June 17, 2018 – South and out through Cattle Pass on a beautiful day where the sea lions and seals basked in the sun on Shark Reef and Whale Rocks. We decided to circumnavigate San Juan Island today when we heard that the transient orcas (the T65A’s) were headed to the west side. Gorgeous view of the orcas with the Olympic Mountains behind them before they crossed over to hug the shoreline up San Juan Island. It surprised us to see them choose Mosquito Pass passed Roche Harbor. Upon entering Spieden Channel we saw a large group of harbor porpoise swimming away from us on our port side and suddenly on our starboard a huge splash as the orcas began hunting. Lots of lunges followed by a smack from the orca and the porpoise went flying into the air. After about 10 minutes they moved on and so did we to visit Flattop Island. The orcas may have stopped again to hunt as they were spread out and we heard some great vocals.
Many harbor seals on Shark Reef
Sea lions and Olympic Mountains
Sea lions & harbor seals with Cattle Point Light
T65A’s with Olympic Mountains
T65A2 with Olympic Mountains
T65As’s traveling up the San Juan coast
T65A2 passing old historic Lime Kiln
T65A’s hugging San Juan shoreline
T65A’s passing County Park
Whale watching
Pigeon Guillemots
Transient orcas went through Mosquito Pass and passed by Roche Harbor
View of Olympic Mountains
Looking towards Canada
Transients taking Spieden Channel
Hunting begins and porpoise goes flying
Hunting begins and porpoise goes flying
Having fun after lunch
Backwards swimming by whale on left probably sharing the porpoise
T65A and newest calf T65A6
T65A with T65A6 and T65A3
T65A2, born 2004
T65A5 born 2014
T65A6 in the middle
Flattop Island
Calm reflections
Calm reflections
Bald eagle
Bald eagle coming in for a landing
Sunset in San Juan Channel
Friday Harbor