June 18, 2024 – We had a fun sail today with a family of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T65B’s. After casting off we moved quickly up San Juan Channel and then into Spieden Channel where we met the orcas outside of Roche Harbor. Together we traveled east and broke away to check out Flattop Island National Wildlife Refuge. The orcas weaved their way through the Wasp Islands and we encountered them again by Broken Point, Shaw Island. They were hugging the coastline fighting the current. Other wildlife sightings include a river otter, a mother deer with her newborn fawn, harbor seals, pigeon guillemots, and bald eagles including an eaglet in its nest with the parent.
River otter outside Friday Harbor
Black tailed deer with fawn
Yellow Island
Eagle being chased by gull
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B with youngest offspring T65B3
T65B2, born 2019
T65B2
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s near Spieden Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s eastbound Spieden Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s eastbound Spieden Channel
T65B1
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s south of Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s south of Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s and distant tanker in Boundary Pass
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B with T65B2 and T65B3
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s and distant tanker in Boundary Pass
T65B1, born 2011
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s – White Rock in the distance
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B with youngest offspring T65B3
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B with T65B2 and T65B3
Harbor seals by Flattop Island
Pigeon guillemot
Flattop Island
Harbor seals in Spring Pass by Jones Island
T65B1 near Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s eastbound in Wasp Passage
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s eastbound in Wasp Passage
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s eastbound along Shaw Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s eastbound along Shaw Island
Layers of islands viewed from Crane Island looking NW
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Distant view of Spieden Island
Bald eagle in nest with chick on Cliff Island
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Route map 6/18/24