August 10, 2025 – With news of the Biggs/Transient orcas, the T109A’s, northbound in Haro Strait we utilized the ebb current to boost our speed shooting out through Spieden Channel and dropping down to Mandarte Island. It was fun to see the cormorants with pelagic, double-crested and Brandt’s cormorants nesting, and the gull chicks have gotten quite a bit bigger over the last few weeks. We caught up with the orcas at Sidney Spit where they were hunting, socializing and traveling. We sailed alongside them through the islets and reefs where they continued hunting before heading towards Satellite Channel. Returning through the islands and the south side of Gooch Island to Stuart Island and then drifted through New Channel on the flood current. Over to Jones Island and back to Friday Harbor via the Wasp Islands.
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s by Sidney Spit
Gull chicks
Mandarte Island
Double-crested cormorants, Mandarte Island
Brandts cormorants, Mandarte Island
Double-crested cormorants, Mandarte Island
Mandarte Island
Double-crested cormorants, Mandarte Island
Double-crested cormorants, Mandarte Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s by Sidney Spit
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s by Sidney Spit
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s by Sidney Spit
Looking thru the gap towards Saturna
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s by Sidney Spit
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s by Sidney Spit
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s by Sidney Spit
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s by Sidney
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s by Sidney
Sailing in BC
Sailing in BC
Cormorants
Watchful harbor seals looking out for the orcas
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s hunting for harbor seals
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s hunting for harbor seals
Biggs/Transient orca in T109A’s spy hops next to harbor seals
Ecstatic passengers
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s
Sidney BC
Bald eagle
Incredible view
Island reflections
Stuart Island in distance
Honeycombed sandstone
Spieden Island Bluff
Bald eagle in Red Cedar tree
Bald eagle in Douglas fir tree
Spieden Island in New Channel
Harbor seal swimming by
Pigeon guillemots
Shirt Tail Reef
Mt Baker
Route map 8/10/25