July 6, 2023 – We had a fast sail north through New Channel and along Stuart Island up to Turn Point Lighthouse. There was a pair of humpback whales traveling slowly up Haro Strait against the ebb current. We met the whales between Moresby Island and Turn Point Lighthouse and sailed alongside. The whales were identified as BCX1730 “Vanta” and BCX1817 “Blizzard”. After some beautiful views we broke away to head southwest to see a family of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T75B’s.
The orcas traveled north between Sidney and James Island and moved quickly northwest towards the city of Sidney. The orcas appeared to stop for a bite to eat before moving on. It was time for us to move on as well so we checked out some of the islands on the Canadian side of Haro Strait including Mandarte Island to see the nesting cormorant colony. After a fast close-hauled sail across Haro we sailed near the south side of Spieden Island before weaving our way through the Wasp Islands back to Friday Harbor.
Black oystercatcher on Low Island
Black oystercatchers on Low Island
Lucky shot
Black oystercatcher flying off from Low Island
Harbor seals hauled out
Spieden Island Bluff
Donkeys on Stuart Island
Turn Pt Lighthouse, Stuart Island
Humpback whales BCX1730 “Vanta” and BCX1817 “Blizzard”
Humpback whale BCX1817 “Blizzard”
Humpback whale BCX1817 “Blizzard”
Humpback whale BCX1817 “Blizzard”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1817 “Blizzard”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1730 “Vanta”
Humpback whale BCX1817 “Blizzard”
Humpback whale BCX1817 “Blizzard”
Humpback whale BCX1817 “Blizzard”
Humpback whale BCX1817 “Blizzard”
Harbor seals hauled out
Harbor seal hauled out
Harbor seals hauled out
Harbor seals hauled out
Harbor seals hauled out
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s near Sidney, BC
Cormorants
Pregnant Harbor Seals
Pelagic Cormorants on Mandarte Island
Double-Crested Cormorants on Mandarte Island
Pelagic Cormorants on Mandarte Island
Pelagic Cormorants on Mandarte Island
Brandts Cormorants on Mandarte Island
Fast close-hauled sail across Haro Strait
Bald eagle nest on Spieden Island
Bald eagle on Spieden Island
Route map 7/6/23