July 27, 2024 – With a report of Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s coming down President Channel we headed North quickly. We noticed there is quite a number a harbor seals on the west spit of Yellow Island through the pupping season. Close to shore on the West side of Jones Island and up to White Rock National Wildlife Refuge where we met the orcas. They were circling the rocks hunting harbor seals with success. After a few inverted tail slaps they moved on at speed passing northwest side of Flattop Island before spreading out across San Juan Channel southbound. We left and sailed to Jones Island coming down to Yellow Island and we could see the orcas hunting there in the distance. We came through Nob Island Pass and sailed across to San Juan Island while watching the sunset. We met the orcas again outside Friday Harbor who had changed course now heading north.
Harbor seals hauled out on the beach of Yellow Island
Flattop, Gull Rock, Stuart Island and Johns Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunting at White Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s with Pt Disney backdrop
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s with Pt Disney backdrop
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunting at White Rock
Orca tail flukes in the air
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunting at White Rock – harbor seals watching
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s near White Rock
Biggs/Transient orca tail slap
Biggs/Transient orca tail slap – notice the flap of loose tissue near the notch in tail
Biggs/Transient orca T37B1 near White Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s near White Rock
Biggs/Transient orca head stand near White Rock
Biggs/Transient orca inverted tail lob
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s traveling quickly to Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s traveling quickly to Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s traveling quickly to Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s traveling quickly to Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s traveling quickly to Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s traveling quickly to Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orca T37 near Flattop Island
Battleship Island in the sunset
Sunset with Spieden Island
Forested coastline
Harbor seals hauled out on Yellow Island beach
Harbor seal mother with nursing pup on Yellow Island beach
Sunset sail from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Bald eagle in tree at sunset
Sunset sail from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Sunset as we approach Nob Island (on left)
Sunset as we come through the pass by Nob Island
Sunset with west tip of Yellow Island
Layers of islands with west tip of Yellow Island
Sunset sail from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Sun going down behind San Juan Island
Route map 7/27/24 pm