Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

May 14, 2022

Double Humpback Delight!

Jordan | M/V Kestrel | 05/14/2022 2:00pm

Thank you everyone for coming today! Our guests were such a lovely group of people eager for adventure and thirsty to learn.

The day began with Captain Eric and I greeting the group and heading out of Friday Harbor. Turning left, we headed out of the harbor and up towards Flat Top Island. This National Wildlife Refuge hosts a unique geology and plentiful wildlife. Today, we spotted a bald eagle perched in the treetops! He seemed to be...Read more

May 13, 2022

Surprise Bigg’s Killer Whales Just Outside Friday Harbor

Maxx K. | M/V Kestrel | 05/13/2022 | 2:00pm Today was pretty dang close to perfect. It kicked off strongly as a good hour before Kestrel untied from the jetty, two bull Bigg's Killer Whales passed directly in front of Friday Harbor. I could see their tall six ft dorsal fins cut the surface of the...Read more

May 8, 2022

A Mother’s Day Celebration with Humpback Whale “Big Mama”

Lauren | M/V Sea Lion | 5.8.2022 | 12:30 PM It was beautiful out on this Mother’s Day morning, with sunny skies and calm seas. We left Friday Harbor with no set plan but with knowledge of a humpback whale to the north, near Mayne Island. Although doable on M/V Sea Lion, a trip to Mayne is quite the...Read more

May 5, 2022

Orca Whales in Orcas’ Eastsound

Maxx K | M/V Sea Lion | 05/05/2022 | 12:30pm It was a cold and dreary Cinco de Mayo! Skies were gray and absolutely everything was sopping wet yet there were whales to be seen so Sea Lion moseyed out of Friday Harbor and off towards a report of whales inter island. We didn't make many pit stops on...Read more

May 3, 2022

Humpback Whale “Big Mama” and her breaching calf!

Lauren | M/V Sea Lion | 5.3.2022 | 12:30 PM M/V Sea Lion had a small group today, only 9 passengers were aboard as we puttered out of Friday Harbor. I was beyond delighted to hear that the infamous “Big Mama” was back in the Salish Sea, and that we may see her out on our trip today. Seeing “Big...Read more

May 1, 2022

Playful Biggs Killer Whales and Rowdy Steller Sea Lions Off Lopez

Maxx K. | M/V Kestrel | 05/01/2022 | 1:30pm Today was kinda perfect. Before we even began suiting up a group of Killer Whales had been picked up in the Juan de Fuca and were angled straight up towards the San Juans. We hadn’t even touched water and it was already shaping up to be a great day! We...Read more

May 1, 2022

Hein Bank Hangout with Bigg’s Killer Whales

Lauren | M/V Sea Lion | 5.1.2022 | 12:30 PM It was a magnificent May morning, filled with a warm breeze and sunny skies. It was my first trip of the year where I really felt like spring was upon us. None of the crew even wore jackets out there today! We left the dock with word that there was a...Read more

April 30, 2022

Long Journey South to Chill with some Bigg’s Brothers

Maxx K. | M/V Sea Lion | 04/30/2022 | 12:30pm Friday harbor was spooky at 12:30- it softly rained throughout the morning and was gray everywhere you looked. It was a pretty cliche Washington morning but we weren’t disheartened- it can be so much easier to spot whales without the glare of the sun...Read more

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