A Surprise Minke Whale and Two Humpback Whales in the Strait
[Naturalist Erick D., M/V Kestrel, 9/5/17, 2:00PM] For our second trip on Tuesday we went on a little search aboard the M/V Kestrel. The cool smokey fog still was hanging around. Captain Mike and I journeyed south towards Cattle Pass. We made a stop at one of...
Transient Orcas Nap in Admiralty Inlet
[Naturalist Erick D., M/V Kestrel, 9/5/17, 10:00AM] On Tuesday, the weather continued to be an eerie in between of summer and fall weather. The nearby wildfires in Washington and Oregon caused a layer of warm smoke to hang in the air above the Salish Sea and...
Transient Orcas Travel Through Boundary Pass
[Naturalist Erick D., M/V Kestrel, 9/2/17, 1:30PM] For our afternoon trip on Saturday we took a little bit of a different route on the M/V Kestrel than we did in the morning. We started out by going south again to view one of my favorite animals and yours – the...
Through Deception Pass to Transient Orcas in Saratoga Pass
[Naturalist Erick D., M/V Kestrel, 9/2/17, 9:30AM] On Saturday, Captain Gabe and I took an early morning crowd on another fun trip over the water. We left Friday Harbor and went south in between San Juan Island and Lopez Island. Our first stop was at one of my...
The Most Active Transient Whales You Ever Did See – Whale Watching Near Victoria and Port Townsend
[Lauren Fritz, M/V Kestrel, 09/09/17, 10:30 am Tour & 2:00 pm Charter] Today was one of those magical days out on the water where all of us whale nerds (like me), boat captains (like Captain Mike), and wonderful passengers (like all of the folks out on our two...
M/V Kestrel Sees Southern Resident Orcas and Transient Orcas, IN ONE TRIP
[09/10/17- M/V Kestrel- Kelsey, Naturalist- 2:00PM] The San Juan Islands saw some great whales today! That’s a little bit of an understatement, but it was definitely a day that doesn’t happen very often. We got a chance to enjoy the sunny afternoon on M/V Kestrel, and...
A Friendly Humpback by Smith Island – Foggy Day Adventures
[Lauren Fritz, M/V Sea Lion, 09/08/17, 1:30 pm Tour] Today was foggy. I find days like today so relaxing and peaceful, and leaving Friday Harbor is so exciting because you don't really know what you're going to see! Fortunately, the fog around here usually only sticks...
Orca Whales Keep On Comin’ to the Salish Sea
[09/07/2017- M/V Kestrel- Kelsey, Naturalist- 1:30PM] Ya know what? Whale watching never gets old. You can be out on the water for 3-4 hours and continuously see something new and exciting throughout the whole trip. We had a pretty fun-packed day today, and of course,...
A Magical Encounter with Southern Resident Killer Whales
[09/06/2017- M/V Sea Lion- Kelsey, Naturalist- 1:30PM] Today. Was. Magical. Words almost cannot explain how phenomenal and special this day was. The Southern resident killer whales have been out from the Salish Sea for over a month in search of Chinook salmon, which...
What is this Fairytale Life? An Amazing Whale Watch Day on M/V Kestrel
[Lauren Fritz, M/V Kestrel, 09/03/17, 9:30 am & 1:30 pm Tour] Captain Gabe and I had two tours day, and it was an early start for us today. I love going out in the morning first thing, because it gives us a chance to be the whale spotters for the day and see...