July 18, 2024 – With news of Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s milling in Haro again we chose a route in that direction. Passed by a nice group of harbor seals on the reef by Yellow Island. We hugged the northern San Juan Island shoreline to keep out of the fast moving flood current in Spieden Channel. As we rounded Battleship Island a pair of eagles was circling above in tandem. Hugged some of the Henry Island shoreline before riding the flood current up to Mandarte Island.
Here we met the orcas as they were doing ‘Ring around the Rosie’ circling the island (similarly to what they did the day before). It was great seeing the different types of cormorants nesting on Mandarte Island as well as pigeon guillemots, black oystercatchers, and many gulls – some with newborn chicks visible. As the orcas began to travel slowly north we sailed parallel getting some nice views, and we decided to break away as the orcas turned west to hug Gooch Island.
Instead we crossed towards Stuart Island and came down the coast and into New Channel to check out more wildlife. Here we found more harbor seals, bald eagles, pigeon guillemots, and Mouflon sheep on Spieden Island. Sailed across to Flattop Island before returning down San Juan Channel via Jones Island and the Wasp islands. With a close-hauled sail we had a fast sail back to Friday Harbor tacking our way into Friday Harbor.
Harbor seal mom and pup
Harbor seals hauled out
Sentinel Island and Spieden Island
Bald eagle on Battleship Island
Pair of bald eagles flying around Battleship Island
Pair of bald eagles flying around Battleship Island
Pair of bald eagles flying around Battleship Island
Bald eagle nest, Henry Island
Mandarte Island and nesting gulls and cormorants
Harbor seal pup sleeping soundly on Mandarte Island
Harbor seals watching orcas circling Mandarte Island
Researcher cabins on Mandarte Island
Harbor seal with pup, Mandarte Island
Gulls with chicks, Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s circling Mandarte Island
Look out below! Bombs away
Brandts cormorants, Mandarte Island
Brandts cormorants, Mandarte Island
Pigeon guillemot, Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s heading towards Gooch Island from Mandarte
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s heading towards Gooch Island from Mandarte
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s heading towards Gooch Island from Mandarte
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s heading towards Gooch Island from Mandarte
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s heading towards Gooch Island from Mandarte
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s heading towards Gooch Island from Mandarte
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with Spieden Island in background
Container ship, Haro Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with choppy seas in Haro Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with choppy seas in Haro Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with choppy seas in Haro Strait
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s with container ship, Haro Strait
Turn Pt Lighthouse and Lovers Leap, Stuart Island
Bald eagle on Stuart Island
Mouflon sheep on Spieden Island
Harbor seal mom and pup
Harbor seal mom and pup
Harbor seal mom and pup
Flattop Island
Pigeon guillemot
Pigeon guillemots by Flattop Island
Harbor seals on Flattop Island
Forest on McConnell Island
Route map 7/18/24