May 22, 2025 – On route to pick up our passengers on Orcas Island we had a distant view of a grey whale at Mineral Pt southbound and met the Biggs orcas T123’s rounding Yellow Island also southbound. So after we picked up our passengers we continued around Shaw Island and down Upright Channel to meet them near Turn Island. We stayed with the gray whale for awhile as it surfaced about every 4 minutes with 1 to 2 breaths without showing a tail fluke upon sounding. The gray whale unfortunately looks very skinny. Soundwatch reported on the radio that this grey whale had been seen up in Bellingham Bay early May. We left to catch up with the T123’s who were northbound in Upright Channel. Upon our arrival near Shag Rock the orcas were hunting a harbor seal and appeared successful with prolonged milling while eating. They continued to the top of East Sound and we left them to enjoy sailing tacking our way up and down East Sound.
Biggs orca T123 passing Yellow Island
Biggs orca T123A passing Yellow Island
Biggs orca T123C passing Yellow Island
Biggs orca T123’s passing Yellow Island
Biggs orca T123’s southbound San Juan Channel
Capt David raising the main sail
Bald eagle in nest on Shaw Island
Shaw Island coastline
Pacific madrone tree on Shaw Island coastline
Juniper tree on Shaw Island coastline
Picnic Pt, Shaw Island
Rhinoceros Auklets
Gray whale southbound San Juan Channel
Gray whale southbound San Juan Channel
Gray whale southbound San Juan Channel
Gray whale southbound San Juan Channel
Gray whale southbound San Juan Channel
Gray whale southbound San Juan Channel
Gray whale southbound San Juan Channel
Gray whale southbound San Juan Channel
Gray whale southbound San Juan Channel
Harbor porpoise
Upright Head, Lopez Island
Biggs orcas T123’s hunting a harbor seal near Shag Rock
Biggs orcas T123’s hunting a harbor seal near Shag Rock
Biggs orcas T123’s hunting a harbor seal near Shag Rock
Biggs orcas T123’s hunting a harbor seal near Shag Rock
Biggs orcas T123’s hunting a harbor seal near Shag Rock
Harbor seal visible during hunt
Biggs orca T123A with Orcas Island backdrop
3 of the 4 family members in the T123’s
Sailing in East Sound, Orcas Island
Our passenger taking the helm and loving every minute of it
Bald eagle soaring overhead
Route map 5/22/25