All Aboard Sailing

Orcas T124A’s by Waldron and Prolific Wildlife

May 17, 2023 – Today we had glassy calm seas just about everywhere we went except for some winds just outside of Friday Harbor upon our return. It was a gorgeous day with wildlife all around. On White Rock there looked like more harbor seals than we’ve ever seen.

We met up with a family of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T124A’s hunting a harbor seal north of Waldron Island. After they moved on to the north we checked out another favorite wildlife refuge of ours called Skipjack Island. More harbor seals basked in the sunshine.

As we continued north towards Patos Island we could see that the orcas were also northbound towards Pt Roberts, but we carried on to see some other amazing sights. Near Alden Pt Lighthouse there was a group of Steller sea lions hanging out. Drifted down the stunning honeycombed coastline we checked out the humungous bald eagle nest, spotted black oyster catchers, harbor seals sleeping on shore, and a few bald eagles chasing and calling after one another.

Scooting down to Sucia Island we came around the east side of the island and took the narrow pass by Ewing Island. We weaved our way in between the fingers and continued towards Pt Doughty. A Peregrine falcon was calling from the cliff and then took off after a group of Bonaparte’s gulls, but returned to the cliff empty handed. Offshore of Pt Doughty we drifted amongst probably 50+ harbor porpoise.

We came down President Channel along the north side of Orcas Island and weaved our way through the Wasp Islands and had a nice sail outside the harbor.

Harbor seals by White Rock

Harbor seals by White Rock

Surf Scoters by Sandy Pt, Waldron Island

Common murres by Sandy Pt, Waldron Island

T124A

T124A2A

T124A2B

T124A’s hunting on the north side of Waldron Island

T124A’s hunting on the north side of Waldron Island

T124A2B tail slapping

T124A2B hunting a harbor seal

Harbor seal surfacing in the wake of the orcas

T124A2A with harbor seal

T124A2A with interesting tail fluke with missing chunk

T124A tail thrashing on a harbor seal

T124A2A with interesting tail fluke and T124A2B

T124A with little notch on tip of tail flukes

Orca chin

T124A2B, female born 2016

T124A’s moving on after their hunt

T124A, mom born 2001

T124A2B

T124A2A, male born 2013

Pigeon guillemots on Skipjack Island

Skipjack Island

Harbor seals on Skipjack Island

Harbor seals on Skipjack Island

Alden Pt Lighthouse, Patos Island

Steller seal lions near Patos Island

Black oystercatcher on Patos Island

Huge bald eagles nest on Patos Island

Harbor seal with honeycombed sandstone on Patos Island

Harbor seal with honeycombed sandstone on Patos Island

Honeycombed sandstone on Patos Island

Pigeon guillemots on Patos Island

Pigeon guillemots on Patos Island

Glacial erratics on Patos Island

Bald eagles on Patos Island

Islets by Sucia Island

Cutting through the islets by Sucia Island

Cutting through the islets by Sucia Island

Island reflections

Sailing down North Finger on Sucia Island

Bonaparte’s Gulls offshore of Pt Doughty

Pt Doughty, Orcas Island

Peregrine falcon hunting gulls

Peregrine Falcon

View towards Skipjack and Bare Islands

Harbor porpoise offshore of Pt Doughty

Harbor porpoise offshore of Pt Doughty

Harbor porpoise with Mt Baker

Harbor seal swimming by

Peregrine Falcon

Bald eagle on Orcas Island

North coast of Orcas Island

North coast of Orcas Island and Turtleback Mountain

Great blue heron

Bald eagle on Orcas Island

Historic Lime Kiln on Orcas Island

Little McConnell and Yellow Island behind

Rocks at Shirt Tail Reef

Nob Island

Peaceful sail outside of Friday Harbor

Route map 5/17/23