Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

September 23, 2021

A Meditative Biggs Killer Whale Encounter

Abby | M/V Kestrel | 2pm | 9/23/2021

Captain Eric and I zoomed out of the harbor, a new sighting report coming from the north, close to Waldron Island. We popped over to Flattop Island on our way to view the lazy harbor seals who were sprawled out on the rocky shoreline, thermoregulating their plump bodies. Birds dotted the trees and the wake around this small island, giving us a good glimpse (and smell) of the base of the food chain. 

Once we got on scene with the whales, we...Read more

September 21, 2021

Bigg’s Killer Whales Cruising Towards Victoria

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | September 21, 2021 | 2:00 pm Of the wildlife we see in the Salish Sea, about half of our summer inhabitants are migratory. Animals like Humpback whales, Gray whales, and Minke whales spend their summers here feeding due to the prey abundance. The other half of residential...Read more

September 21, 2021

Steller Sea Lions, Foraging Bigg’s Killer Whales and Good Vibes

Maxx K. | M/V Sea Lion | 09/21/2021 | 1:30pm Today was awesome. Not only did I get to work with Abby and Gabe on Sea Lion, we got to watch an incredible family of whales actively hunting and killing what I assumed to be a harbor seal! We left Friday Harbor on a mission: whales had been spotted...Read more
Bigg's Killer Whale

September 20, 2021

Spy hops galore with the T065B Killer Whales

Maxx K. | M/V Kestrel | 09/20/2021 | 2:00pm Today’s tour was a naturalist's dream. When Solan pulled Kestrel out of Friday Harbor we turned northward. A family of unidentified Bigg’s Killer Whales had been reported off the south side of Saturna Island. We had our heading and off we went! We stopped...Read more

September 20, 2021

Bigg’s Killer Whales, T65B’s, Traveling along Saturna Island

Haleigh | M/V Sea Lion | September 20, 2021 | 1:30 pm For our classic whale watching excursion, we decided to travel north through the San Juan Channel. Reports of some killer whales were far up north towards Saturna Island, meaning we needed to make a straight shot there. We passed by Jones Island...Read more

September 19, 2021

Mugged by the T99’s Bigg’s Killer Whales

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | September 19, 2021 | 2:00 pm Our adventure tour took place on one of the beautiful, crisps fall days in the San Juan Islands. With calm conditions in the channels, we directed our boat towards a report of killer whales westbound. One our way, we stopped by a haul-out of...Read more

September 18, 2021

11 Biggs Killer Whales From Four Matrilines

September 18 th , 2021 Abby | M/V Kestrel | 2pm | 9/18/2021 Captain Solan and I zoomed south in San Juan Channel, cumulonimbus clouds rising steadily in front of Mount Baker. We headed over to Goose Island where double-crested cormorants stood atop their haystack-style nests and glaucous gulls...Read more

September 16, 2021

Bigg’s Orca, Humpback Whales, and a Warship!

Maxx K. | M/V Kestrel | 09/16/2021 | 2:00pm Kestrel flew out of Friday harbor with purpose this morning: a family of Bigg’s Killer whales had been reported passing through Deception Pass State Park and were now traveling across the Juan De Fuca. We stopped briefly at goose island to observe the...Read more

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