Olivia Ellman | M/V Osprey | July 2nd, 2025 | 12:30 pm

Killer Whales are all unique and identifiable based on different markings on their dorsal fins, saddle patches, and eye patches, but some are definitely more distinct than others. T63, known as Chainsaw, is one of the most distinct whales in our Bigg’s population, and anyone will know why as soon as they see him. On today’s afternoon tour, I was thrilled that we got to see this iconic whale along with multiple others! We began our trip...

Kelly | M/V Kestrel | Monday, June 30th 2025 | 2:00 PM

Another hot summer day! Perfect for zooming around the islands in our high speed vessel the M/V Kestrel. Our first stop of the tour was at White Rock, a known hot spot for harbor seals. Today was no exception, the rocks were peppered with the pinnipeds. There is a big distinction between seals and sea lions, the most prominent difference being their skeletal structure. Sea lions also are MUCH more vocal, if anyone has every spent time around...

Kelly | M/V Osprey | Sunday, June 29th 2025 | 12:30 PM

Goodbye Junuary! Hello proper summer weather! The sun was out and beating down as we left Friday harbor and set course up San Juan Channel. The breeze felt amazing as we picked up speed- instantly cooling everything down. Just outside presidents channel, we began to slow our speed to under 7 knots. In the distance...dorsal fins came into view! 4 distinct fins began to emerge from the water belonging to none other than... the T123's! Including...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Osprey | June 25th, 2025 | 12:30 PM 

We had another great day on the water this afternoon, where we got to spend time with two different Bigg’s Killer Whale matrilines that I have not seen before! Before leaving the dock, we had reports of these whales off the eastern side of Orcas Island, so we began traveling in that direction. Along our interisland cruise, we made a stop to see a number of harbor seals outside of Obstruction Pass. We got to see a few inch their way into the...

Kelly | M/V Kestrel | Sunday, June 22nd 2025 | 2:00 PM

June-uary was in full force as we left Friday Harbor and took a right in San Juan Channel. The sky was an overcast grey but that certainly didn't stop the wildlife from making an appearance! Our first stop was a small rocky area just off San Juan's eastern shoreline. These rocks were crawling with harbor seals. We have around 300 of these known harbor seal haul out areas in the San Juan's. Having a fused pelvis does come with limitations...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Osprey | Friday, June 20th, 2025 | 12:30 PM

Today’s Classic tour gave us a beautiful cruise through San Juan and Spieden Channels. We began by heading north out of Friday Harbor, and searched along the coastlines for wildlife. Once we turned West into Spieden Channel, we soon saw  boats in the distance near Henry Island that were with a group of two different Bigg’s Killer Whale matrilines! Based on photo ID, we knew these were the T65Bs and T75Bs. We have seen these families...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | Tuesday, June 17th, 2025 | 2:00 PM

Today's afternoon Adventure Whale Watch was easily one of my top trips all season. We left Friday Harbor and headed south in San Juan Channel, soon stopping at Goose Island to view harbor seals and many sea birds. We continued through Cattle Pass and into Salmon Bank, where we searched for signs of baleen whales among some bait balls. With no signs of whales here, we decided to keep moving south towards some reports of Bigg's Killer...

Kelly | M/V Osprey | Tuesday, June 17th 2025 | 12:30 PM

We started our trip with a right turn outside Friday Harbor and pointed south down San Juan Channel. Not long after departing, we began to slow the boat, 8 Killer whales we reported essentially in our backyard! This group was identified as the T75B's and T65B's including:

• T065B/Chunk — female, born in 1993
• T065B1/Birdsall — male, born in 2011
• T065B2/Nettle/Corvis — born in 2019
• T065B3/Rook — male, born in 2023

• T075B / Pebbles — female, born in...

Kelly | M/V Kestrel | Sunday, June 15th 2025 | 2:00 PM

Heading south in San Juan Channel, our first stop was for our ever so lovable harbor seals. This haul out site near Turn Point provided a perfect example of the wide variety in coat patterns unique to the Salish Sea. Some seals pitch black, others snow white and every mixture in between! Moving further down San Juan Channel, through Cattle Pass and into the Straight of Juan de Fuca we eventually came on scene with 4 killer whales identified...

Olivia Ellman | M/V Kestrel | Saturday, June 14th, 2025 | 2:00 PM

During our afternoon trip on Kestrel, we got to cruise around the Canadian Gulf Islands and spend time with two different families of Bigg’s Killer Whales! We left Friday Harbor and headed north up San Juan Channel. Shortly after crossing the Canadian border, we stopped near Saturna Island to view a group of harbor seals resting on a small island. We then continued northwest to catch up with a group of whales that had been reported...