June 4, 2025 – Shortly after casting off from Friday Harbor we had a report of a large group of Biggs/Transient orcas north of Patos Island moving south. We plotted a course north and headed up President Channel with hopes of meeting them. The orcas were busy socializing and slowly working their way south between Patos and Sucia Island when we arrived. It looked like they were hunting possibly a harbor porpoise, but the loose groups moved on in the direction of Pt Doughty. There were several orca families in the mix: T75B’s, T86A’s (minus T86A1’s and T86A3’s), T124A2’s, T124D’s, and T137’s. It was an epic encounter as we watched the orcas in several groups socializing with lots of tail slapping, breaches and cartwheels. Conditions in President Channel were picture perfect with the forested coastline of Turtleback Mountain, beautiful island reflections, combined with glassy seas. We left them after we passed by Lovers Cove and made our return back to the harbor. What a day!
Orca breach (T86A5?)
Pair of bald eagles, San Juan Island
Steller sea lion, San Juan Channel
Three bald eagles engaged in game of tag
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Turtleback Mountain, Orcas Island
Harbor seals
Orca hunting
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Orca tail in the air
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Orca half breach
Orca passing Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Biggs orca T137A passing Pt Doughty
Orcas passing Pt Doughty
Orcas passing onlookers at Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Orcas passing onlookers at Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Biggs Orcas T137’s doing tail lobs
Biggs Orcas T137’s doing tail lobs and breaches
People on Orcas Island watching the orcas
People on Orcas Island watching the orcas
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Orca calf breach
Orca tail slap
Orca breach
Orca breach
Orca tail slap
Orca calf breach
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Biggs orca calf breach T86A5 (?)
Biggs orca calf breach T86A5 (?) – He’s a boy
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Orca calf tail slap
Orca calf breach
Orca tail slap
Orca calf breach
Biggs Orcas T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Orca spy hop
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Orca tail slap
Orca calf breach
Orca calf back breach
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Orcas socializing
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
T86A
Orcas in President Channel
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Biggs orca calf half breach
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Mix of Orcas T75B’s, T86A’s, T124A2’s, T124D’s & T137’s
Biggs orca in President Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T137’s in President Channel
Orca tail slap
View of Canada in Boundary Pass
View of Tip Top Hill
Happy passengers taking a selfie
View looking towards Pole Pass from Wasp Islands
Happy passengers
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Route map 6/4/25 am