September 28, 2024 – A family of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T46B’s (minus T46B1’s who we’d seen the previous day in north Haro by Stuart Island) were zig zagging their way eastbound from Constance Bank so we decided to sail south. Running against the tide we came inside Turn Island and inside of Griffin Bay to Cattle Pass. Out over Salmon Bank but no minke whales spotted here today. As we headed to Hein Bank their course changed to northerly so we veered to the west to meet them near Middle Bank. We had a great sail paralleling the orcas. They again changed course to the southeast and we paralleled their traveling pattern. We broke off to check out MacArthur Bank finding large groups of active birds, but no minke whales here either. Returned via Iceberg Pt, Hall Island, Long Island to Whale Rocks to see the Steller sea lions. Lighting was beautiful and eventually the sun broke beneath the clouds. A magical day.
Route map 9/28/24
Washington State Ferry with Mt Baker
Harbor seals by Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Great blue heron fishing near Goose Island
Cormorants on Goose Island
Steller sea lion
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s (minus T46B1’s)
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T46B’s with Mt Baker
Olympic Mountains
Mt Rainier
Common murres
Pretty scenery near south Lopez Island
Harbor seals by Hall Island
Sailing the San Juan Islands on a gorgeous day
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Cormorants on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with Olympic Mountains
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Sailing watching the sunset
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seal by Deadman Island
Harbor seal by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Great blue heron on bull kelp forest
Capt David talking with the passengers
Everyone enjoying the sunset
Mt Baker