April 21, 2024 – We motor sailed quickly North with a report of Biggs/Transient Orcas heading Southeast across Boundary Pass towards Skipjack Island. Hugging the forested Orcas Island coastline of Presidents Channel we had some good views of a bald eagles along the way. A fast beam reach sail took us over to Waldron Island and we kept up speed as the orcas moved quickly towards Alden Point Lighthouse, Patos Island. We met the orcas known as the T49A martriline along with T19B and his mum T19 as they began to hunt more than one Stellar sea lion. We left after the hunt was over and kept to the sunny side of a dark rain cloud right on the edge of the rain front. Following the Patos Island shoreline passing a very large eagles nest and over to Sucia Island before crossing to Presidents Channel and our sail home.
WARNING: Graphic images of sea lion attack below
Route map 4/21/24
Sea plane flying over WA State Ferry
Nob Island and Orcas Island behind
Our passengers enjoying the ride
Bald eagle flying overhead
Reefed sails as we head up President Channel beside Orcas Island
Bare and Skipjack Islands
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Orca tail in the air with Alden Pt Lighthouse
Orca lunging in the air with Alden Pt Lighthouse
Orca tail slapping
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Orca tail slapping
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Orca tail slapping
Young calf T49A6 near family during Steller sea lion hunt
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Steller sea lion with injuries during orca attack
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Steller sea lion with injuries during orca attack
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Steller sea lion bleeding during orca attack
Steller sea lion with injuries during orca attack
Steller sea lion with injuries during orca attack
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs orca T49A6 doing a backwards breach
Biggs orca T49A3
Biggs orca T49A3
Biggs orca calf doing backwards breach during sea lion hunt
Biggs/Transient orcas (T19, T19B and T49A’s) hunting Steller sea lions
Biggs orca T19
Biggs orca T49A
Biggs orca T19B
Biggs orca T19B with Alden Pt Lighthouse, Patos Island
Rain clouds coming through
Steller sea lions
Alden Pt Lighthouse, Patos Island
Patos Island geology
Giant bald eagle nest on Patos Island
Sucia Island geology
Sailing across President Channel to Orcas Island north coast
Double-crested cormorant drying its wings
Sailing across President Channel to Orcas Island north coast
Great blue heron up in the trees on Orcas Island
Looking west towards Spieden Channel
Narrow channel between the islands
Sailing through the Wasp Islands in the sunshine
Gull chasing bald eagle