All Aboard Sailing

Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s in Rosario

June 2, 2023 – We sailed through Turn Island Pass with lots of tacks passing a ton of harbor seals hauled out. Boogying south we moved quickly upon reports of a pod of Biggs/Transient orcas (the T101’s) moving north from Skagit Bay. Choppy conditions in Cattle Pass with the flood running. We found a calm spot in the chuck on the north side of the east rock to watch the Steller sea lions who happened to be hauled out here instead of the west rock – a first to see so many there. There were a lot of young sea lions, a couple were chasing each other up to the top of the rock, and there were many young pups around. In the mix there were several big males there, too. It was here that our passenger made a proposal to the other and she said ‘yes’! Sea lions are her favorite animal, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

We continued the beautiful day sailing the south coast of Lopez Island passing Castle Island into the flooding Rosario Strait. We met the orcas at Burrows Island Lighthouse and sailed north towards Cypress Island. At Reef Point it looked like either they were indecisive on direction or hunting and we noticed a humpback whale breach in the distance south of Bellingham Channel. A minke whale surfaced in my binoculars while watching the humpback. At this point the Orcas took Rosario and appeared to be eating while traveling slowly passed Strawberry Island. We left the Orcas passing Tide Point for a fast sail to Obstruction Pass and a route home passing Upright head and Picnic Point. An unforgettable day.

Washington State Ferry with Mt Baker

Harbor seals near Turn Island

Bald eagle flying by

Harbor seals near Turn Island

Goose Island, Cattle Pt, Olympic Mountains

Harbor seals on Shark Reef

Black oystercatcher with Cattle Pt Lighthouse

Steller sea lions on easternmost rock at Whale Rocks

A few Steller sea lions on the west rock at Whale Rocks

Steller sea lions on easternmost rock at Whale Rocks

The two sea lions were chasing each other to the top of the rock

Choppy sea conditions at Whale Rocks

Sea lions at Whale Rocks

Small sea lion pup posing

Sea lion on top of the rock

Steller sea lions of different sizes

Gulls are busy

Bald eagle nest on Long Island

Canada geese

Lopez Island coastline south of Iceberg Pt

Lopez Island coastline

Sailing towards Castle Rock

Castle Rock

Mt Baker

Bald eagles – one with food in talons

Harbor porpoise

Burrows Island Lighthouse

Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s in Rosario Strait

Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s in Rosario Strait

T101, born approx 1969

T101B, born 1997

T101B

T101A, born 1993

T101A, born 1993

T101 traveling quickly beside her son

Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s in Rosario Strait

Biggs/Transient male orca from the T101’s

Biggs/Transient male orca from the T101’s surfacing

One of the T101 boys with Mt Baker

Biggs/Transient male orca from the T101’s hunting by Reef Pt

Distant Humpback Whale surfacing after breaching once

Distant minke whale milling near the humpback whale

Biggs/Transient male orca from the T101’s near Cypress Island

Biggs/Transient male orca from the T101’s near Cypress Island

Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s moving north along Cypress Island

Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s moving north near Cypress Island

Biggs/Transient T101 brothers

One of the T101 boys with food in mouth

Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s northbound near Cypress Island

Eagle Cliff on Cypress Island

Harbor seals on the rocks

Sailing along Upright Head, Lopez Island

Picnic Pt, Shaw Island

Sailing across San Juan Channel back to Friday Harbor

Route map 6/2/23