August 4, 2023 – Another gorgeous day in the Salish Sea. After casting off we cut inside Turn Island and headed down the channel, but quickly changed course when a report of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T137’s showed up inter-island. We met the orcas near Upright Head and watched as they traveled down Upright Channel into San Juan Channel up to Hicks Bay. After some great views we decided to see what other cool wildlife we could see so we came about and continued our adventure moving south on the ebb current.
We passed by Goose Island where many harbor seals hauled out and cormorants and gulls guarded their nests. On Salmon Bank we found a couple minke whales foraging and actively lunging through bait balls. Sea conditions changed further south on the bank and we were getting some rollers making it a bit more exciting with a need to hang on. We spotted one referred to as “Dent” (aka Minke Mouse) and “Stubbs”. At one moment our passenger spotted “Stubb” underwater near our boat and it surfaced right alongside exciting all of us! On our way back towards Cattle Pass we stopped by to see the Steller sea lions and found a couple brown pelicans still hanging out there. At Deadman Island there were a few bald eagles including what appeared to be a parent with its chick. Maybe it was a teaching lesson about finding food since they looked like they were engaged in prey sharing on the rock. We zoomed up the channel riding in the crazy currents at Cattle Pass back to Friday Habror.
Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Sailing along Lopez Island towards Upright Head
Bald eagle on Lopez Island
Mt Baker viewed from Upright Head, Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T137’s in Upright Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T137’s in Upright Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T137’s in Upright Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T137’s in Upright Channel
Osprey fly by
Biggs/Transient orcas T137A and T137D
Biggs/Transient orca T137B
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orca T137
Kids watching orcas go by from Canoe Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A along Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orca T137 along Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137B along Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137 with offspring T137D along Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A along Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137’s
Biggs/Transient orca T137
Biggs/Transient orca T137B
Biggs/Transient orca T137’s passing Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T137’s passing Friday Harbor
Harbor seals hauled out by Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Harbor seals hauled out by Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Fast close hauled sail down San Juan Channel
Harbor seals on Goose Island with Cattle Point Lighthouse
Harbor seals on Goose Island with Cattle Point Lighthouse
Harbor seals on Goose Island
Harbor seals on Goose Island
Cormorants on Goose Island
Cormorants on Goose Island
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale surfaces beside our sail boat
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Gulls flee minke whale lunge feeding on Salmon Bank
Minke whale lunge feeding on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale on Salmon Bank (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale on Salmon Bank (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale surfacing beside our sail boat
Minke whale surfacing beside our sail boat
Minke whale surfacing beside our sail boat
Minke whale surfacing beside our sail boat
Minke whale #2
Minke whale on Salmon Bank with Mt Baker
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Gulls feeding on bait fish
Minke whale on Salmon Bank (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale on Salmon Bank (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale lunge feeding (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale lunge feeding (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale lunge feeding (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale lunge feeding (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale lunge feeding (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale lunge feeding (the one with nick on leading edge)
Minke whale with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale #2
Minke whale #2
Cattle Pass
Brown Pelican on Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks with Olympic Mountains
Bald eagle on Lopez Island
Bald eagle parent with chick on Deadman Island
Bald eagle parent with chick on Deadman Island
Harbor seal mom and pup on Deadman Island
Pair of bald eagles on Deadman Island
Cattle Pass and Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island