August 16, 2023 – With news of Biggs/Transient orcas from the T101’s coming East towards Salmon Bank we moved south quickly with hopes to intercept them. We met the family of orcas south of Iceberg Point and together we sailed inshore towards the beautiful south Lopez coastline. They took the outside of Castle Rock and we broke away to drift inside the island and spotted a pair of bald eagles high up overlooking the cliff. We rejoined the orcas who had been traveling towards Deception Pass but later turned north. They went deep into Burrows Bay and began hunting close to Skyline Marina. We noticed T101A has some noticeable rake marks on the top of his dorsal fin. After some amazing views it was time to break away and make tracks back to the barn. We moved quickly on the flood current, took Thatcher Pass, came inside Frost Island passing Spencer Spit State Park, and came down the top of Lopez from Upright Head. We had a nice sail across the channel back to Friday Harbor.
Route map 8/16/23
Bald eagle in the San Juan Islands
Mt Baker
Bald eagle overlooking Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Biggs/Transient male orca T101A with Olympic Mountains
Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s headed towards Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s traveling close to Lopez Island
Lopez Island reflections
Calm waters near South Lopez Island
Castle Island reflections
Pair of bald eagles on Castle Island
Mt Baker
Orca, T101, with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T101B and T101A
Biggs/Transient orca T101 with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient male orca surfacing
Biggs/Transient orca T101B
Biggs/Transient orca T101 with son, T101A
Biggs/Transient orca T101A
Cormorants with chick on Williamson Rocks Light
Steller sea lion on Williamson Rocks Light
Gulls and cormorants on Williamson Rocks
Gull chicks on Williamson Rocks
Cormorants on Williamson Rocks
Cormorants on Williamson Rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T101A and T101B with Mt Baker
South side of Allan Island
Biggs/Transient orca T101A
Biggs/Transient orca T101A showing injury on top of dorsal fin
South side of Burrows Island
Harbor seal hiding the bull kelp by Young Island
Biggs/Transient orca T101B hunting in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s hunting in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orca T101A hunting in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orca T101A hunting in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s hunting in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s hunting in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T101B and T101A in Burrows Bay
Orca swimming backwards while eating harbor seal after predation
Orca swimming backwards while eating harbor seal after predation
Biggs/Transient orca T101A in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T101A and T101B in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s in Burrows Bay
Biggs/Transient orcas T101’s in Burrows Bay
Sailing towards Frost Island
Sailing towards Frost Island
Spencer Spit State Park, Lopez Island
Mt Baker with Blakey Island and Cypress Island
Sailing adventure in the San Juan Islands
Mt Baker with Washington State Ferry