Frequent visitors to San Juan Island, Transient Orca family T49As

September 19, 2018 -We sailed to meet Southern Resident orcas who were foraging on the west side of San Juan Island. However as we passed Lopez transient orcas were spotted hunting along the shoreline. This orca family are frequent visitors to our area, the T49A’s. They were involved in hunting followed by sharing their meal with amazing vocals on our hydrophone. Transient orcas are generally silent with the exception of when eating or in a social setting with other transient orcas.

We sailed with the T49As through Upright Channel when suddenly a chase was on indicating that they were hunting again. After their second meal the orcas continued on and reaching Blakely Island split into two groups. T49A1 and one of his siblings went off on their own for a bit while mom and the rest of her offspring rested/logged at the surface. It seemed like they may have been deciding which way they wanted to go. After a short while they were back together and traveling towards Obstruction Island and through Peavine Pass.

We said goodbye to the orcas to explore the harbor seal haul outs and forested East side of Blakely. We returned via Obstruction Pass and tacked back and forth as we prepared dinner. Hugging the Shaw coastline we spotted a bald eagle munching on their dinner and found a couple of common loons behind Canoe Island. Three young black oyster catchers were perched on a rock calling as we sailed by. It was a brisk day but the sunset warmed us up as we headed back towards the harbor.