July 17, 2024 – Our day began with harbor seals, bald eagles, an eaglet standing beside its nest and black oystercatchers. Today we had a mission to see orcas as wished by some of our passengers visiting all the way from Switzerland. When we heard news of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T109A2’s trending north from Discovery Island we were excited. We cut close to the San Juan Island shoreline in Spieden Channel and hugged Henry Island to stay out of the flood current until we reached Kellett Bluff. We then cut across to Canada and met the orcas between D’arcy and Little D’arcy. The orcas were hunting harbor seals and we watched as the juvenile orca held their catch in its mouth. A couple of the orcas have some new scratches including T109A2A with noticeable scrapes to the dorsal fin. They continued milling near Sallas Rocks before rounding Sidney Island towards Mandate Island.
We continued our adventure crossing to New Channel north of Spieden Island seeing more harbor seals with pups, including a seal we’ve known for years which we call “Big Red” because of her bright orange face. Never known her to be a female until now seeing her with a pup beside her which was so special. There were also several bald eagles, black oystercatchers, and pigeon guillemots. Riding the flood current we made our way to Flattop Island National Wildlife Refuge to enjoy the geology and more wildlife before turning south to head for home. We had a fun close hauled sail across the channel from Shirt Tail Reef to Point Caution. Mission complete.
Route map 7/17/24
Bald eagle
Bald eagle chick by nest on Cliff Island
Harbor seals hauled out on the rocks by Yellow Island reef
Harbor seals hauled out on the rocks by Yellow Island reef
Great blue heron
Bald eagle nest on Henry Island
Bald eagle on Henry Island
Kellett Bluff, Henry Island
Bald eagle nest on Henry Island
Harbor seals hauled out by D’Arcy Island
Harbor seals hauled out by D’Arcy Island with Mt Baker
Families excited to see the orcas
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s hunting by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s hunting by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s hunting by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with harbor seal in mouth
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s backwards swimming while eating by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s hunting/eating by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s hunting/eating by D’Arcy Island
Orca spy hop
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with Olympic Mountain backdrop
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with Olympic Mountain backdrop
Bald eagle
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s cutting through the shallow gap by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s cutting through the shallow gap by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s cutting through the shallow gap by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s cutting through the shallow gap by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s cutting through the shallow gap by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s cutting through the shallow gap by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orca T109A2
Biggs/Transient orca T109A2A with scrapes to dorsal fin
Biggs/Transient orca T109A2’s by D’Arcy Island
Orca tail in the air
Biggs/Transient orca T109A2 swimming backwards (while eating)
Biggs/Transient orca T109A2 swimming backwards (while eating)
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s by D’Arcy Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s by D’Arcy Island
Layers of islands in British Columbia
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s skirting the bull kelp forest
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s skirting the bull kelp forest with Mt Baker backdrop
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s skirting the bull kelp forest with Mt Baker backdrop
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s – juvenile on right has scrapes on back/peduncle
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s
Gulls and cormorants
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s rounding Gooch Island
Spieden Island
Spieden Island Bluff
Harbor seal mom and pup, Spieden Island
Bald eagle, Spieden Island shoreline
Pacific Madrone tree
Black oystercatcher, Cactus Islands
Harbor seal mom and pups, Cactus Islands
Harbor seal (Big Red) mom and pup, Cactus Islands
Harbor seal mom and pup, Cactus Islands
Harbor seal (Big Red) mom and pup, Cactus Islands
Harbor seal, Cactus Islands – look at those whiskers
Flattop Island
Pigeon guillemots, Flattop Island
Fast close-hauled sail back to Friday Harbor