August 21, 2022 – We made quick progress to catch up with a couple pods of Biggs/Transient orcas coming up Rosario Strait near Sucia Island known as the T36A’s and T75B’s, but a separate group showed up out of the blue headed our direction. We identified them as the T124A2’s and T124A4’s (sisters with their offspring). Perhaps they had been with the other orcas and split just before we got there. After some great views of the orcas suddenly a chase began as they pursued a harbor porpoise(s). Fast porpoising, lunging and a successful catch indicated by the celebratory breach, spy hop, and backwards swimming (most often associated with eating). We hung out with the orcas a bit longer and then broke off to check out the honey-combed sandstone Patos and Sucia Islands. We found two large bald eagles’ nests, harbor seals, and Steller sea lions near Clements Reef. As we arrived at Pt Doughty we spotted a Peregrine falcon resting on the cliff. We hugged the beautiful north coast of Orcas Island and cut through the Wasp Islands as we returned to Friday Harbor.
Steller sea lion cruising the shoreline outside Friday Harbor
Bald eagle with crows sharing a meal
Bald eagle on driftwood next to food it was eating
Nob Island and Orcas Island behind
Historic Lime Kiln on Orcas Island
Head of Turtleback Mountain
Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Harbor porpoise trying to escape the orcas
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s chasing a harbor porpoise
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orca tail slap
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s
Orca spy hop
Orcatail flukes
Orca headstand
Alden Pt Lighthouse, Patos Island
Huge bald eagle nest on Patos Island
Honeycombed sandstone
Bald eagle nest on Sucia Island
Harbor seals at Clements Reef
Steller sea lions at Clements Reef
Black oystercatcher on honeycombed sandstone
Honeycombed sandstone
Islands by Sucia
Harbor seal on dock
Great blue heron
Honeycombed sandstone
Honeycombed sandstone
Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Harbor seals near Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Peregrine falcon on Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Sailing to Orcas Island
Our fun bunch today
Mt Baker
Route map 8-21-22