Pacific white-sided dolphins, Biggs Orcas, and a Proposal!

May 30, 2024 – Today we had heard some exciting news… there was a pod of about a dozen Pacific white-sided dolphins hanging out close to shore near Jackson Beach, San Juan Island. The last time we saw Pacific white-sided dolphins in the Salish Sea was September 2018. After some amazing views we sailed on, but were even more excited when a large group of Biggs/Transient orcas were found near Turn Island just south of Friday Harbor.

The orcas were pushing quickly south. As they passed we were able to confirm ID’s as the T137’s in the lead followed by the T49A’s (excluding T49A1 but including T49A2) and T19 with son, T19B (12 orca in all). We paralleled the orca down to Cattle Pass. A bald eagle flew over us from Cattle Pt down to the water to grab a small fish while we were waiting for the orca to surface. The T137’s continued South and East while the T49A’s and T19’s slowly headed out to Salmon Bank.

While scanning Salmon Bank we spotted a large group of birds take off from the water followed by a minke whale surfacing twice actively feeding. We headed that direction to check out the minke whale, but suddenly the T49A’s surfaced ahead of us in that direction as well. After that we lost sight of the minke whale who perhaps wisely made the decision to take off knowing the orca were nearby. Biggs Orcas predate on minke whales – especially the T18’s. Last year we watched as they chased a minke whale who successfully escaped, but sadly later in the year another did not.

We stopped over by Whale Rocks and checked out the Steller sea lions and then over to Deadman Island to see the sleepy harbor seals and black oystercatchers.

During our sail back up San Juan Channel to the harbor our passenger got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend! It was so beautiful to watch this special moment take place. Of course she said “yes!”. We returned via the narrow pass behind Turn Island State Park passing a pair of bald eagles, more harbor seals, and some raccoons on Turn Island. Today was just as perfect as it could get!