Abby | M/V Kestrel | April 5th, 2026 | 2pm
The first M/V Kestrel trip of the season kicked off with sunny skies and beautiful waters. We traveled south in San Juan Channel and made our way towards Cattle Point, the southernmost point on San Juan Island. Our first stop was to Whale Rocks, where Steller’s Sea Lions haul out. Hold your breath, because unfortunately we were downwind and caught some striking sniffs of their stench. We also couldn’t help hearing their barking sounds as they occasionally fight on the rocky shores. We then turned west into the Haro Strait where there was a report of Bigg’s Killer Whales. The killer whales were already identified as the T123’s.
T123/Sidney — female, born in 1985
T123A/Stanley — male, born in 2000
T123C/Lucky — female, born in 2012
T123D/Darcy — female, born in 2018
Stanley, the 26-year-old fully grown male in this family is recognizably larger than his mom, Sidney, and sisters, Lucky and Darcy. It is always a treat to see fully grown killer whales because their dorsal fins are 6 feet tall! I don’t think I will ever get used to their massive size. We had some wonderful looks of this family and were able to have a few moments with the engine off so we could just hear them breathe as they surfaced. There is nothing like the true quiet being out on the water and then being interrupted by the breath of these magnificent creatures.
We continued to transit north in the Haro Strait and spent time viewing the coastline of Spieden Island. As we cruised along, we saw not one, not two, but at least 5 more Bald Eagles! Including a bald eagle nest! Below them on the grassy ground were some Mouflon sheep, and even further below at the water’s edge were more Steller’s Sea Lions! It truly was a wildlife filed day and I couldn’t have asked for a better first Kestrel trip of the season!
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/