Olivia Esqueda | May 6th, 2026 | M/V Sea Lion | 8:00am
Today we were excited to have UW Students joining us on the water as a part of their marine biology course. This is something we do a few times in the spring and the fall as an interactive way for them to learn out in the field. On our way to pick them up from UW Labs, we spotted Bigg’s Killer Whales right outside of Friday Harbor! We popped over to see what direction they were heading, picked up the students and their professors, and headed back north into San Juan Channel where we re-found them hanging out and ID’d them as the T019’s! Formerly referred to as the T018’s [until T18 Esperanza passed away who was presumed to be the grandma of this group] and now consists of T19, T19B, and T19C. This is my favorite family of transient orcas and getting lucky enough to find them while drinking coffee, right away in the morning, and with UW students on board- amazing. We even saw Harbor Porpoise nearby!
We watched them all the way up to Spieden Island where we looked at Steller’s Sea Lions before turning around and weaving between the Wasp Islands to circumnavigate Shaw Island. On Shaw Island we also checked out an active Bald Eagle’s nest! Circling bac around through Upright Channel, we came across another group of Bigg’s Killer Whales- the T049A’s! One of my other favorite families! My goodness, talk about a great morning. After that, we looked at a Sea Otter floating in Bull Kelp and Harbor Seals hauled out by Turn Island before finally making our return to UW Labs. Cannot wait to get back out on the water and looking forward to more students joining us in the future!
Wanting to see more photos from our trips? Visit our SmugMug page at: https://sanjuansafaris.smugmug.com/
More information about the Pacific Whale Watch Association: https://www.pacificwhalewatchassociation.com/