Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

Maxx K. | M/V Kestrel | 07/12/2021 | 2:00pm

Captain Sarah and I decided to head south this afternoon, trying our luck in finding whales off the various banks that rise up in the Juan De Fuca. After passing Goose Island to admire some nesting Pelagic Cormorants we continued out of the San Juan Channel. 

We then slowed over Salmon Bank at our first baitball, gulls and Rhinoceros Auklets flocking tightly over an unseen ball of fish below. The anticipation built as we waited, hoping...

Jordan | M/V Kestrel | 07/11/2021 10:00pm

This trip was super unique! I’ve never seen orca behavior quite like this before.

The day began with a beautiful boat ride out of Friday Harbor and down the San Juan Channel. We passed Cattle Point lighthouse and emerged out into open waters.

Heading toward the East, we could see the distant islands grow closer and closer. Finally we arrived at Deception Pass, a fantastic area with huge rocky cliffs and lush forests. Here, we saw something...

Jordan | M/V Kestrel | 07/11/2021 10:00pm

What an incredible trip today.

The day was perfectly sunny as Captain Eric and I hopped on the boat and headed between Shaw and Lopez Island. We wound around the Islands and through Lopez pass as we came out into the open waters of the Rosario Strait. The distant fog bank hid the coastline and made the seas look never-ending.

As we entered the fog, we found ourselves along the coastline of Fidalgo Island and suddenly there were orcas! A large...

Jordan | M/V Osprey | 07/10/2021 12:30pm

The day began as Captain Brian, Naturalist Alexandria, Naturalist Haleigh and I jumped on Osprey with our guests and headed out to search the islands.

We headed south down the San Juan Channel and cruised towards Cattle Pass. Along the way, we stopped and watch the floppy seals enjoying their rocky haven. There were even pups there trying to keep warm in the sun.

 Continuing on our way, we saw the lovely Cattle Point lighthouse that indicates...

Jordan | M/V Osprey | 07/10/2021 12:30pm

The day began as Captain Brian, Naturalist Alexandria, Naturalist Haleigh and I jumped on Osprey with our guests and headed out to search the islands.

We headed south down the San Juan Channel and cruised towards Cattle Pass. Along the way, we stopped and watch the floppy seals enjoying their rocky haven. There were even pups there trying to keep warm in the sun.

 Continuing on our way, we saw the lovely Cattle Point lighthouse that indicates...

Jordan | M/V Osprey | 07/09/2021 5:30pm

This day was absolutely wonderful.

Captain Brian, Naturalist Alexandria and I booked it off the dock in our nice big vessel and headed out towards adventure. We cruised between Islands and northeast until we reached Peavine Pass. Slowly, we enjoyed the narrow channel and emerged into the Rosario Strait.

Then, just around the corner, we saw orcas! So cool! This beautiful family of orcas cruised along the shoreline and seemed to catch a seal...

Jordan |m/v Kestrel |07/08/2021| 2:00pm

Today was definitely one of my favorite trips of the season. Just want to start by saying thank you to all my wonderful guests! Your passion and intrigue made the trip even better!

The day began as Captain Eric and I headed East out of Friday Harbor, in between Blakely Island and Decatur and then out towards Anacortes. We sped past Anacortes and around Guemes Island. Here, we found Orcas!

We shortly identified them as the T34s and T37s! These...

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...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | July 6, 2021 | 2:00pm

Our adventure tour took off as a slow ride. Cattle pass, the southernmost part of San Juan Channel squished between San Juan Island and Lopez Island, was full of fog. We drifted through at a snail's pace, eyeing from left to right for any oncoming boats or logs. Eventually, we exited the fog and could pick up speed towards the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Earlier reports of a humpback whale traveling out that way led us on our path. Within a...