Southern Resident Orcas of the L12s take Spieden Channel

September 5, 2018 – Headed North with report of Residents foraging in Presidents. We cut inside of Yellow Island and through Spring Pass to meet the West bound L12s, 10 members of the Southern Resident Orcas. We first saw L25 Ocean Sun (the oldest female of the residents at 90 year old) who was in the lead with L22 and L89, Spirit and Solstice. We sailed wing on wing and L85 Mystery 27 year old adult male cartwheeled in front of Flattop Island. A playful group consisting of sisters L77 Matia and L94 Calypso and their offspring travelled by. Trailing was the eldest male of all three pods L41, Mega, born 1977 (41 years old).

The ferry coming from Sidney stopped in Spieden Channel as the whales passed in front and passengers viewed from the upper deck. They travelled through Spieden Channel passing Roche Harbor and Battleship Island making a left down Haro Strait. They stopped to forage at Kellet Bluff and Open Bay. We broke off to try to catch up with T10s who were Northbound in Sidney Channel but unfortunately they were cruising too fast. We did see Cormorant chicks on Mandarte Island and a Coopers Hawk creating a commotion flying over the gull chicks. We headed for Turn Point Lighthouse and Lovers Leap and came down the Stuart Island shoreline seeing a beautiful Osprey before drifting through New Channel and the Cactus Islands. We passed Harbor Seals on the South side of Flattop National Wildlife Refuge. Sundog rainbows either side of the sinking sun and a dramatic sunset sailing down San Juan Channel to the port of Friday Harbor.