Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Thursday, July 30, 2026 | 12:30 pm 

Today was the epitome of a summer July day out on the water here in the San Juans; the sun was shining, the wildlife was incredible, and the energy was high! Our first sighting of the day was a lone Stellar sea lion hugging the shore in Upright Channel, one of the prey items of the group of animals in store for us through Rosario Strait by Fidalgo Island.

Here are the two families of marine-mammal-eating Bigg’s killer whales we had the...

Kelly | M/V Kestrel | July 30th, 2026 | 2pm

Absolutely perfect summer day here in the San Juan’s as we departed Friday harbor and pointed east across San Jaun Channel. Tracing the ferry route up Presidents Channel and deep interisland, eventually spilling into the Rosario Strait. We began to slow the boat as we approached Sinclair Island, noticing many dorsal fins in the distance! This was a group of 8 Killer whales identified as the T36’s and the T37a’s made up of: 

• T036/Flapjack — female, born...

Kelly | M/V Osprey | July 29th, 2026 | 12:30pm

We pointed south in San Juan Channel towards the nearest whale report. Cruising past the scenic Cattle Point Lighthouse and eventually into the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Transiting in this bigger body of water we were treated to views of both Mt.Baker, Mt. Ranier (in the haze) and the Olympic mountain range. We began to slow our speed as we approached Smith Island, a lonely island off the coast of Whidbey Island. In the distance along the shoreline...

Lauren Tschirhart | July 26th, 2026 | M/V Osprey | 12:30 pm

Whales are wild animals, so sightings of them are never guaranteed. With that being said, we see whales on approximately 90% of our tours during peak season. Peak season is considered the months of May through September. This is because during the summer months our sightings network is the strongest and we also have an increase in migratory baleen whale species like Humpback Whales, Gray Whales and Minke Whales. Orcas are a non migratory...

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

We left the dock full of excitement today as there was an exceptionally rare report of whales within our range. A group of 11 Transient Killer Whales were making their way North up Rosario Strait. Eight of those whales were from our Bigg's Killer Whale population here in the pacific northwest. This large of a group would have been extremely exciting regardless, but they were also accompanied by three CALIFORNIA (CA) TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES...

Lauren Tschirhart | July 24th, 2026 | M/V Kestrel | 2:00 pm

Our 2:00 pm Adventure Tour began by cruising south towards Turn Rock to see if we could spot our otter friend. There has been a sea otter hanging out in one of the kelp forests just outside of Friday Harbor for most of the summer. This otter was indeed all cozied up, wrapped in the kelp bed at Turn Rock. We got great looks at this cute critter, and also noticed a bald eagle perched on the top of a green navigational marker. Next we...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | July 27th, 2026 | 2:00 pm

Humpbacks, Killer Whales, Seals, Sea Lions, Porpoise, and a Sea Otter in one afternoon… Wow! It’s always amazing when we get to see any of the marine mammal species in our ecosystem, but extra special when we see most of them in one trip! We knew of a few whale reports before leaving the harbor, so we began heading towards the one furthest away from us with the plan to work backwards from there. Kestrel’s speed gives us so many opportunities...

Lauren Tschirhart | July 24th, 2026 | M/V Kestrel | 10:00 am 

Bigg’s Killer Whale matriline the T100’s is a family that frequents the inter-islands of the Salish Sea. For whatever reason, they have been spending an insane amount of time in Boundary Pass this summer. There is clearly something appealing about the waters around Waldron Island. Boundary Pass is the large body of water just south of Saturna Island. There are several different channels and passageways that intersect at Boundary...

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | July 27th, 2026 | 1:30pm

We left the dock and pointed North out of Friday Harbor on this trip. We travelled up San Juan Channel and turned Northeast into Presidents Channel. We saw quite a few Harbor Porpoise on our way up! This is an excellent area to see them, and there was no shortage today. We continued on our way as we had a whale report a bit North of here to catch up to. Eventually we arrived to Sucia Island and just beyond that was a family of Bigg's Killer...

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Sea Lion | July 26th, 2026 | 5:30pm 

This tour left Roche Harbor in slightly foggy conditions, as some rainfall had just lightened up before we left the dock. I personally am a huge fan of viewing whales in conditions like these, so I was super excited to get out there! We left the harbor and turned East. We almost immediately were surprised by two Steller Sea Lions swimming past us! I do not often see this species in this part of the Salish Sea, so this was a treat. From...