so we decided to make a pit stop at the Chain Islets in between Discovery Island and Oak Bay. Pelagic...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | August 15, 2021 | 2:00pm

As we loaded M/V Kestrel and shoved off there was excitement in the air - the search for whales had begun! We headed north towards Canadian waters, and although we expected choppy waters we had nothing but smooth sailing. The puffy white clouds reflected down in the glassy waters as we skimmed along in the zodiac.

We headed into the Strait of Georgia near Point Roberts, at the very tip of US waters. Then, in the distance, we saw a...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel| August 15, 2021 | 10:00 am

We got underway this morning as clouds rolled towards Friday Harbor from the south. Luckily, we were heading north, following reports of Bigg’s Killer Whales near Vancouver, BC. Out on the water the swells were small and the sky over us stayed blue as we headed towards Canada full speed ahead, knowing we had a lot of ground to cover. We made a stop at Flat Top island to admire some plump and adorable Harbor Seals before continuing...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | August 09, 2021 | 2:00pm

For our afternoon adventure tour, we departed from Friday Harbor ready to find some wildlife and enjoy the beautiful day! We traveled inter island in pursuit of a reported group of killer whales traveling in Rosario strait. The calm, glassy waters reflected the puffy white clouds overhead, providing perfect conditions for sighting animals.

By the time we reached Rosario Strait, a reported group of Bigg’s Killer Whales was just north of us further...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | August 09, 2021 | 10:00am

There are few days that begin like today. We left the harbor, excited and ready to search for wildlife around the islands. Being one of the first boats out on the water, we were in search mode. However, not long after we departed a report came in for some killer whales around our waters. We rerouted to follow along with that note. Sure enough, we found our first big wildlife of the day!

There were 4 Bigg’s Killer Whales traveling...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | July 31, 2021 | 2:00pm

We started our Saturday afternoon trip moving north through the San Juan Channel. We reached a small island called Skipjack to find two dozen harbor seals hauled out along the shoreline! Some of them were playing in the kelp beds while most lay in a banana-shape pose, head and tail pulled up towards the sky. We rounded this tiny island and continued north in search of more wildlife! 

Earlier reports of Bigg’s Killer Whales near the...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | July 31, 2021 | 10:00am
 

Being one of the first vessels out on the water is an incredible feeling. We began our Saturday morning trip searching through the quiet islands. The water around us was still glassy and the last of the lingering fog was lifting up towards the tips of the islands. Being one of the first boats on the water meant we were actively scanning to discover wildlife tucked in the channels.

We moved interisland, wrapping around the east side...