T123s chase steller sea lion

May 16, 2017 – After receiving reports of the T123 family of transient killer whales heading down President’s Channel, we departed Friday Harbor to meet up with them. When we arrived they were milling for a brief moment before changing course directly towards Green Pt, Spieden Island, where the steller sea lions hang out. Suddenly exploding through the water was T123 charging after a sea lion. The hunt was on as she and her 2 offspring lunged and leapt after it. We think he was one lucky sea lion who escaped close to shore after a dramatic encounter.

T123A spy peep

T123A, born 2000

T123’s heading west from Jones Island

Sailing with orcas

T123’s on their way to Green Pt where the sea lions hang out for about 8 months of the year. Flattop Island in the background.

T123 chasing a steller sea lion

Beginning of a sea lion chase. Little sister T123C with older brother T123A

T123 did multiple jumps in the air chasing after the sea lion

T123 lunging

T123 charging after the sea lion

T123A chasing a sea lion

T123 and daughter T123C (born 2012) chasing after a sea lion

The sea lion and the orcas moved closer and closer toward the shoreline of San Juan Island

T123 about to leap in the air

While the orcas were chasing a sea lion, this bald eagle swooped in multiple times to attack this auklet or to take whatever the auklet had in it’s mouth

T123A hugging the shoreline of Spieden Island while a group of sea lions is up and around the corner and another group of sea lions are traveling behind him and his family

Large group of male steller sea lions trailing the orcas including one California sea lion at the back of the group

Bald eagle swoops down next to traveling orcas after the sea lion chase ended

Standing their ground growling as the orcas head away from them

We enjoy seeing these two California sea lions each week still hanging out with the Steller sea lions. Funny how they hang out at the back of the pack of the big boys!