Minks, Peregrine falcon with chick, harbor seal pups and Orcas T77's

June 28th 2020 – We received a morning report of the T46 family of Biggs/Transient Orcas heading North from Point Lawrence. With the possibility of them coming down Presidents Channel we headed North. Tacking against the current we passed by Low Island and Yellow Island listening to the calls of the Black Oystercatchers.

We sailed close to shore on the Orcas Island shoreline below the head of Turtleback Mountain. The steep mountain sides of old growth forest were spectacular. A mink ran across a log and paused to peer toward us. A bald eagle chick stood tall now on his nest much grown over the passed 2 months. And we saw a mink at the old Lime Kiln hidden at the forest edge.

Sailing across the current from Lovers Cove to Waldron Island and again the forested cliffs were spectacular. A peregrine falcon fed a bird to their new chick on an exposed cliff face. From Point Disney we sailed to White Rock and on to Flattop Island. Harbor seals nursed new pups whilst others were fat with pregnancy.

From here we headed South in a hurry on the tail of the ebb with news of the T77s (minus T77B) inbound at Cattle Pass. We met them at Turn Island and watched as they entered both the South and North entrances of Friday Harbor engaged in hunting harbor seals as they travelled North. Once again at the tail end of our sail we find orcas at Friday Harbor.