July 15, 2018 – Half day morning sail – We sailed North from Point Caution tacking around Shirt Tail Reef, Yellow Island and Steep Point on Orcas Island. Shirt Tail Reef Channel Marker was being used as a roost by a Bald Eagle and there were Harbor Seals hauled out on Low Island. We were hearing that J16s and J17s (minus J46) were heading North now at Kellett Bluff making slow progress against a strong ebb tide. We used the ebb tide to our advantage and moved quickly through Spieden Channel despite the turbulent chuck. Rounding Battleship Island we met the Orcas pushing North from Henry Island in two separate groups, J16s a little ahead. We sailed with them passed Danger Shoal before turning to sail through New Channel. We spotted a pair of Peregrine Falcons as well as more Bald eagles. We sailed home by way of the San Juan shoreline.
Wa state ferry Wasp Pass with Mount Baker
Shirt Tail Reef with Harbor Seals and with Bald Eagle on Channel Marker
Bald eagle on Shirt tail Reef Channel Marker with WA state ferry
Harbor Seals and Pups on Low Island
Sailing towards Spieden Island
J35 Southern Resident Orca North from Kellet Bluf, Henry Island
J16s and J17s Southern Resident Orca North from Kellet Bluf, Henry Island
J17s Southern Resident Orca North from Kellet Bluf, Henry Island
J16s Southern Resident Orca North from Kellet Bluf, Henry Island
Sailing towards Spieden seeing the forested North side and Grasslands of the South side
J16 ‘Slick’ and J42 ‘Echo’ Southern Resident Orca
J16 ‘Slick’ and J50 ‘Scarlet’ Southern Resident Orca Whales
Inverted Tail Lob Southern Resident Orca Whale
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon in flight
Pigeon Guillemot with fish
Bald Eagle, Spieden Island
Mouflon Sheep, Spieden Island
Bald eagle carrying something red
Point Caution beach, San Juan Island
Sailing back into Friday Harbor