Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Kestrel | August 13th, 2026 | 2:00pm

Some days we are lucky enough to have Killer Whales within sight of San Juan Island, and this was one of those days! The T19 family of Bigg's Killer Whales were just a few minutes outside of Friday Harbor. This family is led by their mother/matriarch "Nootka" who is one of the oldest living whales in the entire population. She was joined by her two adult sons "Galiano" and "Spouter" who are both absolutely HUGE. Many people believe that...

Aly Liu | M/V Kestrel | Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 10:00 AM

At the beginning of each tour, I say that there are only four eyeballs between the captain and I, and that we need help from each and every passenger to scan for signs of wildlife, and that the search has already begun. And when I asked Captain Vaun if he had anything to add, he said that he has already spotted blows. We had not even picked up speed out of Friday Harbor yet! In minutes, we were at the southwest coast of Shaw Island...

Kelly | M/V Osprey | August 15h, 2026 | 12:30pm

We were so blessed today to have whales RIGHT In our backyard, and not just any whales…the beloved T49a’s! We traveled only about 15 minutes outside of Friday Harbor before exhales appeared in the distance. This is a family of 6 members consisting of:

• T049A/Nan — female, born in 1986
• T049A3/Nat — male, born in 2011
• T049A4/Neptune — male, born in 2014
• T049A5/Nebula — female, born in 2017
• T049A6/Charlie II — male, born in 2022
• T049A7*/Nimbus — born in 2026

T...

Kelly | M/V Kestrel | August 14h, 2026 | 2pm

We left Friday Harbor and wasted no time pointing north into Canadian water. We weaved through the scenic Canadian Gulf Islands, eventually emerging from Georgenson Pass into the larger body of water known as the Strait of Georgia. Suddenly, a large smokestack exhale appeared in the distance. A humpback whale identified as BCX1377 aka “Nike”. We were treated to incredible looks at this humpback as it remained on a consistent dive pattern, showing off...

Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Wednesday, August 14, 2026 | 12:30 pm 

Today’s classic wildlife tour departed from Friday Harbor and made its first stop at White Rock after transiting north through San Juan Channel. Here, we enjoyed views of rock sausages, AKA harbor seals, a pinniped of the Salish Sea that is thriving at carrying capacity, eating over 60 species of prey, and satiating the hunger of the Bigg’s ecotype of killer whales here. 

The journey ahead across Boundary Pass and along the northern...

Olivia Esqueda | August 13th, 2026 | M/V Osprey | 12:30pm

Today was such a gift out on the water with so much wildlife to see and all close to home! We started off today’s trip by heading north through San Juan Channel. After passing heaps of Fried Egg Jellyfish and Harbor Porpoise, we found ourselves at Spieden Island. Not only did we see multiple Bald Eagles and a nest, but there were Harbor Seals hauled out all along the shoreline! This time of year is so fun as we can find pups everywhere...

Lauren Tschirhart | August 12th, 2026 | M/V Kestrel | 2:00 pm

There was lots of action out in the Salish Sea today. The whale reports were coming in from several locations around Friday Harbor. The majority of these reports were south in the Strait of Juan De Fuca, so we decided to head that way. Just a few minutes after departing Friday Harbor, I spotted an unreported humpback whale traveling north in San Juan Channel. This humpback, later identified as BCX2077 “Graphite” was taking short dives...

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

After leaving the dock in Friday Harbor, M/V Osprey booked it south through San Juan Channel towards reports of a T-party, or three families of Bigg’s Killer whales, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As we approached the scene, I had no idea that this was about to be my favorite encounter of the season thus far, and it is safe to say the entire crew shares these sentiments.

This afternoon was special for multiple reasons: 

• Large T-parties...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | August 9th, 2026 |10:00 am and 2:00 pm 

Another exciting adventure day on Kestrel! As is usual with our 10 am tour, when we departed the dock we didn’t have many sightings to work off of so we began heading north. Soon into our travels we heard of a shore report in Active Pass and the Strait of Georgia of possible Bigg’s Killer Whales, so we zoomed in that direction with the hopes of catching up. Luck was on our side because another vessel picked up the whales about...

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | August 11th, 2026 | 12:30pm

We started this tour with a visit to a nearby kelp bed near Turn Rock to search for a Sea Otter that tends to frequent that spot. Just as we began searching we noticed him swimming towards the kelp from deeper water! It appeared that he was eating something small, perhaps a clam from the sea floor below. We watched him enjoy his lunch for a few minutes before departing and moving North up San Juan Channel. We were lucky enough to have a...