August 26, 2023 – Close hauled into wind with a strong flood current in our favor carried us quickly across San Juan Channel tacking through the Wasp islands towards Jones Island. We continued North into New Channel seeing many more eagles than the previous several days roosting in the forest overlooking the swift calm waters. We had been monitoring reports for any progress from the T60’s who’d been inbound towards Victoria and then hunting in Baynes Channel. We then picked up a new report of 10 orcas Northbound from Gordon Head, other side of Haro Strait. So we moved quickly hugging the back eddies and admiring the coastline on the west side of Henry Island. Crossing Haro we headed towards Zero Rock and met the Orcas Northbound towards James Island. The orcas included the legendary “Chainsaw” T63 traveling with mom, T65, T46C2, T38C with T38E and the T99’s. Yesterday T65, T63 and T46C2 were inbound from Sooke and made it to Race Rocks last night. The aforementioned group of three took the east side of James Island while the others split and took the westside all traveling north. When it was time for us to depart we returned via Hughes Pass and crossed to Spieden Channel hugging the San Juan coastline back to Friday Harbor.
Bald eagle outside Friday Harbor
Nob Island and Turtleback Mountain
Bald eagle
Harbor seal resting
Bald eagle taking flight
Leaping (pink?) salmon
Leaping (pink?) salmon
Totem pole on Henry Island
Bald eagle nest on Henry Island
Henry Island Kellett Bluff
Orcas socializing
Biggs/Transient orca T99C
Biggs/Transient orcas T99B with mom T99
Biggs/Transient orcas T99C and T38C
Biggs/Transient orcas T99’s and T38’s
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw”
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw”
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw”
Biggs/Transient orcas T99’s and T38’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T99’s and T38’s
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw”
Biggs/Transient orca T63 and others. T63 sporting rake marks on both sides of dorsal fin
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw”
Biggs/Transient orcas T99B with T38E
Biggs/Transient orca T99D
Biggs/Transient orca T65
Biggs/Transient orcas T46C2 and T99B plus another surfacing
Biggs/Transient orca T38C
Biggs/Transient orcas T99B and T38E
Biggs/Transient orcas T99’s, T38C and T38E, T46C2 and T65’s
Biggs/Transient orca T63
Biggs/Transient orcas T99’s, T38C and T38E, T46C2 and T65’s
Kite flying
Biggs/Transient orcas T99’s, T38C and T38E
Surf scoters
Biggs/Transient orcas T99’s, T38C and T38E with T46C2 and T65’s
Biggs/Transient orca T99C
Biggs/Transient orcas T65 with T46C2
Biggs/Transient orca T63
Cormorants on Barren Rock
Pretty sailboat following us
Route map 8/26/23