July 11, 2025 – As we left Friday Harbor we were watching the progress of Biggs/Transient orcas, the T77’s, who had come in through Thatcher Pass. We cut from Turn Island to Shaw Island and met the orcas coming down Upright Channel. The orcas chose the fastest part of the current to move north and we paralleled along the Shaw Island coastline. We left the orcas to explore the Wasp Islands finding eagles and turkey vultures foraging on the afterbirth of a new harbor seal pup. After cruising the shoreline of Jones Island we headed to Flattop Island meeting the orcas again just before we arrived. The orcas moved fast in a zig zag pattern coming into the north side of Flatltop Island where it looked like they were hunting. After a nice spy hop they came into the narrow coves on each side of Gull Rock hunting again. From here they moved onto Ripple Island and hunted again on the north side in the shallows. They then travelled northwest of Johns Island and we left them to come down through the Cactus Islands and explore the Spieden Island coastline finding a peregrine falcon on the bluff. We then sailed quickly down to Battleship Island where we met Humpback whale “Big Mama” BCY0324 and her newest calf slowly northbound. We were able to sail alongside hearing their exhales. There were many classic sailboats in the area. We returned by way of New Channel and Spring Pass.
Biggs/Transient orca from the T77’s spy hops near Flattop Island
Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s coming down Upright Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s coming down Upright Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s coming down Upright Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s coming down Upright Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s coming down Upright Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s northbound San Juan Channel
Harbor seals by Shirt Tail Reef
Harbor seal mom and pup, Shirt Tail Reef
Harbor seals by Shirt Tail Reef
Bald eagles and turkey vultures eating harbor seal after birth
Bald eagle with blood on beak after eating meal
Bald eagle with blood on beak after eating meal
Black oystercatcher with food in beak
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s headed to Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s near Flattop Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s hunting near Gull Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s hunting near Gull Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s eating a harbor seal near Gull Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s eating a harbor seal near Gull Rock
Harbor seals with pups on Gull Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s in the shallows north of Ripple Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T77’s in the shallows north of Ripple Island
Harbor seals by Ripple Island
Ripple Island
Harbor seals by Ripple Island
Bald eagle, Cactus Island
Harbor seal in New Channel
Pair of juvenile bald eagles soaring
Peregrine falcon on Spieden Island Bluff
Classic wooden sailboat Haro Strait
Sailboat Haro Strait
Classic sailboats Haro Strait
Classic sailboats Haro Strait
Classic sailboats Haro Strait
Classic sailboats Haro Strait
Classic sailboats Haro Strait
Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama” northbound Haro Strait
2025 calf of Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama”
2025 calf of Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama”
Humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama” northbound Haro Strait
Classic sailboats Haro Strait
Classic sailboats Haro Strait
Classic sailboats Haro Strait
Classic sailboats Haro Strait
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Gorgeous day
Harbor seal with pup by Knob Island
View looking towards Sentinel Island from Knob Island
Route map 7/11/25