August 1, 2022 – A nice sail up the channel weaving our way through the islands near Shirt Tail Reef. We found lots of bald eagle action on Flattop Island as they were engaged in eating a deceased harbor seal (possibly a pup that didn’t survive). As we crossed the Canada border we got to see a pod of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T124A2’s and T124A4’s (siblings with their offspring). After they passed East Point and continued north we came around to see Patos and Sucia Islands both of which had some pretty cool bald eagle nests. With strong winds we sailed down to Pt Doughty, Orcas Island and enjoyed the steep forested coastline down Presidents Channel.
Coastline of San Juan just north of Friday Harbor
Nob Island
Mt Baker
Harbor seals hauled out by Shirt Tail Reef
Harbor seals hauled out by Shirt Tail Reef
Looking west from Spring Pass
Bald eagles eating dead harbor seal on Flattop Island
Bald eagles eating dead harbor seal on Flattop Island
Bald eagles eating dead harbor seal on Flattop Island
Bald eagles on Flattop Island
Harbor seals on Flattop Island
Harbor seal with nursing pup
Biggs/Transient orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s along Saturna Island
Biggs/Transient orca
Biggs/Transient orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s along Saturna Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s along Saturna Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s passing East Point
Biggs/Transient orcas T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound from East Point
T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound from East Point
T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound from East Point
T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound from East Point
T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound from East Point
T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound from East Point
T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound from East Point
T124A2’s and T124A4’s northbound from East Point
Pats Island with Mt Baker and Alden Pt Lighthouse
Kids watching and filming the orcas
Harbor porpoise
Alden Pt Lighthouse, Patos Island
Patos Island with honeycombed sandstone
Huge bald eagle nest on Patos Island
Bald eagle
Bald eagle nest on Sucia Island
Glacial erratic boulder on Sucia Island
Honeycombed sandstone on Sucia Island
Family sailing adventure
Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Sailing to the north shore of Orcas Island
Bald eagle nest on Orcas Island
Bald eagle on Orcas Island
Turtleback Mountain, Orcas Island
Great blue heron
Bald eagle nest on Orcas Island – chick is in nest
Little McConnell Island
Sunset with Yellow Island
Harbor seals in the sunset
Sun going down over San Juan Island
Splashing feet in the water under sail
Sun has set over San Juan Island
Sunset colors in the San Juans
Crescent Moon
Route map 8-1-22