October 29, 2023 – Shortly after casting off we spotted a bald eagle, some harbor porpoise and had distant views of Dalls porpoises across the channel. A friend on a nearby island messaged us to let us know there were some orcas a short distance away up the channel. A whale watching boat cruising by spotted them right about the same time. It turned out to be a large group of Biggs/Transient orcas including the T34’s, T37’s and T36’s. Just as we arrived the orcas took off chasing a Steller sea lion. There were explosive lunges and backflips and the orcas moved closer inshore near Shaw Island. At the time it was unclear if they got the sea lion, but a photo we captured shows them carrying it with them. It was a very fast take down. As they ate the gulls came swooping down for leftovers. There was another pair of sea lions very close to Pt George nervously watching as the orcas went by. We had moderately strong winds with white caps giving us a great sail as we paralleled the orcas down the channel. Near Turn Rock the orcas took off as if they were chasing something again, but shortly after they resumed course with the group. The orcas continued south and we broke off to take the narrow pass around Turn Island spotted some harbor seals on our way back to the harbor.
Bald eagle, San Juan County
Harbor porpoise mom and calf
Biggs Orcas hunting a Steller sea lion by Parks Bay, Shaw Island
Biggs Orcas hunting a Steller sea lion by Parks Bay, Shaw Island
Biggs Orcas hunting a Steller sea lion by Parks Bay, Shaw Island
Biggs Orcas hunting a Steller sea lion by Parks Bay, Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s carrying Steller sea lion after predation
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s carrying Steller sea lion after predation
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s carrying Steller sea lion after predation
Biggs/Transient orca T34A, f born 2007
Biggs/Transient orca T37B3, just turning 1 year old
Biggs/Transient orca T37B, f born 1998
Biggs/Transient orcas T37B with youngest offspring T37B3
Orca tail slap
Biggs/Transient orca T36B2 (?)
Biggs/Transient orca T36B1, born 2009
Biggs/Transient orca T36, f born ~1970
Biggs/Transient orca T36B, f born 1998
Biggs/Transient orcas T37 (f born 1979) with T34 (f born ~1969)
Biggs/Transient orcas prey sharing (food visible in mouth)
Biggs/Transient orcas prey sharing
Biggs/Transient Orca T36B tail slapping
Orca tail slap
Biggs/Transient orcas T37, T36B2(?) and T36B
Biggs/Transient orcas T37, T36B2(?) and T36B
Biggs/Transient orca T34, f born ~1969
Biggs/Transient orca T36, f born ~1970
Biggs/Transient orca T36B with offspring
Biggs/Transient orcas prey sharing
Biggs/Transient orcas prey sharing
Biggs/Transient orcas T36 with daughter T36B
Biggs/Transient orcas with Friday Harbor in the distance
There were two nervous Steller sea lions in the water as the orcas passed
Biggs/Transient orca with exhale
Biggs/Transient orca tail slap
Brisk sail in the San Juan Islands in October
Biggs/Transient orca headed down San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T37B1, m born 2012
Orcas prey sharing – backwards swimming (moonwalk)
Biggs/Transient orca breach near Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orca trailing seaweed over dorsal fin
Biggs/Transient orcas swimming along the shore of Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orca T37B1 near Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orcas swimming along the shore of Shaw Island
Sailing wing on wing downwind
View of Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas chasing something
Biggs/Transient orcas resume Southbound travel down San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s Southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s Southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orca with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s Southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s Southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas with WA State Ferry headed to Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s Southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s with choppy seas
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s, T36’s and T37’s with choppy seas
Biggs/Transient orca T37 in choppy seas
Biggs/Transient orcas passing close by Turn Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas passing close by Turn Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas passing close by Turn Rock
Harbor seals hauled out warming up and resting
Cormorants on the rocks with Olympic Mountains backdrop
Pair of bald eagles circling over Turn Island
WA State Ferry with Mt Baker
Route map 10/29/23