May 24, 2019 – We’d been following reports of transient/Biggs orcas, the T65A’s, heading north from Smith Island. We also were following news of two humpbacks heading south from Pt Doughty. So when we left, we had a choice of north or south.
We chose north to look for the two humpbacks and despite the flat waters we were unable to find them. So we turned south and as luck would have it met the T65A’s near Pear Point.
They were in fine spirits with playful rolling, headstands, and splashing about at the surface. It was a peaceful, calm evening to watch as they slowly made their way North. At the south entrance to Friday Harbor they engaged in hunting presumably a harbor seal before continuing North. We left them to sail around the Wasp Islands in the late afternoon light.
Route Map 5/22/19
Bald Eagle Point Caution San Juan Island
T65A2 playing with younger sibling of the T65As Biggs Orcas
Spyhop Biggs Orca
T65As Biggs Orcas cruising the San Juan Island shoreline
Biggs Orca tail fluke
The eye of Biggs Orca
T65A2 (male) behind others
T656A2 blow, Turn Island, San Juan Island
T65A2 hunting outside Friday Harbor
Biggs Orca half breach while hunting
Biggs Orca tail fluke while hunting
T65A matriarch Biggs Orca at the entrance to Friday Harbor
Family portrait of the T65A Biggs Orcas
Yellow Island
Looking North