May 8, 2025 – As we were leaving Friday Harbor we got word that Biggs/Transient orcas were vocalizing on the Lime Kiln and Orca Sound hydrophones on the west side of San Juan Island. It was a tough call deciding whether to go north or south. After flipping a coin we went north and were able to sail wing on wing with a fair breeze. While sailing we tuned into the hydrophones and listened as the orcas continued to vocalize for the next 4+ hours. We cut through Roche Harbor and Mosquito pass and down the west side before crossing Haro Strait meeting the orcas near Beaumont Shoals. The orcas, identified as the T65B’s and the T124D’s, (8 orcas in all) were socializing in loose mixed up groups. There were a couple breaches, tail lobs and a cartwheel. After awhile they moved quickly towards Chatham and Griffin Islands close to shore through the bull kelp forests before moving on giving a close pass to a group of Steller sea lions on a rock and in the water near Seabird Point. We left them and caught the flood tide back to Cattle Pass. Lots of diving birds at Salmon Bank but we didn’t see any minkes. At Whale Rocks there were many juvenile or female Steller sea lions with a few large bulls in the mix. Many were in the water playing around socializing. Passed by Deadman Island and cruised the Lopez Island coastline before crossing the channel to take the narrow pass around Turn Island. Returned back to Friday Harbor all full of smiles.
Juvenile bald eagle taking off from the shoreline of San Juan Island
Sailing wing on wing
Pelagic cormorants on Barren Rock
Bald eagle in nest on Posey Island
Lime Kiln Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Biggs orcas T65B’s
Biggs orca T124D with youngest offspring T124D4
Biggs orca T124D3
Biggs orca T124D
Biggs orca T124D with youngest offspring T124D4
Biggs orca T124D with youngest offspring T124D4
Biggs orca T124D with youngest offspring T124D4
Biggs orca T124D and T124D3
Biggs orcas T124D’s
Biggs orcas T124D’s with Mt Rainier backdrop
Biggs male orca T65B1
Biggs orca T124D1 socializing with youngster from T65B’s
Biggs orca T124D1 socializing with youngster from T65B’s
Biggs orca T124D1
Orca with Olympic Mountains
Biggs orca T124D1 socializing with youngster from T65B’s by Discovery Island
Mt Rainier and playful orcas
Orca calf half breach
Orca calf tail flukes in the air
Biggs male orca T65B1
Orca tail slap
Drift sailing whale watching
Orca laying on back waving pec fin in the air
Orca kelping by Griffin Island near Discovery Island
Orcas in the shallows by Griffin Island near Discover Island
Orcas in the shallows by Griffin Island near Discover Island
Orcas in the shallows by Griffin Island near Discover Island
Orcas passing cormorants in shallow water near the rocks
Watchful harbor seals after orcas swam by
Orca kelping by Griffin Island near Discovery Island
Orcas exploring kelp forests
Orca kelping by Griffin Island near Discovery Island
Orcas with Discovery Island Lighthouse
Biggs male orca T65B1
Juvenile bald eagle
Stellar sea lions in the distance on Brinn Rock
Biggs male orca T65B1
Orcas with Discovery Island Lighthouse
Steller sea lions at Brinn Rock on high alert after orcas pass by
Orcas passing close by Steller sea lions on Brinn Rock
Stellar sea lions on Brinn Rock with Olympic Mountain backdrop
Mt Baker
Steller sea lions on Brinn Rock with Discovery Island Lighthouse
Common loon
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with Mt Rainier in distance
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with Olympic Mountains
Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Black oystercatchers flying by
Black oystercatchers and a seal on Sharks Reef
Griffin Bay and Olympic Mountains
Sailing around Turn Island
Mt Baker
Route map 5/8/25