April 22, 2017 – Earth Day Sail with the T124As – a total of 8 transient orcas. It was exciting for us to meet the two new calves, T124A6 and T124A2B, first seen on December 30, 2016. (Note the differences in eye patches). We met the whales in Harney Channel traveling between Shaw and Orcas Island in a tight group aiming for the sun. They decided to head north through Pole Pass, turned south of Yellow Island, then north again to see the sunset at Jones Island before heading for President’s Channel.
Two newest calves in the T124A’s transient family
Transient Orca Family, T124A2’s
T124A3
T124A with newest calf T124A6 (her sixth known calf). Unfortunately, T124A5 hasn’t been seen since February 2015 and is presumed dead
Evening light on Orcas Island, Harney Channel
Orcas goofing around
T124A’s traveling in Harney Channel
T124A2 and T124A6 (we think)
Transient killer whale T124A1
T124A2 with her mom T124A
T124A2 with calf (we think its T124A2B), and T124A
We think this calf is T124A6 with T124A4
Washington State Ferries
T124As heading towards the narrow and shallow Pole Pass
Evening skies
Evening sail
Bald Eagle on Low Island
Sunset looking back toward Lopez
Sunset spy hop
T124As heading for the sun
Heading up San Juan Channel
Orca watching the sun go down
As the sun sets they make a right turn and head for Presidents Channel
Deer grazing on Jones Island