September 13, 2024 – Sailing north wing on wing up San Juan Channel. With news of Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s heading up the Vancouver Island shoreline from Ten Mile Point around Cordova Bay we took a port tack beam reach into Spieden Channel and down the shoreline of Henry Island. Crossed Haro Strait and met the orcas on the west side of James Island heading towards Sidney. The male orca T109A4 was separate from the group up ahead of the others and found shortly after we left. Rains came pretty heavy and we made tracks for Mandarte Island. Many cormorant chicks were visible in their nests beside their parents. We took the north side of Spieden Island where we found a harbor seal with a large salmon. At Green Pt we saw two Steller sea lions hauled out – our first time seeing them here since the spring when they left to head north for the Queen Charlottes for mating season.
Route map 9/13/24
Little McConnell Island and Orcas Island behind
Harbor seals resting warming up on the rocks
Bald eagle nest, Henry Island
Harbor seals, Henry Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s (minus T109A4 who was on his own)
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s (minus T109A4 who was 1/2 mile away on his own)
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s (minus T109A4 who was 1/2 mile away on his own)
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s (minus T109A4 who was 1/2 mile away on his own)
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s (minus T109A4 who was 1/2 mile away on his own)
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s (minus T109A4 who was 1/2 mile away on his own)
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s (minus T109A4 who was 1/2 mile away on his own)
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s (minus T109A4 who was 1/2 mile away on his own)
Rain coming down over Sidney, BC
Gulls and cormorants on Mandarte Island
Double-crested cormorants on Mandarte Island
Brandts cormorants on Mandarte Island with chicks visible
Brandts cormorants on Mandarte Island with chicks visible
Brandts cormorants on Mandarte Island with chicks visible
Brandts cormorants on Mandarte Island with chicks visible
Bald eagle in the rain, Spieden Island
Harbor seal in the rain, New Channel
The Cactus Islands and Flattop Island – similarly shaped
Passengers all inside while David and Barbara outside enjoying the rain
North shore Spieden Island
North shore Spieden Island
Harbor seals on north shore Spieden Island
Harbor seal with fresh salmon catch (gulls want some too)
Harbor seal with fresh salmon catch (gulls want some, too)
Harbor seal with fresh salmon catch
Harbor seal eating large salmon
Harbor seal holding onto large salmon
Wet bald eagle after the rain
Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island