Sept 20, 2025 – A marine layer of fog surrounded the islands from the south so we headed north. As we reached the Wasp Islands fog was lifting revealing layers of islands and harbor seals resting on Low Island. Winds were moderately strong giving us a great sail up to Flattop Island where we went to second reef in the lee of the island. A pair of Biggs/Transient orcas, brothers T60D (born 2004) and T60E (born 2008), had been coming south in Boundary Pass from Plumper Sound. We met them north of Johns Island and had some epic views as they surfaced in the waves and spray lifting chins above the water. Wind against current made for some choppy conditions so we broke away to cut through the Cactus Islands and rejoined near Green Pt. There were several Steller sea lions on the point and more in the water. They growled and spy hopped in the water watching as they orcas swam by seemingly uninterested.
We broke away again to see some of the south side of Spieden Island and crossed Spieden Channel in calmer waters before continuing down San Juan Channel to meet the orcas once again. We tacked down the channel and rejoined again as the orcas were rounding the point into Friday Harbor. They stopped to hunt and appeared to be successful as we noticed one of the orcas with seal intestines draped over the dorsal fin. The orcas ended up back in Friday Harbor via the south entrance.
While at Turn Rock viewing a sea otter another group of orca were found coming up San Juan Channel including the T75B’s and T65A5. We had some nice looks as they headed up the channel before we returned to Friday Harbor.
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E
A foggy Friday Harbor
A foggy Friday Harbor
WA State Ferry in the fog
Great blue heron
Harbor seals hauled out on Low Island
Harbor seals hauled out on Low Island in the fog
Harbor seals hauled out on Low Island in the fog
Bald eagle
Fog in San Juan Channel
Little McConnell and Orcas Island behind
Fog in between the islands
Fog over San Juan Island
Harbor seals on Flattop Island
Fast sailing while heading toward the orcas
Chunky wind against current looking towards Flattop Island
Harbor seals in New Channel
Bald eagle on Ripple Island
Bald eagle flying with layers of fog
Common Murre flying by
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E pushing south in choppy seas
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E pushing south in choppy seas
Biggs/Transient orca T60E
Biggs/Transient orca T60D
Biggs/Transient orca T60D surfacing
Biggs/Transient orca T60E surfacing
Biggs/Transient orca T60E surfacing
Biggs/Transient orca T60E
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E
Biggs/Transient orca T60D surfacing
Biggs/Transient orca T60D surfacing
Biggs/Transient orca brothers T60D and T60E
Biggs/Transient orca T60D
Close hauled sail
Harbor seal in New Channel
Biggs/Transient orca brothers at Spieden Island
Biggs/Transient orca brothers rounding Green Pt by the Steller sea lions
Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island
Biggs orca keeps on going after the sea lions get riled up
Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island, growl as the orcas go by
Steller sea lions watching as the orcas pass
Huge male Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island
Spieden Island
Waves
Cormorant at O’Neal Island
Bonaparte gulls
Totem pole at O’Neal Island
Fast close-hauled sail
Biggs/Transient orca T60E heading down the San Juan Island shoreline
Biggs/Transient orca T60D heading down the San Juan Island shoreline
Biggs/Transient orcas heading down the San Juan Island shoreline
Excited passengers watching the orcas
Biggs/Transient orca T60E in Friday Harbor
Orca T60D with harbor seal intestines wrapped around dorsal fin
Biggs/Transient orca T60E in Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T60D in Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T60E in Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T60E passing Brown Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T60D and T60E passing Brown Island
Cute little sailboat
Sea otter by Turn Rock
Sea otter by Turn Rock
Sea otter by Turn Rock
Biggs/Transient orca T75B with newest calf T75B5
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 “Indy”
Biggs/Transient orca T75B3
Biggs/Transient orca T75B with newest calf T75B5
Biggs/Transient orca T75B2
Biggs/Transient orca T75B4
Biggs/Transient orca T75B with newest calf T75B5
Biggs/Transient orca attacking a common murre bird
Biggs/Transient orca attacking a common murre
Biggs/Transient orca attacking a common murre bird
Bald eagle flying off to grab the common murre the orca attacked
Bald eagle trying to grab the common murre the orca attacked
Bald eagle flying overhead
Biggs/Transient orcas T75B’s and T65A5 near Friday Harbor
Route map 9/20/25