Biggs Orcas T60D and T60E pass by sunken vessel Aleutian Isle

September 20, 2022 – We had a nice trip around San Juan Island. Many harbor seals were hauled out near Pear Point and Deadman Island. Steller sea lions were up to their usual shenanigans on Whale Rocks. On Middle Bank we looked for a minke whale that had been in the area, but didn’t have luck finding it. As we headed north up Haro Strait we had a minke whale surface nearby heading south. But, we didn’t have much time to stop because we were northbound towards Lime Kiln Lighthouse where two male orcas, brothers T60D and T60E, were milling and trending north. As we got on scene the orcas were tight to shore close to the skirting booms protecting the shore from the nearby sunken vessel, Aleutian Isle. There was a boat working on hazing efforts banging on pipes to deter the whales from the area, but it didn’t seem to work. The orcas passed right close by the hazing boat and then right near the area where the sunken boat was near the crane. This pair of orcas have been repeatedly taking this route by this sunken boat more than any other orcas that have been in the area. By Battleship Island we found the resident bald eagle who lives there by his/her nest. We continued our journey without much delay to get back to Friday Harbor as the sun was going down.