August 13, 2023 – Today was a whale of a sailing day as we got to see many different orca groups in the area. We encountered the T75B’s with siblings T77C and T77D in East Sound, Orcas Island. There was a new calf in the T75B’s which is less than 2 weeks old. Waiting on researchers to determine in future encounters who the mother is – T75B or her daughter. T75B has a calf which is 2 years old so with an approximate 17 month gestation period that would be a very quick turnaround getting pregnant again, but certainly possible. There were more orcas coming south in Rosario Strait so we extended the tour to head that way. The T71B’s with T124D’s were moving south and we paralleled for a bit before breaking off to head up to the Pea Pod Rocks to see the T18’s who were traveling with T65A5. North of us the T34’s, T37’s and T36’s were milling near Lawrence Pt, but they turned northwest so we were unable to see them. But, overall an amazing adventure full of orca fun!
Route map 8/13/23
Upright Head and Mt Baker
Harbor seals hauled out by Twin Rocks
Harbor seals hauled out by Twin Rocks
Biggs/Transient Orcas T75B’s with T77C and T77D
Biggs/Transient Orcas T77C
Biggs/Transient Orcas T75B’s with T77C and T77D heading into East Sound, Orcas Island
Biggs/Transient orca T77D with T75B2
Biggs/Transient orca T75B
Biggs/Transient orca T75B4
Biggs/Transient Orcas T75B’s with T77C and T77D
Biggs/Transient orca T75B2
Biggs/Transient orca T75B
Biggs/Transient orca T75B3 with adult
Biggs/Transient orca T77D
Sailing wing on wing
Biggs/Transient Orcas T75B’s with T77C and T77D in East Sound, Orcas Island
USAF Fly over
View of newest calf in the T75B family less than 2 weeks old!
Orca tail in the air
Biggs/Transient Orcas T75B’s with T77C and T77D – and tiny newborn calf on the right
Orca tail in the air
Orca tail in the air
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T71B’s with T124D’s southbound in Rosario Strait
Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orca T19C passing Peapod Rocks
Biggs/Transient orca T19C passing Peapod Rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T19C with T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T19C exhaling
Biggs/Transient orca T19C
Biggs/Transient orca T19C exhaling
Biggs/Transient orca T19C with a wavy dorsal fin
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Bald eagle on Peapod Rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s with T65A5
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s with T65A5
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s with T65A5
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s with T65A5
Warm evening light on the islands
Sunset light on Upright Head, Lopez Island
Sunset light on Upright Head, Lopez Island
Sunset light on the islands
Sunset sail from Friday Harbor