Skip to main content
Image
pc: San Juan Safaris

A Bigg’s Killer Whale T-Party near Waldron Island

September has arrived, and with it the chaos of busy Labor Day weekend. I was delighted to hear that the Salish Sea was matching the hustle and bustle energy of downtown Friday Harbor. Before leaving the dock, we knew of several whale reports in the region. M/V Osprey departed Friday Harbor and went north in San Juan Channel. We went to follow up on a report of Bigg’s Killer Whales that were heading southwest in Presidents Channel. Normally when we encounter our marine mammal eating killer...

Image
pc: Lauren Tschirhart, San Juan Safaris

Waldron Killer Whales Spy Hop Down Presidents Channel

Olivia | M/V Osprey | August 21st, 2024 | 12:30pm

Summer season out here in the San Juan Islands is considered peak season, bringing in the opportunity to see potentially two ecotypes of Killer Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, and Gray Whales. While statistics continually reflect on that, every day is a brand-new adventure on where or what type of whale it is we are going to see. Starting off August, we had a bit of a Killer Whale lull in the Salish Sea, where Pacific Whale Watch...

Image
Humpback Whale surfacing for air

Humpback Surprise by Waldron Island

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | July 31, 2021 | 2:00pm

 

We started our Saturday afternoon trip moving north through the San Juan Channel. We reached a small island called Skipjack to find two dozen harbor seals hauled out along the shoreline! Some of them were playing in the kelp beds while most lay in a banana-shape pose, head and tail pulled up towards the sky. We rounded this tiny island and continued north in search of more wildlife! 

 

Earlier reports of Bigg’s Killer Whales near the...

Image
Orca Spy Hop

Gregarious Killer Whales off Waldron Island

Maxx K. | M/V Sea Lion | 07/01/2021 | 2:00 

 

    It was a gorgeous afternoon on the water today, a perfect 70 degrees and calm as could be as we left Friday harbor with a boatful of excited guests. We turned northward, heading up and through the San Juan channel following rumors of whales approaching Waldron Island. We passed Jones Island and Orcas on our journey, weaving between the islands as they slowly began to rise further out of the water with the outgoing tide. 

    From...

Image
Bigg's Killer Whales in the Salish Sea

Local Favorite Bigg's Killer Whales Swim Up San Juan Channel

Olivia | M/V Osprey | June 10th, 2021 | 12:30pm

The day shifted from a cloudy, rainy morning into a beautiful sunny afternoon- just in time for our adventure trip on the zodiac. After getting everyone geared up in their exposure suits and a brief tutorial on spotting wildlife, we were off the dock and in search mode heading north! It was a quick trip up to speed, because we were fortunate enough to have reports of Bigg’s Killer Whales IN San Juan Channel when we left the dock. Since...

Image
Bigg's killer whales hunting

Bigg's Killer Whales T87 and T90s Hunt Sea Lions near Waldron Island!

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 4/9/2021 | 1:00PM

What a fun day in April to be out on the water!  The skies were grey and seas a little choppy, but that did not alter the mind set of those set on seeing some amazing wildlife today.  We left the dock in a hurry, as there was a morning report of Bigg’s killer whales in the area!  Back in the office, one of our kayak guides, Clai, phoned in to let us know his guests just saw killer whales on their 3-hour kayak trip with San Juan Outfitters! ...

Image
Southern Resident Killer Whales in Boundary Pass

Unexpected Whale of a Day; Duo Humpback Whales and Southern Resident Killer Whales Come Feed in the San Juan Islands

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | Septmeber 28th, 2020 | 13:00

Today was probably the clearest day we have had in over a month. No clouds were to be found in the blue, sunny skies and our old friend Mount Baker stood tall waving hello after a few weeks sitting behind clouds, smoke, and lots of fog. It was already setting out to be a gorgeous, fall day out boating in the San Juan Islands with a little twist of summer on top. Our migrating Humpback Whales have spent most of the summer foraging...

Image
Transient Orca Swim in the Morning

Enjoying the Morning Sun with Bigg's Killer Whales

Olivia | M/V Kestrel | September 20th, 2020 | 10:00

Heading off into the foggy water opened our morning adventure to one big adventure. We traveled north into the cool morning, and shortly after crossing through President’s Channel, the sky appeared and the fog settled, bringing in the glorious morning sun. It was one of the first mornings in a while where we could see the surrounding islands since we have had so much smoke from the wildfires. All of this contributed to high spirits...

Image
P/C. Olivia Esqueda

Surprise Transient Orcas in the Foggy Strait of Georgia

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | September 17th, 2020 | 13:00

What a crazy, adventurous day out in the dense fog and smoke! We left the dock with no more than a 30-yard visibility in either direction of the boat. We were still able to travel out in the San Juan Islands safely and continue north where there were some whale rumors far in the Strait of Georgia. The smog started to lift the further north we went and by the time we were just past Patos Island, and just south of Point Roberts, the...

Image
Bigg's Killer Whales Visit Stuart Island

Action Packed Killer Whale and Wildlife Day

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | September 12th, 2020 | 13:00

Our excursion today started off with no whale reports in the Salish Sea. This is a very normal way to start the day as we all leave the dock, divide along the waters, and check on what is occurring in the world’s most productive waters. Captain Erick and I decided to head north and scan all the areas where their prey hangs out, which in turn, are whale hot spots. We immediately saw Harbor Porpoise swimming throughout San Juan...

Start your next adventure today! View All Tours