Epic trip in the fog, Biggs Orca T65A5 playing with crab pots, & shore excursion to Yellow Island

July 30, 2024 – It felt like August aka “Fogust” arrived early because the harbor was socked in thick with fog. After casting off we set sails with limited visibility and made our way north with plans for a shore excursion at Yellow Island. A bald eagle watched us through the fog as we made our way up to Point Caution. The fog began to lift and shift revealing layers of islands as we crossed the channel towards the Wasp Islands. On Low Island we could see some harbor seals hauled out and a black oystercatcher chick foraging beside its parent. The bald eagle chick who recently fledged from its nest on Cliff Island was on Shirt Tail Reef calling. As we watched we observed the parent come flying in landing on Nob Island we something caught in its talons. The chick flew over to join its parent calling in flight. It was our first time seeing him/her fly and was an awesome sight to see.

We had been monitoring reports of an orca known as T65A5 coming south down President Channel. To our good fortune he came south in Spring Passage and to the Wasp Islands where we were sailing. We watched as he hunted near Bird Rock and was possibly successful as indicated by a breach and milling. He moved on to play with multiple crab pots scattered about by repeatedly pulling the floats underwater. He did some tail lobs and another breach as he played with the pots. After a fun encounter we headed over to Yellow Island where we dropped anchor and used our tender to go ashore. Harbor seals were lining the beach on the west spit with their young pups. As we explored we enjoyed spotting the wildflowers on the island. As we made our way back to the harbor the fog was gone.

Route map 7/3024

Kayakers close to San Juan Island in the fog

Bald eagle on San Juan Island in the fog

San Juan Island in the fog

Sailing towards the Wasp Islands in the fog

Wasp Islands in the fog

San Juan Island in the fog

Nob Island with fog

Cliff Island and Wasp Passage in the fog

Islands engulfed in fog

Sailboat appearing behind Low Island

Low Island and Cliff Island in the distance

Harbor seals on Low Island

Black oystercatcher with chick foraging on Low Island

Shaw Island in the fog

Harbor seal at Low Island

Black oystercatcher on Low Island

Black oystercatcher calling out to a friend while in flight

Black oystercatcher calling out to a friend on Low Island

McConnell and Little McConnell Island in the fog

Yellow Island in the fog

Bald eagle chick in the fog standing on Shirt Tail Reef rocks

Wasp Islands surrounded by fog

Bald eagle chick in the fog standing on Shirt Tail Reef rocks

Bald eagle chick standing on Shirt Tail Reef rocks with foggy backdrop

Low Island surrounded by fog

Harbor seals with fog in the distance

Bald eagle chick standing on Shirt Tail Reef rocks with foggy backdrop

Bald eagle chick ion Shirt Tail Reef rocks calling out to parent

Bald eagle flying overhead as its chick watches

Bald eagle landing on Nob Island with something to eat in talons

Bald eagleon Nob Island with amazing tree backdrop

Bald eagle chick about to take flight

Bald eagle chick takes flight toward parent on Nob Island

Bald eagle chick takes flight toward parent on Nob Island whilst calling out

Bald eagle chick takes flight toward parent on Nob Island

Bald eagle chick landing on Nob Island where parent delivered food to eat

Bald eagle chick with parent on Nob Island

Harbor seals on Shirt Tail Reef with fog

Fog rolling in thick again by Wasp Islands

Looking down Wasp Passage from Cliff Island

Belted kingfisher flying by

Great blue heron flying by

Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 aka “Indy” in the fog by Wasp Islands

Harbor seals watching the nearby orca

Yellow Island and Spieden Island in distance in the fog

Fog lifting around Yellow Island

Fog lifting around the Islands

Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 aka “Indy” in the fog by Wasp Islands

Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 aka “Indy” hunting at Bird Rock

Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 aka “Indy” playing with crab pot floats

Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 aka “Indy” tail slapping

Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 aka “Indy” doing a half breach

Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 aka “Indy” playing with crab pot floats by Bird Rock

Bald eagle flying by

Our sailboat “Peniel” at anchor by Yellow Island

Flowers on Yellow Island

Caretaker cabin on Yellow Island

Prickly pear cactus on Yellow Island

Harbor seals with pups on the west spit of Yellow Island

Pacific Madrone tree on Yellow Island

Our daughter pointing to the cactus

Our sailboat “Peniel” at anchor by Yellow Island

Dried up wildflowers on Yellow Island

Dew drops

Flowers on Yellow Island

Broadleaf stonecrop on Yellow Island

Dried up wildflowers on Yellow Island

Yellow Island

Bald eagle, San Juan Island

All Aboard Sailing

Whale Watching Sailing from Friday Harbor through the San Juan Islands – and beyond!

Epic trip in the fog, Biggs Orca T65A5 playing with crab pots, & shore excursion to Yellow Island

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