Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | July 11, 2026 | 12:30 pm
Have you ever attended a T-party? And I don’t mean your typical cup of oolong or earl grey, but rather Transient killer whales!
We began our journey on the M/V Osprey this afternoon by traveling north up San Juan Channel and west through Spieden Channel, where we enjoyed looks of mouflon sheep on the south side of Spieden Island. Then, around the corner into Haro Strait, we came on scene to killer whale SOUP! Or, shall I say, a pot full of six T’s (killer whales)! We had to collect our bearings as we approached the scene, as multiple groups made of various families were spread between our starboard and stern before eventually converging. They porpoised out of the water at remarkable speeds and levels of cuteness, revealing their entire faces!
- T123/Sidney — female, born in 1985
- T123A/Stanley — male, born in 2000
- T123C/Lucky — female, born in 2012
- T123D/Darcy — female, born in 2018
- T037/Rocky III/Pizza Fin — female, born in 1979
- T037A/Volker — female, born in 1994
- T037A1/Inyo — female, born in 2007
- T037A2/Inky — male, born in 2009
- T037A3/Spinnaker —male, born in 2012
- T037A4/Crinkle — female, born in 2015
- T037B/Harald — female, born in 1998
- T037B1/Lance — male, born in 2012
- T037B3/Slice — female, born in 2022
- T037A/Volker — female, born in 1994
After getting our thirst for killer whales quenched, we headed back north past Henry Island, where we found a few Harbor seals hauled out just beneath a magnificent bald eagle perched atop a Douglas fir.
Thanks so much for everyone who joined the party today, hope to see you again soon!
Want more information about the Pacific Whale Watch Association? See https://www.pacificwhalewatchassociation.com/
Want to see more photos from our trips? Visit our SmugMug page at: https://sanjuansafaris.smugmug.com/