An inter-island sail with the T65A's

June 10, 2020 – Today we had a great day sailing around the San Juans with one of our favorite families of Biggs/Transient orcas, the T65A’s (minus T65A5). Earlier in the day they were found near Anacortes having a get together with another family known as the T46B’s (minus the T46B1’s). There was lots of socializing and vocalizations amongst the group.

After rounding Upright Head we had our first looks at the T65A’s who were spread out traveling towards Wasp Pass. The T46B’s had recently split off prior to us getting there. We sailed along with the orcas as they took us on a journey through the inter-islands. T65A2 actually went through Pole Pass while the rest of the family met him around the other side of Crane Island near Deer Harbor. The orcas continued their travels up to Boundary Pass while we broke off to explore the beauty of New Channel.

There was a bald eagle perched beside a tucked away nest where a chick could be heard calling. Harbor seals rested on the rocks as the fast flood current sped by. We made our way across to one of our favorite National Wildlife Refuges, Flattop Island. The layers of geology looked beautiful in the golden sunshine. The islands near Yellow Island were also vibrant with color as the sun began to make its way down to the horizon.