July 5, 2025 – After casting off we headed north and sailed through the Wasp Islands. A family of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T65B’s were northbound near O’Neal Island so we cut across San Juan Channel to meet them. We sailed in Spieden Channel getting some good views as we went. Together we went towards Turn Pt, Stuart Island, where they stopped to hunt, The orcas continued northwest and we sailed off into Boundary Pass. We returned through Johns Pass and checked out the north shore of Spieden Island. A group of Mouflon sheep and rams were foraging along the shoreline and standing on back legs to reach leaves in the trees. At Flattop Island a bald eagle was in the nest with its now very large chick. Harbor seals were hauled out along the east end and pigeon guillemots were socializing in large groups on the north shore. As we took the channel behind McConnell Island we found a nice group of steamboats likely visiting for the July 4th holiday like years past.
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s near Stuart Island
Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s
Bald eagle, Spieden Island
Spieden Island south side
Pigeon guillemots
Harbor seals
Biggs/Transient orca T65B
Biggs/Transient orca T65B2
Biggs/Transient orca T65B3
Biggs/Transient orca T65B1
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s hunting near Stuart Island
Biggs/Transient orca T65B1 near Stuart Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65B’s passing Turn Pt Lighthouse, Stuart Island
Lovers Leap, Stuart Island
Stuart Island
Mouflon sheep, Spieden Island
Mouflon sheep eating leaves off the trees, Spieden Island
Spieden Island north side
Bald eagle, Spieden Island
Flattop Island
Pigeon guillemots, Flattop Island
Harbor seals, Flattop Island
Harbor seals and glacial erratic, Flattop Island
Bald eagle chick in nest with parent, Flattop Island
Steam powered boats – near Wasp Islands
Steam powered boat – near Wasp Islands
Steam powered boat – near Wasp Islands
Steam powered boat – near Wasp Islands
Harbor seals on Shirt Tail Reef
San Juan Island shoreline near Pt Caution
Orca sea plane (Kenmore Air)
Route map 7/5/25