Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Friday, August 7, 2026 | 12:30 pm
Today’s classic wildlife tour was full of large splashes, killer whale bellies, and even some...lustful displays. We followed reports east out of Friday Harbor between Shaw and Lopez Islands and through Peavine Pass to Rosario Strait. As we arrived on scene, Captain Gabe told the boat to quickly look outside, as he spotted large splashes off the bow. From these initial looks, we wondered if these two Bigg’s killer whale siblings, Neftali and Misneach, were actively hunting an unlucky marine mammal. But moments later, Neftali rolled on his back and revealed a light pink body part protruding from his belly…this duo continued to roll like logs against one another, performing handstands and cartwheels. This was not the first time this season I have seen this incest-y behavior between this same pair of siblings…what was going on here!
Below is the family of killer whales these two weirdos belong to, with the two individuals present in bold:
- T077/Asja — female, born around 1981
- T077C / Neftali — male, born in 2006
- T077D / Alcyon — female, born in 2009
- T077E/Misneach — born in 2016
*Misneach (MISH-nyach) is a Gaelic name that translates to “courage.”
After watching Neftali and Misneach slowly make their way north up Blakely Island, we of course had to save some time to view the sea otter that has been hanging out at Turn Rock off San Juan Island. Watching him/her somersault in continuous circles to maintain that dense, insulating fur was the perfect way to conclude the interesting day.
Check out the photos from today at: https://sanjuansafaris.smugmug.com/
More information on the Pacific Whale Watch Association: https://www.pacificwhalewatchassociation.com/