June 22, 2023 – Today we headed south after leaving Friday Harbor based on a report of a large group of orcas on the southeast side of Lopez Island. For a while the orcas disappeared in the fog, but were later reacquired. Enroute we spotted harbor seals and Steller sea lions hauled out and several bald eagles. As we neared Iceberg Pt we could see the fins and blows in the distance. This group of Biggs/Transient orcas consisted of the T46B1’s, T46C2, T85’s, and T137D. The rest of the T137’s had split off earlier and went south towards Smith Island. The group was multi-directional with some socializing and at times logging at the surface. Eventually the group zig zagged their way southwest. At one point we spotted the fins of the rest of the T137’s less than 2 miles away and T137D broke off to swim quickly to catch up with them. This was a very exciting encounter for us as it’s our first time seeing the T85 matriline of orcas. As the Center for Whale Research boat was approaching we overhead Dave say he hadn’t seen T85 in about 30 years. We hope they stick around for a bit!
Harbor seals on Shark Reef
Steller Sea Lion on Whale Rocks with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Steller Sea Lion on Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions on Whale Rocks
Bald eagle on Long Island
T137D with T46B1’s and T46C2
T85’s with T46B1’s, T46C2 and T137D
T85’s with T46B1’s, T46C2 and T137D
Look at the size of that eye patch!
Sailing whale watching with orcas!
T85B
T46B1’s and T46C2
T46B1’s and T46C2 hanging out with T85’s
T85B
T85
T46B1’s
T85 with youngest offspring T85D
T85 with youngest offspring T85D
T46B1 with youngest calf T46B1C
Gulls feeding on a bait ball
Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Cormorants on Goose Island
Harbor seals by Goose Island and Cattle Point Lighthouse
Air Force jets flying overhead in San Juan Channel
Air Force jet flying overhead in San Juan Channel
Harbor seals on the rocks by Turn Island
Harbor seals on the rocks by Turn Island
Route map 6/22/23
