Kelly | M/V Kestrel | August 26th 2024 |10AM
We took a left outside Friday Harbor and pointed north up San Juan Channel. First stop, Flattop Island, one of our national wildlife refuges. Almost immediately we laid eyes on a group of harbor seals resting on the rocky shoreline. After cruising down the north side of the island for a few moments, we noticed a full grown bald eagle perched in the trees.
Next stop, killer whales! We took a sharp left turn and cruised through Spiedan Channel to investigate a rumored whale report. After transiting across the Haro Straight and over the border into Canada, we noticed many dorsal fins in the distance! All together, we counted 6 Biggs killer whales socializing off the coast of Sidney Island. This group included member's of two separate families:
- T60D "Onca" 2004 M
- T60E "Lynx" 2008 M
- T75B "Pebbles" 1994 F
- T75B2 "Jasper" 2015 ?
- T75B3 "Rubble" 2017 ?
- T75B4 --- 2021 ?
We watched as these whales tail slapped over and over again (Mostly the big males!). Some other behaviors included: moon walks, spy hops, kelping and taillobs. We additionally witnesses a lot of upside-down orcas at the surface, indicated by the white belly showing through the shallow water. We associate this with mating behavior! Scandalous...
Just as we began to leave the area and head back to Friday Harbor, a large male fully breached out of the water; Free willy style. He breached not once, not twice.. But THREE times in a row. It was the perfect end to a perfect tour.