Biggs/Transient orcas T123's near Sucia Island

September 11, 2020 – A smoky haze today from the nations wildland fires. We chose North and had a peaceful sail though the Wasp Islands and Spring Pass. Resting harbor seals and a black oystercatcher hung out on Low Island. Wing on wing sailing to one of our favorite National Wildlife Refuges, Flattop Island. We then had a report of Biggs Orcas crossing the border towards Patos Island.

We circled Flattop Island seeing a bald eagles nest and harbor seals on the honeycombed sandstone shoreline before catching a fast sail to Point Disney and following the Waldron Island forested shoreline. Pushing on we crossed to Sucia Island and then paused for a while to travel inside one of the fingers of honeycombed sandstone with its sweeping curved shapes. We met the T123’s Biggs/Transient Orcas as they headed from Fossil Bay towards Raccon Point, Orcas Island. They travelled down the Orcas Island coastline at the edge of visibility through the smoky haze.

We broke off to explore Barnes and Clark Islands and The Sisters and then the T123’s came our way engaged in a hunt. We travelled alongside to Point Lawrence with some great views as they broke the surface with backlit blows against the sparkling sunlight. We left with a fast close hauled sail to the Peapod Rocks. Through Obstruction Pass and a sail to Upright Head. Smoky sunset colors over Shaw Island as we passed through Canoe Island Pass and the sun disappeared as a red ball before reaching the horizon.