Maxx K. | M/V Osprey | 07/07/2021 | 5:30pm

    Today’s sunset tour started like they often do: Osprey left Friday harbor in search of whales, following up on rumors of whales nearby. I was not prepared however for just how spectacular the trip would end up being. 

Rumors of killer whales led us north, through the San Juan Channel and into the Wasp Islands that separate the west coasts of Shaw and Orcas. Osprey then turned left into West Sound and towards the family of Bigg’s Killer...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | July 7, 2021 | 2:00pm

All whale watching trips begin the same way: checking for reported visual sightings in the area, predicting the paths those cetaceans are headed, and determing if it’s viable for us to make it there given the distance and weather reports. We take into account all of the factors and plan accordingly, knowing that much is out of our control. Our adventure trip today was one of those days. 

Reports of a large group of Bigg’s Killer...

Maxx K. | M/V Osprey | 07/05/2021 | 5:30pm

    There were only a few people booked for our sunset trip tonight but ohh boy were they in for a treat! When we left Friday harbor we turned north towards a family of Bigg’s Killer Whales we had seen earlier that morning, the T046B’s. 

    We followed alongside them for several minutes as they moved into Boundary Pass just north of the San Juan Channel. When we arrived on scene they had just successfully hunted a harbor porpoise, the...

Jordan | M/V Kestrel | 07/05/2021 2:00pm

Perfect day out today!

Captain Pete and I jumped on the boat and headed north through the San Juan Channel. Heading up near Canada, we stopped by Flattop Island and checked out a whole group of Harbor Seals lounging in the water. Their beady little eyes stared up at us from the surface as they sleepily enjoyed the warm day.

Then, we saw 4 bald eagles! They all perched high in the treetops as they surveyed their surroundings in search for their...

Haleigh | M/V Osprey | July 4, 2021 | 5:30pm

Tonight’s sunset tour was one to beat! We traveled out of Friday Harbor northbound along Orcas Island. Recent sightings of cetaceans around Patos and Sucia island meant we had a direct route we were following. Going to these far-north islands was our mission, and we weren’t letting anything distract us!

By the time we passed through President’s Channel in between Waldron Island and Orcas Island, we knew to keep our eyes out for exhales...

Today was by far the best orca encounter of my life. OF MY LIFE, Y’ALL!

Captain Pete and I motored out of the harbor on M/V Sea Lion with the intention of viewing some Bigg’s killer whales that were rumored to be near the Canadian border. We zipped north through San Juan Channel, into Spieden Channel, and headed just west of Stuart Island. 13 Bigg’s killer whales, in all their joyous glory, greeted us with multiple spy hops, tail slaps, and natural curiosity. Not only did we have...

Maxx K. | M/V Osprey | 07/02/2021 | 5:30pm

Osprey slowly turned southbound out of Friday Harbor as the sun set behind San Juan Island off our stern. We motored down the San Juan Channel and eventually stopped at the Whale Rocks off cattle point. Harbor seals seemed to cuddle with one another just above the water’s edge, maintaining that quintessential banana shaped posture as they balanced against the incoming swell. Steller sea lions rested just behind them, their robust beige...

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...

Haleigh | M/V Osprey | June 24, 2021 | 5:30pm

I’ll likely say this throughout the summer -- sunsets are the absolute best time to be on the water. As we leave the dock and pass in and around the islands, everything around us is either sparkling or glowing. Tonight’s excursion lived up to the magic. 

Our beginning route led us eastbound on an inter-island expedition. We were following prior reports of a “T-Party” traveling through the San Juan Channel. Bigg’s Killer Whales are...

Maxx K. | M/V Sea Lion | 06/24/2021 | 2:00

    When Sea Lion left Friday Harbor we had heard mere rumors of Killer Whales south of us in the Juan de Fuca. As we trudged through the current at Cattle Pass these rumors swiftly became a reality as blows and dorsal fins appeared on the horizon heading towards us. 

    We were slowly approaching a T-Party. Bigg’s Orca (Also known as “Transients”) typically travel alone or with small groups. Every now and again they will join up with...