May 4, 2024 – As we set sail we plotted a course to head north with the hopes to catch up with some Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T49A’s with T19 and T19B. However, when another report came in of orcas in East Sound, Orcas Island, we changed course. A bald eagle stood outside Friday Harbor and we cruised by the beautiful coastline. A peaceful sail was had as we came up San Juan Channel up to Shirt Tail Reef passing resting harbor seals. As we made our way through Cayou Channel the orcas, too, began to move after a hunt choosing to take Cayou Channel, too. The orca family is known as the T90’s – a mother with 3 offspring. Another hunt began and a harbor seal was whacked into the air several times by the orcas tail flukes. It was a successful predation as indicated by the gulls coming in for scraps. The orcas moved fairly quickly after their meal and decided to take the narrow Pole Pass and stop again for hunting outside Deer Harbor. We had a nice sail back through the Wasp Islands returning to harbor just before drizzle started.
Bald eagle
Harbor seals
Harbor seal
Sentinel Island
Biggs/Transient orca T90B
Biggs/Transient orca T90B about to grab a harbor seal
Biggs/Transient orcas T90’s
Orca cartwheel
Biggs/Transient orcas T90C with younger sibling T90D
Biggs orca T90B exhaling
Biggs/Transient orca T90B with tail flukes in the air before swimming backwards
Biggs/Transient orca T90B swimming backwards during feeding
Biggs/Transient orcas T90C with younger sibling T90D
Biggs/Transient orca T90
Biggs/Transient orca T90C
Biggs/Transient orca T90B
Biggs/Transient orca T90C
Biggs/Transient orca T90D
Biggs orca with sailboat passing by close to Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orca T90 (prior tag wound visible on dorsal fin)
Biggs/Transient orca T90 (prior tag wound visible on dorsal fin)
Biggs orca T90B with Shaw Island backdrop
Orca tail waving in the air as she was trying to whack a seal
Orca spy hop
Orca tail waving in the air as she was trying to whack a seal
Orca tail whacking a seal and it goes flying in the air
Orca tail whacking a seal and it goes flying in the air
Orca tail whacking a seal and it goes flying in the air again
Orca spy hop as gulls circle overhead during their meal
Bald eagle on Shaw Island
Shaw Island coastline
Pacific Madrone trees
Biggs/Transient orcas T90’s taking Pole Pass – Deer Harbor in distance
Pelagic cormorant making sure boats go slow
Black oystercatchers
Biggs/Transient orcas T90’s outside Deer Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T90’s outside Deer Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T90’s outside Deer Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T90B with kayakers watching
Deer Harbor, Orcas Island
Deer Harbor and Turtleback Mountain, Orcas Island
Mt Baker
Skye having fun with our passengers
Route map 5/4/24