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