August 21, 2023 – We left Friday Harbor with a report of Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E coming into New Channel first and then back tracking to go into Reid Harbor. Current was ebbing and we moved quickly from Jones Island, to New Channel, to Stuart Island. We met the orcas at Lovers Leap, Turn Point Lighthouse wrapping around into Boundary Pass with them. Near Johns Pass a hunt began and T60E leaped with what looked like a harbor porpoise in his mouth. Lots of good views before we left to check out White Rock and Flattop Island. There were many harbor seals hauled out. Winds picked up south of Flattop Island and with reefed sails we tacked our way down the channel with some fun sailing. The rest of the T60’s had came up San Juan Channel as far as Neck Point, but turned back south away from us. As luck would have it they turned north again and we met them outside Friday Harbor. Nice backlit blows against the shoreline up to Point Caution. A short while later they turned south again and exited Cattle Pass.
Route map 8/21/23
Red cedar trees along San Juan Island
Harbor seals on the rocks by Yellow Island
Mouflon sheep/rams on Spieden Island
Bald eagle
Motor sailing towards Stuart Island
Cool geology on Stuart Island
Turn Point Lighthouse and Lovers Leap, Stuart Island
Totem Pole on Stuart Island
Bald eagle nest on Stuart Island
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E near Stuart Island
Biggs/Transient orca T60E
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E
Biggs/Transient orca T60D
Biggs/Transient orca T60D
Biggs/Transient orca T60D
Biggs/Transient orca T60E
Biggs/Transient orca T60E leaps out of water with porpoise (?) in mouth
Biggs/Transient orca T60E leaps out of water with porpoise (?) in mouth
Biggs/Transient orca T60E leaps out of water while hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T60E hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T60E hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T60E hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T60E hunting
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E
Biggs/Transient orca T60E
Biggs/Transient orca spy hop
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E
Harbor seals by White Rock National Wildlife Refuge
Harbor seals by White Rock National Wildlife Refuge
Harbor seals by White Rock National Wildlife Refuge
Harbor seal at White Rock with Pt Disney cliff behind
Flattop Island
Close-hauled sail down San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s (minus T60D and T60E) outside Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s (minus T60D and T60E) outside Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s (minus T60D and T60E) outside Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s (minus T60D and T60E) outside Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s (minus T60D and T60E) passing Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s (minus T60D and T60E) passing Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s (minus T60D and T60E) passing Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s northbound from Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s northbound from Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T60C with backlit blow
Orca sea plane
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s with backlit blows along San Juan coast
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s with backlit blows along San Juan coast
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s with backlit blows along San Juan coast
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s with backlit blows along San Juan coast
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s with backlit blows along San Juan coast
Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s with backlit blows along San Juan coast