June 5, 2024 – With news of Biggs/Transient orcas found by MacArthur Bank and good winds we had a fast sail out of Friday Harbor to the south. Passing Turn Rock David spotted a male orca fin heading towards us. Barbara quickly identified the orca as T124C with his tall pointed dorsal fin and notch near the top. His course was multi-directional as he zig zagged his way up San Juan Channel. We cut through the Wasp Islands and rejoined the orca north of Jones Island and said good bye as he continued up President Channel near the Orcas Island shoreline. Cutting across under sail to White Rock we saw a gazillion seals hauled out in today’s sunshine. Sailed south towards Flattop Island passing a nice group of harbor porpoise and enjoyed the high pitched calls of the pigeon guillemots at Flattop. Sadly the bald eagle’s nest has been vacant the last few times we sailed by and doesn’t appear to be active. However, the nest on Cliff Island still has a bald eagle sitting in that nest presumably with eggs or a chick(s).
Harbor seal on Turn Rock
Biggs/Transient orca T124C northbound in San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T124C
Biggs/Transient orca T124C
Sailing whale watching
Little McConnell Island
Criss Crossed madrone trees
Biggs/Transient orca T124C
Wildflowers on Jones Island – death camas
Tip Top Hill, Stuart Island, in the distance
Biggs/Transient orca T124C crossing Spring Passage
Common murre
Biggs/Transient orca T124C heading towards President Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T124C heading towards President Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T124C heading towards President Channel
Black oystercatcher
Harbor seals by White Rock
Harbor seals by White Rock
Pigeon guillemots
Harbor seals by White Rock with Pt Disney In the background
Harbor seals by White Rock
Pigeon guillemots on Flattop Island
Pigeon guillemots by Flattop Island
Pigeon guillemots flying by Flattop Island
Pigeon guillemots flying by Flattop Island
Harbor seals at Flattop Island
Bald eagle nest on Flattop Island
Bald eagle
Pacific madrone tree on Jones Island
Bald eagle
Nob Island
View looking west from Nob Island
View looking west from Nob Island
Bald eagle in nest with chick on McConnell Island
Bald eagle being chased by crow
Bald eagle outside Friday Harbor
Route map 6/5/24