Biggs/Transient Orcas T99's and Humpback whale BCX1057 Divot with new calf

June 10, 2024 – After setting sail wing on wing up San Juan Channel we heard a family of orcas known as the T99’s were found southbound from Flattop Island towards Spring Pass. This was great news as the orcas were heading our direction; however, they made a turn and ended up taking President Channel instead. They traveled along the north side of Orcas Island sticking fairly close to shore as they were against the strong ebb tide. Along the Orcas coastline we passed by many bald eagles and a historic Lime Kiln. The orcas changed course and crossed the channel continuing east near Waldron Island. We paralleled the orcas getting some nice views.

After Mail Bay the orcas made slow progress with the tide and so we decided to break away to check out some other scenery and wildlife. At Skipjack Island there were several eagles there and a very nervous sounding black oystercatcher giving an alarm call each time the bald eagles began to fly. We continued north to go see a pair of humpback whales near Saturna Island. It was humpback whale BCX1057 “Divot” with her new calf born earlier this year.

The humpbacks were basically doing circles between Java Rocks and East Point. After leaving the humpbacks we sailed over to Java Rocks to check out the harbor seals before crossing Boundary Pass to Ripple Island. As we came through the narrow pass between Ripple Island and Johns Island we were excited to spot well over 100 harlequin ducks grouped together! We’ve never seen anything like this number of harlequins together. Drifted backwards through the Cactus Islands and on through New Channel. As we were almost to Friday Harbor we watched as a bald eagle swooped down to the water a few times eventually snagging a small bait fish which it ate in mid air while flying. Two other eagles were nearby vocalising.