Elle | M/V Osprey | June 23, 2022 |12:30PM
Today we had a beautiful day out on the Salish Sea. It was sunny and warm with calm seas and very little wind. We started the day with reports of a family of Bigg’s killer whales just north of John’s Pass in the San Juan Channel. We arrived at the family, which we later identified as the T123s, just off of Stuart Island and cruised alongside Sydney (T123), Stanley (T123A), Lucky (T123C), and Darcy (T123D), as they headed northwest together past Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island. As we passed the lighthouse, the family made a sudden turn and appeared just off our port side, headed straight towards us! Then, the four orcas ducked down and swam right past our stern, we could even see their distinctive black and white markings through the blue-green water as they dove under. They appeared again about a half-mile away headed north in boundary pass toward the Strait of Georgia. This felt like a natural place to say goodbye to these beautiful dolphins and go in search of other wildlife! On our way through Speiden channel we saw a group of harbor seals hauled out on the rocks, soaking up the sun. Then, as we passed Speiden Island we saw one bald eagle perched in a tree and one soaring above. They may have been one of the 154 mating pairs of bald eagles in the area. Finally, as we headed back into Friday Harbor, we saw schools of small fish jumping up out of the water and a harbor seal bobbing nearby, plotting its next meal. The sun was shining as we said goodbye after a great day of wildlife viewing!