July 30, 2024 – After casting off from Friday Harbor we sailed towards Upright Channel with interest to see an orca who was near the intersection of Cayou and Upright Channel. It was Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 aka “Indy” and he spent much of the afternoon playing with crap pot floats in Wasp Passage. After sailing around Canoe Island we met the 10 year old orca as he was southbound in our direction. We paralleled the orca down towards Fisherman’s Harbor and along the Lopez coastline. He was moving quickly steadily down the channel. We broke away to check out the nesting cormorants and gulls by Goose Island and later rejoined for a little while longer until reaching the Salmon Bank marker. The Steller sea lions were busy goofing around at Whale Rocks while the harbor seals were sleeping soundly at Deadman Island. Returned back to the harbor just after sundown.
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Taking the pass around Canoe Island
Canoe Island
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 in Upright Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 tail slapping
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 with ferry in background
Skies brightening up as sun begins to set
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 near a kelp bed
Goose Island and Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Goose Island with nesting cormorants
Gulls with chicks on Goose Island
Bald eagle atop Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Layers of fog rolling in around Cattle Pt, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 headed for Salmon Bank
Rhinoceros auklet with beak full of fish
Steller sea lion swimming
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks with fog
Male Steller sea lion and gulls on Whale Rocks with fog
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks with fog
Whale Rocks with fog
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks with fog
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions playing around at Whale Rocks
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island in foggy skies
Pair of bald eagles overlooking Deadman Island
Harbor seals resting by Deadman Island
Harbor seal mom and pup resting by Deadman Island
Harbor seals resting by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Great blue heron with food in beak
Great blue heron with food in beak
Sunset over San Juan Island
Route map 7/30/24 pm