May 21, 2025 – We hustled everyone on board for a fast departure from Friday Harbor with a report of Biggs orcas, the T19’s, hunting near Turn Island. We met them near Reid Rock northbound and sailed alongside until they hunted again near Pt Caution. We continued on towards Green Pt to check out the Steller sea lions and saw the orcas again as they continued north. With big news of humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama” with a new calf (her 8th calf!) in Haro Strait, we took New Channel and through the Cactus Islands to meet them approaching Gooch Island. “Big Mama” was the first known humpback to return to this area in 1997 after almost 100 years absence due to humpbacks being wiped out by whalers in 1907. She is the mother of 8, grandmother of 7 and a great grandmother of 4. Prior to our arrival while scanning with the binoculars we saw one of the humpbacks breach four times in a row. While on scene sailing alongside the calf was playful at first raising pectoral flippers and tail flukes but soon settled down into relaxed travel with mom. Our return route was via the shoreline of Stuart Island and the south side of Spieden Island.
Biggs orca T19
Biggs orca T19C
Biggs orca T19 passing Friday Harbor
Biggs orca T19C passing Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Biggs orca T19C passing Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Biggs orca T19C exhaling
Biggs orca T19
Biggs orca T19C near San Juan Island
Biggs orca T19B cruising San Juan Island shoreline
Biggs orca T19C cruising San Juan Island shoreline
Biggs orca brothers T19B and T19C
Biggs orca T19B passing Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs orca T19C passing Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs orca T19 passing Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Biggs orca T19C hunting
Our passengers enjoying sailing with orcas
Biggs orca T19B
Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island
Bald eagle
Pigeon guillemots
Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama” with 8th newborn calf born 2025
Tail flukes of 8th calf of humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama” born 2025
Tail flukes of 8th calf of humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama” born 2025
2025 calf of Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama”
Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama”
Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama”
2025 calf of Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama”
2025 calf of Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama”
Tail flukes of 8th calf of humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama” born 2025
Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama” with 8th calf born 2025, northbound in Haro Strait
Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama”
Bald eagle on Stuart Island
Black tailed deer on Stuart Island
Harbor seal on Stuart Island
Bald eagle on Stuart Island
Harbor seals on Stuart Island
Male harlequin duck
Mounflon sheep on Spieden Island under Garry Oak trees
Canada geese with goslings on Spieden Island
Mounflon rams on Spieden Island
Mounflon rams on Spieden Island under Garry Oak trees
Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island
Route map 5/21/25