July 28, 2020 – When we left Friday Harbor we had a report of two families of orcas known as the T65A’s and the T137’s traveling inter-island so we plotted a course in that direction. With sails sheeted in tight we sailed across San Juan Channel towards the bottom of Shaw Island cutting behind Canoe Island and out near Picnic Pt. Making our way across Upright Channel we popped over to hug the coastline of Upright Head where we found a bald eagle perched near it’s nest.
The orcas were milling at the bottom of East Sound not really going in any particular direction. There were many private boats and few commercial boats on scene all of which shut down and well behaved enjoying the view and the sounds as the orcas surfaced. The Ferry responded to our call on the VHF and came to a complete stop to ensure they were clear of the orcas before proceeding. After some decision making the orcas began traveling westerly in the channel together as a group.
We hugged the top of Lopez Island watching the orcas in the distance as they traveled mid channel towards Flat Pt. We decided to break off for some fun sailing across the channel over to the rocks south of Turn Island to see the harbor seals hauled out. The orcas followed behind and crossed the channel as well and made their way deep into Griffin Bay close to San Juan Island traveling down the channel. We had a great sail tacking back and forth viewing the orcas as we made our way towards Cattle Pass.
Breaking off again we decided to continue our sail across the channel to check out Deadman Island where harbor seals rested, a pair of bald eagles stood watching the tide and black oystercatchers called to one another in flight giving us a nice fly by. Whale Rocks was busy with many steller sea lions and loads of harbor seals, gulls and cormorants. The sea conditions were building from the south giving us a swell of a ride over towards Cattle Pt Lighthouse. We waited to watch the orcas pass Goose Island and swim passed the lighthouse before coming back into Cattle Pass for a relaxing sail back up the channel. A special birthday sail wouldn’t be complete without birthday cake and a hot beverage to wash it down finishing off a magical day in the Salish Sea.
View of Mt Baker as we exited the south entrance to Friday Harbor
Picnic Point
Mt Baker and Obstruction Island viewed from Upright Head
Bald eagle along Upright Head
Bald eagle nest at Upright Head
T65A’s and T137’s milling near bottom of East Sound
T65A’s and T137’s milling near bottom of East Sound
T65A’s and T137’s milling near bottom of East Sound
T137A and T65A2
T65A’s and T137’s traveling west in Upright Channel
T65A with T137
The Ferry came to a stop because of the orcas
Belted kingfisher
Ferry with Upright Head
S/V Glory of the Seas
Orcas heading into San Juan Channel
Harbor seals south of Turn Island
Harbor seal hauled out
T65A2 with Olympic Mountains
Thumbs up to sailing!
T65A’s and T137’s traveling down the channel in Griffin Bay
T65A’s and T137’s traveling down the channel in Griffin Bay
Harbor seals near Deadman Island
Harbor seals near Deadman Island
Pair of bald eagles near Deadman Island
Pair of black oystercatchers
Harbor seals, Steller sea lions and gulls on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Heermann’s Gulls
T65A’s and T137’s exiting Cattle Pass
T65A’s and T137’s passing Cattle Pt
T65A’s and T137’s passing Cattle Pt
T65A’s and T137’s passing Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Orcas passing Cattle Pt
Sailing by Goose Island
Nesting cormorants on Goose Island
Nesting cormorants on Goose Island
Foraging black oystercatcher on Goose Island
Harbor seals on Goose Island with Cattle Pt Light
Sailing wing on wing
Harbor seals and a backlit forest
Harbor seals warming up in the sunshine
Turn Island
Mt Baker
Route Map 7-28-20
