Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

Jordan | M/V Osprey | 07/10/2021 12:30pm

The day began as Captain Brian, Naturalist Alexandria, Naturalist Haleigh and I jumped on Osprey with our guests and headed out to search the islands.

We headed south down the San Juan Channel and cruised towards Cattle Pass. Along the way, we stopped and watch the floppy seals enjoying their rocky haven. There were even pups there trying to keep warm in the sun.

 Continuing on our way, we saw the lovely Cattle Point lighthouse that indicates...

Jordan | M/V Osprey | 07/09/2021 5:30pm

This day was absolutely wonderful.

Captain Brian, Naturalist Alexandria and I booked it off the dock in our nice big vessel and headed out towards adventure. We cruised between Islands and northeast until we reached Peavine Pass. Slowly, we enjoyed the narrow channel and emerged into the Rosario Strait.

Then, just around the corner, we saw orcas! So cool! This beautiful family of orcas cruised along the shoreline and seemed to catch a seal...

Jordan |m/v Kestrel |07/08/2021| 2:00pm

Today was definitely one of my favorite trips of the season. Just want to start by saying thank you to all my wonderful guests! Your passion and intrigue made the trip even better!

The day began as Captain Eric and I headed East out of Friday Harbor, in between Blakely Island and Decatur and then out towards Anacortes. We sped past Anacortes and around Guemes Island. Here, we found Orcas!

We shortly identified them as the T34s and T37s! These...

Maxx K. | M/V Osprey | 07/07/2021 | 5:30pm

    Today’s sunset tour started like they often do: Osprey left Friday harbor in search of whales, following up on rumors of whales nearby. I was not prepared however for just how spectacular the trip would end up being. 

Rumors of killer whales led us north, through the San Juan Channel and into the Wasp Islands that separate the west coasts of Shaw and Orcas. Osprey then turned left into West Sound and towards the family of Bigg’s Killer...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | July 7, 2021 | 2:00pm

 

All whale watching trips begin the same way: checking for reported visual sightings in the area, predicting the paths those cetaceans are headed, and determing if it’s viable for us to make it there given the distance and weather reports. We take into account all of the factors and plan accordingly, knowing that much is out of our control. Our adventure trip today was one of those days. 

 

Reports of a large group of Bigg’s Killer...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | July 6, 2021 | 2:00pm

 

Our adventure tour took off as a slow ride. Cattle pass, the southernmost part of San Juan Channel squished between San Juan Island and Lopez Island, was full of fog. We drifted through at a snail's pace, eyeing from left to right for any oncoming boats or logs. Eventually, we exited the fog and could pick up speed towards the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Earlier reports of a humpback whale traveling out that way led us on our path. Within a...

Maxx K. | M/V Osprey | 07/05/2021 | 5:30pm

    There were only a few people booked for our sunset trip tonight but ohh boy were they in for a treat! When we left Friday harbor we turned north towards a family of Bigg’s Killer Whales we had seen earlier that morning, the T046B’s. 

    We followed alongside them for several minutes as they moved into Boundary Pass just north of the San Juan Channel. When we arrived on scene they had just successfully hunted a harbor porpoise, the...

Jordan | M/V Kestrel | 07/05/2021 2:00pm

Perfect day out today!

Captain Pete and I jumped on the boat and headed north through the San Juan Channel. Heading up near Canada, we stopped by Flattop Island and checked out a whole group of Harbor Seals lounging in the water. Their beady little eyes stared up at us from the surface as they sleepily enjoyed the warm day.

Then, we saw 4 bald eagles! They all perched high in the treetops as they surveyed their surroundings in search for their...

MV Kestrel | Naturalist Alexandria | Monday, July 5th Today was an awesome day out on the water! Captain Sarah and myself were very excited to get out on the water today and knew it would be an awesome day full of great wild life but we had no idea how awesome our orca encounters were going to be!   We left Friday Harbor and headed north, knowing that it was a bit windier of a day and wanting to ensure that our guests stayed as comfy as possible!  Throughout the trip we were able...

Haleigh | M/V Osprey | July 4, 2021 | 5:30pm

 

Tonight’s sunset tour was one to beat! We traveled out of Friday Harbor northbound along Orcas Island. Recent sightings of cetaceans around Patos and Sucia island meant we had a direct route we were following. Going to these far-north islands was our mission, and we weren’t letting anything distract us!

 

By the time we passed through President’s Channel in between Waldron Island and Orcas Island, we knew to keep our eyes out for exhales...