September 7, 2023 – After casting off from Friday Harbor we headed north on account of two groups of orcas, the T75B’s and T77D with T137A, T137D, T37A3 and T37A4, eastbound in Spieden Channel. When the groups reached Green Point, the T75B’s and T77D wrapped around into New Channel while the other four turned south. We spotted the fins going by us close to shore near Reuben Tarte Park. The orcas hugged the stunning coastline all the way down to Friday Harbor giving us some magical views as we watched them surfacing with backlit exhales against the forested backdrop. This group has been circling San Juan Island for several days now and they’ve done exactly what they’ve done before which was head deep into Griffin Bay hugging the coastline around to Cattle Pt. At Pear Point we broke away to sail and check out the harbor seals by Turn Island. We had a relaxing sail back to Friday Harbor enjoying some pastries brought by our passengers as they were celebrating two special birthdays.
Harbor seals hauled out on the west spit of Yellow Island
Marbled murrelets
Bald eagle
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4
Biggs/Transient orca T137D
Biggs/Transient orca T137A southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orcas southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T137A southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T137A southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orcas southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orcas southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orcas southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T137D southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T137A southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T37A3 southbound on San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Sailing whale watching tours from Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orcas
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Biggs/Transient orca T137D southbound from Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A southbound from Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas southbound from Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4 southbound from Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A southbound from Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orca T137A southbound from Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas with Pacific Madrone tree
Biggs/Transient orca T137A approaching Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T137D and T37A3 approaching Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4 approaching Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T137A approaching Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T137D approaching Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca passing Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas passing Friday Harbor with WA State Ferry in the background
Biggs/Transient orcas passing Ferry leaving Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas passing Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas near Shipyard Cove
Biggs/Transient orca T37A4
Biggs/Transient orca T137A
Harbor seals nervously watching after orcas pass by
Harbor seals nervously watching after orcas pass by
Harbor seals nervously watching after orcas pass by
Bald eagle
Bald eagle
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Turn Island
Northern Flicker
Route map 9/7/23