August 18, 2023 – “Epic” may be an understatement to today’s adventure. We had the good fortune of spending time with multiple families of orcas including the T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s. 17 orcas in total. When we first got on scene they were hunting/milling near Reuben Tarte Park on the northeast side of San Juan Island. We observed several occasions of backwards swimming (doing the moonwalk) which is often associated with eating behavior. After their meal and exciting all the onlookers at the park, the orcas rounded the corner and headed into Spieden Channel. It was interesting to watch as the orcas made about 3 direction changes – first westbound, then eastbound, then westbound, then finally eastbound. We broke away to check out the harbor seals and black oystercatchers on Sentinel Rock and look for more wildlife on Spieden Island. We rejoined the orcas as they resumed slow resting travel with some socializing mixed in. The group turned down San Juan Channel and we broke away once again to sail to Flattop Island to check out some other wildlife. There were harbor seals hauled out and the bald eagle chick was hanging out above its nest. As we made our way back down San Juan Channel the orcas changed course towards Spring Pass giving us another quick look before returning to Friday Harbor.
Orca swimming backwards (moonwalk) following predation – eating a harbor seal
Orca swimming backwards (moonwalk) following predation
Orca swimming backwards (moonwalk) following predation
Orca swimming backwards (moonwalk) following predation
Orca swimming backwards (moonwalk) following predation
Orca swimming backwards (moonwalk) following predation
Biggs/Transient orca T46E
Orca swimming backwards (moonwalk) following predation
Biggs/Transient orca T46D
Orca tail in the air
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s traveling together
Whose watching who at Reuben Tarte Park, San Juan Island ?
Orcas passing Reuben Tarte Park, San Juan Island
Orcas passing Reuben Tarte Park, San Juan Island
Young orca calf
Biggs/Transient orca T46D
Orca with piece of harbor seal in mouth
Biggs/Transient orca T36A1 with calf
Orca T37 passing Reuben Tarte Park, San Juan Island
Orcas passing Reuben Tarte Park, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orca with young calf
Biggs/Transient orca T37B with young calf
Biggs/Transient orca T37B with young calf
Biggs/Transient orca T46E
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T46D andT46E surfacing together with friend
Orca tail slapping
Biggs/Transient orca T37B1 with friend
Biggs/Transient orca T36A1 with calf
Biggs/Transient orca T37
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s traveling together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s traveling together
Orca T37 with Spieden Island backdrop
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s traveling together
Orca calf porpoising
Harbor seals on Sentinel Rock
Harbor seals on Spieden Island
Bald eagle nest on Spieden Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orca T46E
Biggs/Transient orca T46E
Biggs/Transient orca T46E with bend in dorsal fin
Biggs/Transient orca T46D
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s tight together
Biggs/Transient orca T46E
Flattop Island
Bald eagle on Flattop Island
Harbor seals on Flattop Island
Harbor seals on Flattop Island
Harbor seals on Flattop Island
Bald eagle chick at nest on Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s together
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T37’s, T36A’s and T46’s together
Route map 8/18/23