Orcas T65B's coming down Presidents Channel

September 12, 2020 – Another day with smoky haze from the nations wild land fires. We took a Northerly course and as we passed between the Wasp Islands were picking up reports of Biggs Orcas known as the T123’s at Sucia Island. I followed the reports and as we continued North we heard the T123’s were heading for Alden Bank which would be a very long haul for us. As we came through Spring Pass we heard that the T65B’s were found between Sucia and Matia Island and headed towards Point Doughty. This was exciting news.

We sailed close to the Orcas shoreline to view the old growth forest of Presidents Channel and a bald eagle roosting on the broken top of a Douglas Fir. We drifted passed the head of Turtleback mountain and the tall trees of Lovers Cove before heading out into the middle of the channel to wait for the approaching orcas. Traveling alongside their speed increased and pretty soon to us it was clear they were chasing a harbor porpoise. After the backwards swimming that always accompanies their eating we broke off to sail towards White Rock. They also came into White Rock where they hunted harbor seals. A steller sea lion had a lucky day taking refuge in the kelp forest as they passed nearby.

We left the orcas again to sail to Flattop Island. We found bald eagles near their nest site and many harbor seals resting on the honeycombed sandstone. After circling Flattop we sailed towards Green Point and met the orcas again. They hunted in New Channel with spyhops and tails in the air and we left them continuing West as we headed South back to Friday Harbor.