Biggs/Transient Orca T124C near Skipjack and Sucia

June 4, 2023 – Shortly after leaving Friday Harbor we spotted a bald eagle perched in a tree looking down at something. Nearby the tree was a red fox with potentially a fresh injury near the hind leg – from the bald eagle we wondered? The fox actually attempted to climb up the curved tree trunk towards the eagle who decided a few minutes later to fly to a nearby tree. The fox followed and watched him for a short bit before turning around and heading back into the forest. A very interesting encounter.

We moved quickly up San Juan Channel following a whale sighting of Biggs/Transient male orca T124C who was moving north along Henry Island with the hopes of seeing him on our tour. As we wrapped around Spieden Island into New Channel we spotted Steller sea lions in the water, Mouflon rams/sheep grazing, harbor seals hauled out on the rocks, bald eagles near their nest, and pigeon guillemots in fast moving current.

T124C had made his way north of Johns Island at this point and was traveling Northeast up Boundary Pass. At first we weren’t sure if we could catch up, but we continued in that direction and caught up when he stopped to hunt near Skipjack Island. We had some amazing views of the orca with the backdrop of Mt Baker in the distance. Sailing alongside we cruised to the north side of Sucia Island and said good bye. As we were admiring the gorgeous island we spotted T124C again wrapping around the east side of Sucia Island paralleling us. We said good bye once again and took a tour inside the fingers of Sucia.

At Parker Reef a bald eagle stood on the channel marker and about a dozen or more harlequin ducks were hanging out. As we made our way to Pt Doughty we found a Peregrine falcon calling and taking off in flight while many harbor porpoise swam in the current rips near the point. Cruised down the stunning Orcas Island north coast before weaving our way through the Wasp Islands back to Friday Harbor.