Sept 11, 2025 – With news of the Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D (born 2004) and T60E (born 2008) northbound in Haro Strait we headed north. Along the San Juan Island shoreline near Pt Caution we saw a great blue heron in a tree. The sea mist was lifting to the north with ribbons of fog on the coastline to the south. We crossed to the Wasp Islands and to Jones Island catching the ebb out to Spieden Channel. The orcas approached from Davidson Head and crossed to Spieden Island and Green Pt against the strong ebb. They circled the Cactus Island and explored the kelp forest before continuing west. We left them and met a humpback whale, BCY1463 “Malachite” (2021 calf of BCX1210 “Slate”) who had come down President Channel and was headed north. Coming back via Flattop Island and picked up strong winds for a close-hauled sail to Mineral Pt. Kept to the San Juan Island shoreline headed south to return to Friday Harbor.
Biggs/Transient orca T60E in Spieden Channel
Great blue heron perched in the tree
WA State Ferry in the fog
Foggy San Juan Island coastline
Ribbons of fog in the islands
Biggs/Transient orca in Spieden Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T60E in Spieden Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T60D in Spieden Channel
Biggs/Transient orca near Green Pt, Spieden Island
Biggs/Transient orca near Green Pt, Spieden Island
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E
Harbor seals by the Cactus Islands with fog bank
Biggs/Transient orca T60D passing harbor seals at Cactus Island
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E
Biggs/Transient orca T60E Cactus Island
Biggs/Transient orca T60D draped in bull kelp while watched by a cormorant
Biggs/Transient orca T60D swimming through bull kelp
Biggs/Transient orca T60E
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E
Biggs/Transient orca T60E
Harbor seals near the Cactus Islands
Great blue heron on bull kelp forest
Humpback whale, BCY1463 “Malachite” (2021 calf of BCX1210 “Slate”)
Humpback whale, BCY1463 “Malachite” (2021 calf of BCX1210 “Slate”)
Humpback whale, BCY1463 “Malachite” (2021 calf of BCX1210 “Slate”)
Flattop Island
Harbor seals at Flattop Island
Harbor seals at Flattop Island
Reef sails
Route map 9/11/25