Lauren Tschirhart | August 31st, 2026 | M/V Osprey | 12:30 pm

Today we softly said goodbye to Summer. It’s the last day of August and the Burr months are right around the corner. This time of year is always sad knowing our season is winding down, but one thing that is absolutely not winding down is the whale action! We departed Friday Harbor with news that a T-Party had formed near Salmon Bank in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This party was made up of T036/ Flapjack and the T036B’s, T137A/ Jack...

Olivia Esqueda | September 1st, 2026 | M/V Osprey | 12:30pm

What an adventure we had today out in the Salish Sea finding whales. The weather this week is reminding us that the summer season is transitioning into fall, as the wind and rain are starting to pick up. This didn’t stop us from heading north through the islands in search of whales and other wildlife, though! 

Weaving between the Wasp Islands, up Spring Passage and into President’s Channel, we found ourselves by the outer islands, which...

Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Sunday, August 30, 2026 | 12:30 pm 

Today was quite the cozy day aboard Osprey; town has begun to slow down after peak summer season, and the gray skies and winds allude to fall just around the corner. 

With reports of whales over in Rosario Strait, we made our way northeast from Friday Harbor, weaving between Shaw and Lopez Island. After weaving through Obstruction Island and Blakely Island, we found a haulout of harbor seals at Peapod Rocks! These 250-300 pound rock...

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | August 28th, 2026 | 12:30pm

We were blessed with very fortunate whale reports on this day, as there were multiple Bigg's Killer Whale families moving down San Juan Channel as we left the dock! The two families were the T100s and T101s. The matriarchs/mothers of these two families are T100 "Hutchins" and T101 "Reef". Years after these two whales were discovered several decades ago, it was actually presumed that T101 was the mother of T100, so this was a sort of...

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | August 25th, 2026 | 12:30pm

The weather and water conditions were beautiful on this day which made for a great trip from the start. We turned left out of Friday Harbor and pointed North up San Juan Channel. We then wrapped around the top of San Juan Island and entered Spieden Channel. It didn't take long to spot a family of six Bigg's Killer Whales swimming through the glassy water. It was the T49As! This family is adored in this region and is made up by a mother...

Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Wednesday, August 26, 2026 | 12:30 pm 

Today was “Notcho” average afternoon. Let’s talk about why!

M/V Osprey departed from Friday Harbor and headed north through San Juan Channel and around Henry Island into Haro Strait. Suddenly, Captain Gabe slowed the vessel to 7 knots, as we were within a half nautical mile of a 15 foot blow that he spotted in the distance. It is always fun being the first to arrive on scene with a whale, as this gives us the opportunity to put our...

Lauren Tschirhart | August 22nd, 2026 | M/V Osprey | 12:30 pm

Today was one of those special days where we were observing orcas not even 20 minutes into our trip! We got word that the T109A’s had been picked up in Upright Channel, which is the body of water between Shaw and Lopez Island. Many folks are familiar with this channel as it is part of the Washington State Ferry Route to get to Friday Harbor. The M/V Osprey departed the dock and headed to Turn Rock to view our sea otter friend. After...

Lauren Tschirhart | August 21st, 2026 | M/V Osprey | 12:30 pm

The San Juan Safaris Classic Whale Watch & Wildlife Tour spent the afternoon observing a family of five Bigg’s Killer Whales. This matriline is known at the T036A’s and is made up of: 

• - T036A/Leland — female, born in 1990
  • - T036A1/Tierna — female, born in 2005
    • - T036A1A/Drift — male, born in 2022
  • - T036A2/Kailas — female, born in 2012
    • - T036A2A/Rogue — born in 2025
  • - T036A3/Storm/Mike III — male, born in 2015
  • - T036A5/Squall — male, born in...

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | August 23rd, 2026 | 12:30pm

Bigg's Killer Whales have been absolutely loving Waldron Island lately, and today was no exception. Shortly before we left the dock, a fellow PWWA member vessel spotted a family of these whales circling the island. They likely were looking for Harbor Seals, which Waldron has no shortage of along it's shores. We made the transit North out of Friday Harbor and arrived to Waldron Island to see six black dorsal fins cutting through the...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Osprey | August 20th, 2026 | 12:30 pm

With stunning views of Mt. Baker and beautiful sunny skies, we departed Friday Harbor excited to search for whales and wildlife. Luck was on our side as pretty quickly into our trip we reached a report of some Bigg’s Killer Whales! Not too far up San Juan Channel along Orcas Island there was a family of 6 travelling together, and no one was surprised to see that it was once again the T49A matriline! I love this family so much, and it has...