May 23, 2025 – With a report of Orcas traveling fast ‘looking at Cattle Pass’ clearing Discovery Island off Victoria we headed South out of the harbor. Passed Turn Island we saw many harbor seals hauled out warming in the morning sun. Cut into Griffin Bay to pick up the back eddy of the flood tide and stayed close to shore passing the cormorant rookery to clear Cattle Point Lighthouse. We met the Biggs Orcas, the T75B’s and T68 heading South and following the contours around Salmon Bank. We noticed many loons in the water where the whales travelled through. We left them at the green can to meet a humpback whale who also followed the contour of Salmon Bank. The humpback whale continued East towards Iceberg Pt on Lopez Island and we caught the tail end of the flood to come into Whale Rocks where the Stellar’s sea lions hauled out. The Biggs orcas had gone in through Cattle Pass and we caught up with them crossing from Turn Rock to Upright Channel. We left them at Flat Point on Lopez to tack into wind and enjoy a fast sail back to Friday Harbor.
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Double-crested cormorants sitting on their nests on Goose Island
Cormorants on Goose Island
Steller sea lion on Salmon Bank channel marker
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orcas T68 with T75B’s on Salmon Bank
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orcas T68 with T75B’s
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orca T68
Biggs orcas T68 with T75B’s
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Humpback whale on Salmon Bank
Humpback whale on Salmon Bank
Humpback whale on Salmon Bank
Steller sea lions on the smaller rock at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lion in the water
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, Cattle Pt Lighthouse in background
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Juvenile bald eagle
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orca T68
Biggs orcas T75B’s
Biggs orca T68
People watching orcas from the Ferry
Our happy passengers
Route map 5/23/25