July 8, 2022 – We headed north in San Juan Channel, cut through the Wasp Islands, up to New Channel and through the Cactus Islands passing Ripple Island and decided to go for it to catch up with two families of Biggs/Transient orcas… the T65A’s (minus T65A3 and T65A5) and T77’s (minus T77A, T77B) near Saturna Island. As we arrived we had awesome views with a stunning backdrop of Monarch Head and the honeycombed shoreline of Saturna. As the orcas neared East Pt they took off with speed with several animals porpoising towards Pt Roberts.
We changed course for home passing Waldron Island and cruised down the gorgeous northern Orcas Island coastline. Wildlife highlights include bald eagles, black oystercatchers, harbor seals, Mouflon rams, a bald eagle chick in the nest, pigeon guillemots, river otters, and orcas.
Bald eagle on Low Island
Black oystercatchers
Bald eagle with Mouflon rams on Spieden Island
Bald eagle chick in nest by the Cactus Islands
Pigeon guillemots
River otters peeking out by the Cactus Islands
River otters peeking out by the Cactus Islands
Harbor seal mom and pup
Harbor seal spy hop in the bull kelp forest
Orcas T65A’s (minus T65A3 and T65A5) and T77’s near Saturna Island
Orcas passing Monarch Head
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s passing Monarch Head, Saturna Island
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
East Point, Saturna Island
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s near Saturna Island, Boundary Pass
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s heading north to Pt Roberts
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s porpoising north to Pt Roberts
Orcas T65A’s and T77’s porpoising north to Pt Roberts
Looking over the bow
Harbor seals hauled out
Orcas Island north coast
Orcas Island north coast
Bald eagle on Orcas Island
Bald eagle nest on Orcas Island
Passenger taking the helm
Route map 7-8-22