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pc: Olivia Esqueda, San Juan Safaris

Whales, Whales and even more Whales!

Lauren | M/V Kestrel | Monday, June 11th, 2025 | 2:00 PM

We were spoiled today. There were whale reports galore, and the Salish Sea was booming with wildlife! Our Adventure Whale Watch & Wildlife tour ended up seeing three different Bigg’s Killer Whale families in three different bodies of water! 

We began our tour by heading east on an inter-island cruise. Our destination was to Rosario Strait to catch up with a family of Bigg’s Killer Whales known as the T123’s. This family of four was taking...

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pc: Olivia Esqueda, May 2025.

Socializing Killer Whales and Three Bonus Humpbacks!

Lauren | M/V Kestrel | Friday, June 6th, 2025 | 2:00 PM

Our Adventure Whale Watch & Wildlife Tour began with the M/V Kestrel heading south in San Juan Channel. We slowly cruised by Goose Island getting looks at the Double-Crested Cormorant nests with Cattle Point lighthouse as the backdrop. We made our way into the Strait of Juan De Fuca admiring the beautiful Olympic Peninsula in the distance. We then headed Southwest towards an exciting whale report! We got word that at least two families of...

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T124D's

Multiple matrilines of Bigg’s Killer Whales socialize near Patos Island

Lauren | M/V Osprey | Wednesday, June 4th 2025 | 12:30 PM

We started our Classic Whale Watch & WIldlife Tour off by taking a left out of Friday Harbor and heading north into San Juan Channel. Our first stop was to McConnell Island to view two bald eagles perched high up on a tree top. We made our way into Spring Passage and then northeast into Presidents Channel. As we made our way towards Rosario Strait we were greeted by gorgeous views of Mount Baker. We then traveled to the northwest point of...

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breaching killer whale T046Bs

Breaching Bigg’s Killer Whales near Sucia Island!

Lauren | M/V Osprey | Friday, May 30th 2025 | 12:30 PM

We are three months into the 2025 whale watching season here in the San Juan Islands. Three months in, and today was the first trip all season that my guests and I observed breaching killer whales! What an absolute treat this trip was. We left the dock with a loose plan of heading northwest to catch up on a report of a humpback whale over in the Haro Strait. Not long after heading that way we got an exciting update: A large group of killer...

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Natty_BigMamaandCalf_LT

Local whale celebrity Big Mama sighted with her new calf!

Lauren | M/V Osprey | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 12:30 PM

Today is what whale watch dreams are made of. This was my first tour of the 2025 season that I’ve seen two different species of whale in the same excursion. We left Friday Harbor and headed north in San Juan Channel. Our first stop was to Green Point on Spieden Island to view some Steller Sea Lions. Four Steller’s were hauled out on the coastline, while several more swam around in the bull kelp. We left the point and headed up the Stuart...

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A Bigg’s Killer Whale T-Party near Discovery Island

Lauren | M/V Osprey | Thursday, May 8th | 2:00 PM

Today the M/V Osprey took a trip southwest. Aiming for Discovery Island off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia. First we took a right out of Friday Harbor and headed south into San Juan Channel. As we exited Cattle Pass we were greeted by a Steller’s Sea Lion munching on a fish. We cruised west through the Strait of Juan De Fuca and into the Haro Strait. Right before crossing into Canadian waters we witnessed several harbor porpoise surfacing...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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