Lauren Tschirhart | August 16th, 2026 | M/V Kestrel | 10:00 am

The absolute adrenaline rush that the 10:00 am Adventure Tour was about to endure is something we did not expect when departing the dock. Our morning tour began like many of them do, with us not having a clue where the wind may take us. At this time of day, we do not often have any firm whale sightings. Although we may have a general idea of where the whales were left last night, orcas can swim over 150 miles in a day, so just because...

Aly Liu | M/V Kestrel | Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 2:00 pm

Today’s adventure tour began with reports of killer whales in an area of water I had never been before; Eastsound! This body of water is encompassed by Orcas Island; it almost felt like cruising through a lake, except it was salt water, and contained three marine mammal-eating killer whales:

• T019/Nootka/Mooyah — female, born before1965
  • T019B/Galiano — male, born in 1995
  • T019C/Spouter — male, born in 2001

After watching this matriarch with...

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Kestrel | August 13th, 2026 | 2:00pm

Some days we are lucky enough to have Killer Whales within sight of San Juan Island, and this was one of those days! The T19 family of Bigg's Killer Whales were just a few minutes outside of Friday Harbor. This family is led by their mother/matriarch "Nootka" who is one of the oldest living whales in the entire population. She was joined by her two adult sons "Galiano" and "Spouter" who are both absolutely HUGE. Many people believe that...

Aly Liu | M/V Kestrel | Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 10:00 AM

At the beginning of each tour, I say that there are only four eyeballs between the captain and I, and that we need help from each and every passenger to scan for signs of wildlife, and that the search has already begun. And when I asked Captain Vaun if he had anything to add, he said that he has already spotted blows. We had not even picked up speed out of Friday Harbor yet! In minutes, we were at the southwest coast of Shaw Island...

Kelly | M/V Kestrel | August 14h, 2026 | 2pm

We left Friday Harbor and wasted no time pointing north into Canadian water. We weaved through the scenic Canadian Gulf Islands, eventually emerging from Georgenson Pass into the larger body of water known as the Strait of Georgia. Suddenly, a large smokestack exhale appeared in the distance. A humpback whale identified as BCX1377 aka “Nike”. We were treated to incredible looks at this humpback as it remained on a consistent dive pattern, showing off...

Lauren Tschirhart | August 12th, 2026 | M/V Kestrel | 2:00 pm

There was lots of action out in the Salish Sea today. The whale reports were coming in from several locations around Friday Harbor. The majority of these reports were south in the Strait of Juan De Fuca, so we decided to head that way. Just a few minutes after departing Friday Harbor, I spotted an unreported humpback whale traveling north in San Juan Channel. This humpback, later identified as BCX2077 “Graphite” was taking short dives...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | August 9th, 2026 |10:00 am and 2:00 pm 

Another exciting adventure day on Kestrel! As is usual with our 10 am tour, when we departed the dock we didn’t have many sightings to work off of so we began heading north. Soon into our travels we heard of a shore report in Active Pass and the Strait of Georgia of possible Bigg’s Killer Whales, so we zoomed in that direction with the hopes of catching up. Luck was on our side because another vessel picked up the whales about...

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Kestrel | August 10th, 2026 | 2:00pm

This day was a little breezy, and was a bit cooler than the past few had been. It almost felt a little bit like fall, which I personally love for whale watching! We pointed North out of town and moved up San Juan Channel, the wrapped around the top of the island and entered Haro Strait. This is the huge body of water directly West of San Juan Island. We moved down Haro for a few minutes before encountering the absolutely massive black...

Aly Liu | M/V Kestrel| Thursday, August 6, 2026 | 2:00 pm 

I hope everyone wore their sunscreen on today’s adventure tour, as it was a beautiful, warm day out on the water. Kestrel, our speediest vessel, cruised north through San Juan Channel towards reports near Saturna Island, and that natural windy A/C sure felt good! As we welcomed our passengers to Canada as we entered Boundary Pass, seven dorsal fins officially greeted us as well. It was seven Bigg’s killer whales!! 

• T036/Flapjack — female...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | August 5th, 2026 | 2:00 pm

 Today’s adventure tour brought us to one of my favorite areas to find whales in… all the way in Saanich Inlet in Vancouver Island! When we departed Friday Harbor, we had some reports of Bigg’s Killer Whales near Salt Spring Island and other rumors in the Gulf Islands. We decided to get out as fast as we could to that area, so we zoomed up San Juan Channel and took the north side of Stuart Island as we continued northwest. Along the way, we...