July 14, 2024 – After setting sail we had plans to sail south to look for minke whales and other wildlife. However, when receiving a sightings report of a male orca coming in through Cattle Pass, we changed plans. We met Biggs/Transient orca T49A1 near Dinner Island and had some great views sailing alongside as he cruised along the shoreline of San Juan Island. He took a detour and checked out the narrow channel behind Turn Island, possibly hunting. Upon coming back out he was playing with a mooring buoy for quite some time pulling it under the water and then letting it go. Following that he passed Friday Harbor and we sailed the coastline of Shaw Island. We rejoined as he entered Wasp Passage and left again to come through the Wasp Islands. The bald eagle chick was standing beside its parent in the nest on Cliff Island and the black oystercatcher chicks were also visible on Low Island. Harbor seals rested with their new pups and a great blue heron wandered around on Low Island, too.
Route map 7/14/24
Great blue heron in Friday Harbor
Totem Pole, Brown Island
Harbor seals on the rocks near Dinner Island
Kayakers with Biggs orca T49A1
Kayaker with Biggs orca T49A1
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 traveling close to San Juan Island coastline
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 passing Turn Island
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 in the narrow channel by Turn Island
Narrow channel by Turn Island
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 playing with a mooring buoy along San Juan Island shoreline
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 playing with a mooring buoy along San Juan Island shoreline
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 moving on after playing with mooring buoy
Sailing wing on wing
Harbor seal, Shaw Island
Beach, Shaw Island
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 near Neck Pt, Shaw Island
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 near Neck Pt, Shaw Island
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 pointed at Wasp Passage
Biggs/transient orca T49A1 pointed Mt Baker
Black oystercatcher with bite to eat for chicks
Black oystercatcher with bite to eat for chicks
Parent bald eagle with chick near nest at Cliff Island
Bald eagle
Shirt Tail Reef
Black oystercatcher, Low Island
Black oystercatcher with chick, Low Island
Black oystercatcher with chick, Low Island
Harbor seal with pup and great blue heron wandering Low Island
Many harbor seals, Low Island