September 25, 2019 – We had such an incredible adventure. It began with an Orcas Island pick up. On the way there we happened upon a group of Biggs/transient orcas known as the T100’s coming down San Juan Channel. We had a quick look before continuing to pick up our guests at the ferry landing.
As we set sail on our journey there was wildlife around every turn. We spotted deer, bald eagles and even a peregrine falcon on Shaw Island. Hugging the shoreline of Lopez Island we spotted harlequin ducks hanging out and cormorants and harbor seals on Sharks Reef. Passing by Deadman Island there were many harbor seals resting and the bald eagle was perched in the dead tree above them in its usual roost.
The orcas we had seen earlier were milling near Whale Rocks. As we caught up to them they moved on traveling close together in the direction of MacArthur Bank. We sailed parallel to the orcas getting some nice looks hearing their blows as they surfaced. The lighting was interesting and the water was calm with diving birds everywhere.
We broke off from the orcas as they passed close by a humpback whale who was busy feeding. The humpback whale was MMX0006 aka ‘Double Drop’ and we watched him lunge feeding and basket feeding amongst tons of diving birds and gulls. The tiny fish could be visible as he opened and closed his mouth quickly squirting the sea water out the sides of his mouth. It was an incredible encounter.
Enroute back to Orcas Islands we stopped by Whale Rocks to see the steller sea lions.
Route Map 9-25-19
Black Tailed Deer on Shaw Island
Peregrine Falcon on Shaw Island
Peregrine Falcon on Shaw Island
Funky Pacific Madrone tree
Funky Juniper tree
Pair of deer on the beach on Shaw Island
Bald eagle on Shaw Island
Pair of male harlequin ducks along the coastline of Lopez Island
Harbor seals and Cormorants on Shark Reef
Harbor seals near Deadman Island
Harbor seals near Deadman Island
Bald eagle overlooking Deadman Island
Steller sea lions, cormorants and Olympic Mountains
Brandts Cormorants on Whale Rocks
Biggs/Transient orca T100C, born 2002
Mother T100 with T100E and T100F
Biggs/Transient orca family T100’s
T100 with T100F
Biggs/transient orca siblings T100E with older brother T100C
Mother orca T100 with youngest offspring T100F, Smith Island in the distance
Humpback whale MMX0006 feeding amongst lots of birds
Humpback whale MMX0006 left dorsal
Humpback whale MMX0006 feeding amongst lots of birds
Humpback whale MMX0006 feeding near MacArthur Bank
Humpback whale MMX0006 feeding with mouth open
Humpback whale MMX0006 gulping up the fish
Humpback whale MMX0006 gulping up the fish – you can see the fish escaping
Humpback whale MMX0006 swallowing up the fish
Humpback whale MMX0006 basket feeding
Humpback whale MMX0006 basket feeding – look at all that water in his mouth
Humpback whale MMX0006 lunge feeding
Humpback whale MMX0006 lunge feeding
Humpback whale MMX0006
Humpback whale MMX0006 lunge feeding
Humpback whale MMX0006 lunge feeding and waving his pectoral fin
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whale MMX0006 right dorsal fin
Humpback whale MMX0006 lunge feeding
Humpback whale MMX0006 lunge feeding
Humpback whale deep dive
Tail flukes ID photo of MMX0006
Bald eagle on Deadman Island
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks – included a branded sea lion
Steller sea lions and cormorants on Whale Rocks – Cattle Pt Lighthouse in distance
Steller sea lions and cormorants on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Great blue heron
Bald eagle along Lopez shoreline
Harbor seals and cormorants on Sharks Reef
Sunset over Friday Harbor
WA State Ferry passing through the islands as nightfall approaches
Sunset reflections
Our happy passengers
Sailing back to Friday Harbor after sundown