September 7, 2023 – On our earlier sail we watched four Biggs/Transient orcas, siblings T137A and T137D with another pair of siblings T37A3 and T37A4 travel down San Juan Channel. When the orcas were in Cattle Pass they flipped direction and traveled north. After we left the harbor we crossed the channel and met the orcas just shy of Flat Point, Lopez Island, and watched as they traveled around Upright Head. When the orcas passed Leo Reef they began hunting a harbor seal. After the successful predation there were some celebratory breaches, spy hops and tail slaps. As the orcas finished eating they resumed travel south along the east side of Frost Island and we came about to make tracks back to the harbor. As we hugged the Lopez coastline we spotted a bald eagle on the shoreline eating something and another eagle above watching in golden evening light. We sailed through the gap behind Canoe Island and had a pretty ride across the channel back to Friday Harbor as the sun set.
Sailing by Turn Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orca T37A3
Biggs/Transient orca T137A traveling towards Upright Head, Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A traveling towards Upright Head, Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A traveling towards Upright Head, Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A traveling towards Upright Head, Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A rounding Upright Head, Lopez Island
Cypress and Blakely Islands
Upright Head, Lopez Island
WA State Ferry
Orcas with Peavine Pass in the distance
Orcas with Peavine Pass in the distance and Blakely Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orcas with Leo Reef in the distance
Harbor seals by Leo Reef
Biggs/Transient orca T137D hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4 hunting – look at that crooked fin
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4 hunting
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T137D hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T137D hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T37A3 hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T137D hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T137A nearby youngsters while hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4 hunting
Poor little harbor seal being hunted by the orcas
Harbor seal in the center of the orcas
Harbor seal in the center of the orcas
Orcas during hunt for a harbor seal
Biggs/Transient orca T37A3
Biggs/Transient orca T37A3
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orca T137A tail lob
Biggs/Transient orca siblings T37A3 and T37A4
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4
Biggs/Transient orca T137A backwards half breach with Spencer Spit State Park
Biggs/Transient orca T137A backwards half breach
Biggs/Transient orca T137A backwards half breach
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4 half breach after successful seal predation
Orca tail slap
Orca tail slap
Biggs/Transient orca T37A3 tail lobbing
Biggs/Transient orca T37A3 tail lobbing
Orca doing pectoral flipper slap after successful seal predation
Biggs/Transient orca T37A3 in pretty evening light
Biggs/Transient orcas sharing a harbor seal meal
Biggs/Transient orcas sharing a harbor seal meal
Biggs/Transient orcas sharing a harbor seal meal
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4 with golden retriever on Frost Island
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4 with golden retriever on Frost Island
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4 passing Frost Island
Biggs/Transient orcas passing Frost Island
Biggs/Transient orcas passing Frost Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137D passing Frost Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A passing Frost Island
Biggs/Transient orcas passing Frost Island
Fake wolf yard art on Frost Island
Flower Island in pretty evening light
Upright Head, Lopez Island in pretty evening light
Bald eagle on Lopez Island in Madrone tree
Bald eagle on Lopez Island eating something on shore
Bald eagle on Lopez Island eating something on shore
Picnic Pt, Shaw Island
Southwest tip of Shaw Island
Sunset sail to Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands
Sunset sail – Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands
Route map 9/7/23 pm