May 30, 2022 – Double hitter today – humpbacks and orcas! It was quite the day for whale watching seeing two humpback whales identified as BCX0419 “Lucky” and BCX1057 “Divot” followed by our Southern Resident orcas from J pod. It was just us on scene with the humpbacks as we sailed alongside continuing north towards the Pender Islands. They had fairly long dives which kept us anticipating where they’d pop up next! The sound of their exhales was so calming as we drifted in glassy seas.
After we departed the humpbacks we saw distant orca blows. Southern Resident J pod whales were northbound in Haro Strait. We sat offshore of Turn Pt Lighthouse with the engine off and watched as J Pod went by. Lots of breaches and spy hops. When we saw the coast was clear we crossed Haro to continue our trip around Stuart Island. As we rounded the bottom of Stuart Island we were surprised to see blows in the distance behind us. J pod had turned around and were fighting the flood current as they moved south. Suddenly, the whales started porpoising south. It was an incredible sight. Note: We were viewing Southern Resident orcas at distances greater than 1/2 mile. All photos are heavily cropped for the website.
Nob Island and Turtleback Mountain
Shirt Tail Reef and Nob Island
Harbor seals
River otters by McConnell Island
River otters by McConnell Island
Mouflon Rams on Spieden Island
Juvenile bald eagle on Spieden Island
Coastline of Spieden Island in New Channel
Bald eagle in the trees
Juvenile bald eagle and turkey vulture on Spieden Island
Juvenile bald eagle flying by
Juvenile bald eagle in the trees
Juvenile bald eagle in the trees
Juvenile bald eagle in the trees
Flowers on Elephant Rock
Mouflon sheep at the waters edge
Mouflon Sheep on Spieden Island
Turn Pt Lighthouse and Lovers Leap, Stuart Island
Turn Pt Lighthouse and Lovers Leap, Stuart Island
Humpback whales BCX0419 “Lucky” and BCX1057 “Divot”
Humpback whales BCX0419 “Lucky” and BCX1057 “Divot”
Humpback whale BCX1057 “Divot”
Humpback whale BCX1057 “Divot”
Humpback whale BCX0419 “Lucky”
Humpback whale BCX0419 “Lucky”
Humpback whale BCX0419 “Lucky”
Humpback whale BCX1057 “Divot”
Humpback whale BCX1057 “Divot”
Humpback whale BCX1057 “Divot”
Humpback whale BCX1057 “Divot” diving and “Lucky” surfacing
Humpback whale BCX0419 “Lucky”
Humpback whale BCX0419 “Lucky”
Humpback whale BCX0419 “Lucky”
Humpback whale BCX0419 “Lucky”
Turn Pt Lighthouse and Lovers Leap, Stuart Island
Lovers Leap
Southern Resident J pod orcas passing Lovers Leap
Southern Resident J pod orcas passing Lovers Leap
Folks on shore watching the J pod whales swim by
J19 Shachi passes Turn Pt Lighthouse
Orca breach
Male orca J26 in the distance
Orca spy hop
Double orca spy hop
Orca spy hop
J pod female headed north (J40?)
Youngest J pod member, J59, born to J37
Orca breach
Young orca calf
Orca breach
Bald eagle on Stuart Island
Bald eagle flying by
Bald eagle landing in tree and calling
Juvenile bald eagle on driftwood log
Another bald eagle on Stuart Island
Southern Resident J pod orcas traveling south in Haro Strait
Southern Resident J pod orcas traveling south in Haro Strait
Southern Resident J pod orcas porpoising south in Haro Strait
Southern Resident J pod orcas porpoising south in Haro Strait
Southern Resident J pod orcas porpoising south in Haro Strait
Southern Resident J pod calf porpoising south in Haro Strait
Southern Resident J pod orcas porpoising south in Haro Strait
Southern Resident J pod orcas porpoising south in Haro Strait
Southern Resident J pod orcas porpoising south in Haro Strait
Southern Resident J pod orcas southbound in Haro Strait
J pod male orca
Harbor seals on Sentinel Rock
Bald eagle
Canada geese with goslings
Steller sea lions on Green Pt, Spieden Island
Steller sea lions on Green Pt, Spieden Island
Forest near Friday Harbor
Route map 5-30-22