October 22, 2025 – An October morning a little chilly with a possibility of rain and we headed north with a report of a humpback whale in New Channel. As we sailed through the Wasp islands we received a report of two orca southbound in President Channel. We met Biggs/Transient male orcas, T49A2 and T65A5, close to the shoreline of Orcas Island just as the rain began. They crossed Spring Pass and came around Jones Island before heading to Yellow Island. They engaged in a hunt in the shallows of the westside of Yellow Island. When they resumed their southerly course we left them to head north into the sunshine and a complete rainbow. In New Channel we met a two year old humpback whale, identified as MERS-BCCuk2024#1 aka HW-MN0510828. The whale was doing circles in New Channel and we had a good view of the tail flukes. We returned passing Green Pt where the Steller sea lions were hauled out. Other wildlife viewed included harlequin ducks, Bonaparte’s gulls, harbor seals, bald eagles, cormorants, and Mouflon rams.
Harbor seal, San Juan Islands
Harlequin ducks
Fall colors
Cabin on Reef Island
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Rain approaching
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 traveling with T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 traveling with T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 hunting with T65A5 near Yellow Island
Orca kelping
Orca tail lobbing
Playful orcas acting frisky (male parts visible)
Fall colors
Stunning rainbow, San Juan Islands
Stunning rainbow, San Juan Islands
Stunning rainbow, San Juan Islands
Stunning rainbow, San Juan Islands
Sailing making memories
Steller sea lions, Green Pt, Spieden Island
2 yr old humpback whale MERS-BCCuk2024#1 aka HW-MN0510828
2 yr old humpback whale MERS-BCCuk2024#1 aka HW-MN0510828
2 yr old humpback whale MERS-BCCuk2024#1 aka HW-MN0510828
2 yr old humpback whale MERS-BCCuk2024#1 aka HW-MN0510828
Humpback whale MERS-BCCuk2024#1 aka HW-MN0510828 tail flukes
Humpback whale MERS-BCCuk2024#1 aka HW-MN0510828 tail flukes
Humpback whale MERS-BCCuk2024#1 aka HW-MN0510828 top side of tail flukes
Harbor seals, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions, Green Pt, Spieden Island
Mouflon rams, Spieden Island
Steller sea lions, Green Pt, Spieden Island
Bonaparte’s gull
Route map 10/22/25