August 14, 2023 – Today we witnessed a family of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T18’s chase after a minke whale. It began somewhere near the top of Middle Bank and headed south from there. T19 was the lead orca in pursuit while the others trailed some distance behind (maybe 1/2 mile as a guess). The minke was swimming roughly 15 knots at first and later slowed to about 10 knots, surfacing every ~18 seconds. The gap between the minke and T19 was a little over a nautical mile. After roughly 35 minutes T19 gave up the chase and turned back towards the rest of her family. We heard the minke eventually slowed down near Smith Island. We continued our exciting sail hanging out with the T18’s as they traveled east towards the bottom of Lopez Island. They stopped for some hunting near Swirl Rocks before continuing on to circumnavigate Lopez Island. We broke away at Castle Rock to take our time cutting through the islands and to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Before we entered Cattle Pass we crossed over Salmon Bank to scan for minke whales but no joy – not surprising that they may have dispersed after the earlier orca chase nearby. We had a nice sail up San Juan Channel back to Friday Harbor.
Route map 8/14/23
Retrieving a balloon out of the water
Harbor seals at Shark Reef
Harbor seals hauled out
Bald eagle
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Porpoising minke whale fleeing the T18’s chasing it
Porpoising minke whale fleeing the T18’s chasing it
Porpoising minke whale fleeing the T18’s chasing it
Porpoising minke whale fleeing the T18’s chasing it
Porpoising minke whale fleeing the T18’s chasing it
Minke whale porpoising to escape attack from the Biggs orcas T18’s
Minke whale porpoising to escape attack from the Biggs orcas T18’s
Minke whale porpoising to escape attack from the Biggs orcas T18’s
Minke whale porpoising to escape attack from the Biggs orcas T18’s
Minke whale porpoising to escape attack from the Biggs orcas T18’s
Minke whale porpoising to escape attack from the Biggs orcas T18’s
Minke whale porpoising to escape attack from the Biggs orcas T18’s
Biggs/Transient orca T19 in hot pursuit of a minke whale
Biggs/Transient orca T19 in hot pursuit of a minke whale
Biggs/Transient orca T19 in hot pursuit of a minke whale
Biggs/Transient orca T19 in hot pursuit of a minke whale
Biggs/Transient orca T19 in hot pursuit of a minke whale
Biggs/Transient orca T19 in hot pursuit of a minke whale
Biggs/Transient orca T19 slowing down after minke whale chase
Biggs/Transient orca T19B
Biggs/Transient orca T19
Biggs/Transient orca T19
Biggs/Transient orca T19B with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s eastbound towards Lopez Island after minke chase ended
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s eastbound towards Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orca T19C with his wavy dorsal fin
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s eastbound towards Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orca T19 between her sons T19B and T19C
Biggs/Transient orcas T19C with T18 and T19
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T19B and T19C
Biggs/Transient orcas T19C with mom T19
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T19B and T19C
Biggs/Transient orca T19B
Biggs/Transient orca T19C
Biggs/Transient orca T19C
Biggs/Transient orca T19C along south Lopez coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T19C along south Lopez coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T19B along south Lopez coastline
Biggs/Transient orca along south Lopez coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T19C
Biggs/Transient orca T19C along south Lopez coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T19C along south Lopez coastline
Bald eagle on Swirl Rock
Black oystercatchers on Swirl Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting near Swirl Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting near Swirl Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting near Swirl Rock
Orca tail slap
Orca spy hop
Biggs/Transient orca T19B
Biggs/Transient orcas traveling along South Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orcas traveling along South Lopez Island
Male orca spy hop
Male orca spy hop
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s
Sailing towards Castle Rock
Castle Rock
South Lopez coastline
Harbor seals hauled out on S. Lopez coastline
Harbor seal hauled out on S. Lopez coastline
Harbor seal hauled out on S. Lopez coastline
Bald eagle nest on Lopez Island in McArdle Bay
South Lopez coastline
Toothpick rocks
Cattle Point Lighthouse
Sailing wing on wing
Harbor seal swimming by
Sailing back to Friday Harbor