Kelly Klein | M/V Osprey | June 16th, 2026 | 12:30pm
The gentle breeze felt amazing as we left Friday Harbor and pointed north in San Juan Channel. Eventually we made our way west through Spieden Channel and into the Haro Strait. Two exhales erupted from the glassy calm water ahead. A pair of humpback whales identified as "Monarch" and "Yakima" were traveling side by side! We watched as they continuously surfaced, eventually throwing up their elegant tails to indicate a long deep dive. It's a bit of mystery as to why humpbacks are more frequently pairing up on their migration route through the Salish Sea. The more humpbacks we see here perhaps it's more likely they find each other at food hotspots and decide to be travel buddies!? We departed the humpbacks after a few good looks, eager to make our way east in response to a recently reported killer whales sighting. We wasted no time transiting through Boundary Pass and eventually to the coast of Orcas Island. We were lucky to find a group of 3 orcas identified as the T100's made up of:
T100/Hutchins — female, born around 1979
- T100C/Laurel — male, born in 2002
- T100F/Estrella — born in 2014
We were treated to gorgeous look as this family of 3 made their way down Orcas' pristine coastline. The glassy water shimmering a deep green hue, an indication of our waters plentiful phytoplankton population. The family started spread apart, slowly making their way back to each other at they progressed south, eventually swimming side by side. Turtleback Mountain's evergreen covered shell peak towering in the distance, creating a picture perfect backdrop to the orcas exhaling in the foreground.