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