October 17, 2025 – With a report of orcas westbound out of Wasp Passage after hunting in West Sound we moved north quickly. We caught up with the two male orcas known as T49A2 (born 2007) and T65A5 (born 2014) in New Channel. Some lovely views as they socialized on the coastline of Cactus Island in fast moving mirror calm waters. After a burst of speed they were hunting near the kelp bed at Gull Reef. We left them heading west to Stuart Island and we followed the Spieden Island coastline followed by the cut through the Cactus Islands and out to Flattop Island. Returned by way of Spring Pass and the Wasp Islands with a nice close-hauled sail across San Juan Channel.
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 lifting face above the water
Bald eagle, San Juan Island
Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island
Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island
Pair of bald eagles, Spieden Island
Bonaparte’s gull
Bald eagle, Spieden Island
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 surfacing
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 with T49A2 surfacing
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A2 and T65A5 headed towards New Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 with Canada coastal mountains
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 westbound near Cactus Islands
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 and T65A5 westbound near Cactus Islands
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 peeking above the water
Bald eagle, Spieden Island
T65A5 upside down tail in the air
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 westbound near Cactus Islands
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 westbound near Cactus Islands
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 westbound near Cactus Islands
Crow flying overhead
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A2 and T65A5 westbound near Cactus Islands
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 westbound near Cactus Islands
Stuart and Johns Island with reflections
Cactus Island reflections
Common Murres
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A2 and T65A5 hunting/eating near Gull Reef
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 near Gull Reef
Spieden Island Bluff
Bald eagle, Spieden Island
Bald eagle nest, Little Cactus Island
Harbor seals by Ripple Island
Pair of bald eagles swooping into active bait ball
Common Murre
Distant view of Pole Pass
Harbor seals and cormorants at Low Island
Close-hauled sailing pointing into wind
Bald eagle, San Juan Island
Route map 10/17/25