June 16, 2024 – Our decision was to head north today after leaving Friday Harbor based on a few orca sightings from earlier that morning. As we reached north of Jones Island we made a course change to head up President Channel because a couple orca were porpoising in our direction from east of Sucia Island. Still quite a distance away, but they were moving in the right direction. However, not long after the orcas changed course moving down Rosario Strait away from us. We feared they’d be out of range quickly if they kept on that course. Another pod, the T65A’s (minus T65A5) was finally found after quite the search efforts near Turn Point Lighthouse moving south so we changed course.
Enjoyed a bit of Flattop Island before taking the south side of Spieden Island. We thought these orca would be out of range soon enough if they stayed on that course, but to our good fortune they made a course change in our direction. When we got on scene the orca were engaged in hunting for quite some time. Never did see the prey they were after or if they were successful, but we assumed they probably were. Cute little T65A6 did multiple headstands.
As the orca moved on they turned down San Juan Channel and we stuck with them having some awesome views as they showed off their backlit blows against the dark forested shore. The orca passed Friday Harbor and continued south down the channel, and we wrapped around Turn Island before returning to the harbor.
On a side note the orcas that were in Rosario (T34’s and T37’s) basically stayed in the same area the entire day… we would’ve eventually caught up with them if we kept going our original route.
Other cool wildlife sightings today include a mink on Cliff Island, a pair of river otters by Spieden Island, multiple bald eagles, harbor seals, harbor porpoise, pigeon guillemots and cormorants.
Route map 6/16/24
Harbor seals hauled out, San Juan Islands
Pigeon Guillemots near Flattop Island
Pigeon Guillemots on Flattop Island
Bald eagle on Flattop Island
Flattop Island
Harbor seals hauled out, Flattop Island
One of two river otters by Spieden Island
Sentinel Island and Spieden Island
Bald eagle on Spieden Island
Harbor porpoise and orca fin in the background
Harbor porpoise, Spieden Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A2
Sailing whale watching with a smile
Biggs/Transient orca hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T65A hunting
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s hunting in Spieden Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A3
Biggs/Transient orca T65A4
Biggs/Transient orca T65A2 with Spieden Island in background
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s hunting in Spieden Channel
Orca headstand
Orca headstand
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s hunting in Spieden Channel
Orca headstand
Biggs orca T65A6 doing a headstand next to mom
Biggs orca T65A6 doing a headstand next to mom
T65A6 rolling around next to mom, T65A
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s hunting in Spieden Channel
Orca headstand
Orca headstand
T65A, T65A4 and T65A6
Biggs/Transient orca T65A3 sporting a new nick on dorsal fin
Orca spy peep next to T65A4
Biggs/Transient orca T65A3 sporting a new nick on dorsal fin
Cormorants on Barren Rock
Harbor seal on Barren Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s moving east in Spieden Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A with T65A4
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A3 and T65A2 passing Lonesome Cove
T65A, T65A4 and T65A6
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A3 southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A6 southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A6 southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A2 southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A3 southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A3 southbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound along San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound along San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound along San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound along San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound along San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A’s southbound along San Juan Island
Brothers T65A3 and T65A2
Harbor seals
Bald eagle