Welcome to the Whale Report Blog

Laura C. | M/V Kestrel | 8/22/2019 | 11:00am, 3:00pm

It was an outstanding day aboard M/V Kestrel!  Captain Pete touched base with other whale-watching vessels in the area and received reports of two families of Bigg’s killer whales traveling northwest from Sidney Island to Satellite Channel!  Vessels already on scene identified them as the T34s and T37s.  There, we spent a large amount of time just being in the presence of these beautiful mammals.  It was easy to see how strong the...

Piper | Thursday, August 22, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 1:30 PM

Just one day after the misty rains that shrouded the islands moved in, they moved right back out and the sunshine ruled this afternoon for our Classic tour. Captain Sarah, naturalist Jordan, and I took an awesome group of guests out into the Salish Sea. We headed northwest towards the Canadian port city of Sidney on Vancouver Island, where just offshore a family of orcas was exploring the depths.

On our way there we spotted a...

Piper | Wednesday, August 21, 2019 | M/V Kestrel | 11:00 AM

This morning there were a few reports of orcas around the Salish Sea, so Captain Gabe and I took some lovely guests out on the Kestrel to check them out! It was a very typical PNW day out, rainy and foggy, but sometimes those days are extra worth it!

We left the docks and headed north towards Waldron Island where T49A1 was swimming off on his own, his family just five miles away, half the distance at which these orcas can...

Piper | Tuesday, August 20, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 1:30 PM

Leaving the docks in Friday Harbor today, Captain Pete, naturalist Erin, and I had a few options for whale sightings, which is always an awesome way to start the day! We decided to head north in San Juan Channel and hang a left in Spieden Channel where we spotted a few super cute harbor porpoises swimming along, likely unaware of the group of Bigg’s killer whales swimming just ahead!

We arrived on scene shortly after with the...

Olivia | August 19th, 2019 | M/V Kestrel | 3:00pm

We had such an incredible morning trip that reassured us for an epic afternoon one as well! The T49A’s had traveled up and down the channel since we previously viewed them, and this time came right to Friday Harbor! We didn’t even have the chance to speed up and slowly motored under 7kts to go see them. We mentally prepared our passengers for one quick view before we left and came back later, wanting to reduce the number of vessels in...

Jordan | M/V Sea Lion | 08/19/19 | 1:30pm

Wow! We saw so much wildlife today! Hope everyone knew how lucky we were to see all that we did!

As soon as Captain Pete, Naturalist Piper and I left Friday Harbor, we boated about 5 minutes north and found orca whales immediately! Amazing! Typically, we travel far and wide to see the whales!

These transient (Bigg’s) killer whales were travelling around San Juan Channel but erratically changing directions every few minutes! They really kept...

Olivia | August 19th, 2019 | M/V Kestrel | 11:00am

 The whales made our job look so easy today since there was absolutely no build up when we found them right out of Friday Harbor! The only thing we had a chance to see prior was a Bald Eagle soaring above the pines while I was giving my animal sighting chat to our passengers. The T49A’s were milling south in the San Juan Channel and we were able to view them for a wee bit before splitting off and checking out more wildlife. We do our...

Laura C. / M/V Sea Lion / 8/18/2019 / 1:30 pm

Today was an awesome trip aboard M/V Sea Lion!  The windy atmosphere produced a bustling Salish Sea, filled with waves and wildlife!  We headed towards Middle Bank and found J 16s moving southwest at about 7-8 knots!  The J16s are a three-generation matriline apart of J Pod, consisting of 6 matrilines!  Today, was watched this family of four cruising with the rolling seas!  We saw J26, aka “Mike”, sporting his tall dorsal fin and towering...

Piper | Sunday, August 18, 2019 | M/V Kestrel | 11:00 AM

Leaving the docks today, Captain Gabe and I felt very lucky to be taking a group of guests on the water because the Southern Resident Killer Whales were still here! We began our trip by heading north in San Juan Channel, but before we could even hit full speed we slowed because a very majestic bald eagle was perched in a tree overlooking the water.

We stopped to get some nice photos before continuing toward Spieden Channel...

Olivia | August 17th, 2019 | M/V Sea Lion | 1:30pm

If any of you have been reading my blogs, you know I have said this many times. The thing is, I’ve always meant it. It holds true to say- today was my favorite trip of the season. Yes, we all know wildlife is enchanting. You never know what you’re going to see, how active they will be, what the weather is doing, or even how your fellow passengers will respond. Today, however, hit the jackpot as Captain Erick, Co-Naturalist Laura and...