May 29, 2017 – T124A’s, T124D’s, T86A’s, T77A, T87, T100’s – By our count 21 transient killer whales traveling fast against a flood tide all the way from Java Rocks to Cattle Pass. Just amazing the level of power to travel at speed against a 4 knot current. Why? Because they can. We all passed Friday Harbor and cleared Turn Island at sunset.
T124A2 (?) passing Pt Disney, Waldron Island
T77A and T87 in Spring Pass
T77A exploding exhale
T124A’s passing Yellow Island
T124A’s and T100’s passing Yellow Island
T77A – a male orca born 1996
T100’s cruising down San Juan Channel
T77A with layers of islands in the distance
T87 – a male orca with an estimated birth year of 1962
T124D with newest calf, T124D2, born approximately April 2017 with Washington State Ferry leaving Friday Harbor
Currents converging
Orcas traveling in tight group
T100, a mother of 4, born 1978
T86A3, born 2011
Orcas passing Shipyard Cove
T124D, mother of 2, born 1996 – with newest calf, T124D2, approximately 2 months old
T86A1, T86A, T86A4, T86A3
T87 passing The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor
T77A and T87 passing Friday Harbor
Transients passing Schooners North S/V Spike Africa
T100C, male orca born 2002
T100, T100C, and T100F
Circular upwelling
T124D’s
Whale watching sailing at sunset
T100C and Mt Baker
Whale watching at sunset
Transient orcas heading towards Cattle Pass under a mackerel sky