Elle | M/V Osprey | July 14, 2022 |12:30PM
Today our passengers soaked up the sun as we followed the ferry route throuh the San Juan Islands towards a report of some orca whales. We passed between islands and admired the contstruction work of a pair of bald eagles as we passed by a nest on Lopez Island. We were accompanied by plenty of harbor porpoises as we passed between Shaw Island and Lopez. Eventually, we entered the Rosario Strait where we came accross two fifteen-year-old male orcas from two different families. They were identified as T65A3 "Amira" and T49A2 "Jude" who have both been known to leave their mothers' side and swim off on their own. These two seemed to be in a carefree and curious mood as they explored around some rocky reefs and came up close alongside our boat while our engines were turned off. We had some close looks from all angles as they zigzagged through the Rosario Strait. We were even able to hear their powerful exhalation as they approached our boat. As we finished our circumnavigation of Lopez Island we saw a group of Steller's Sea Lions! These pinnipeds have typically migrated out of this area by this time of year so it was great to get some unexpected looks at them. They put on a show as they argued over territory and leapt gracefully into the water. As we turned back to Friday Harbor we appreciated views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Ranier in the distance which today's clear weather afforded us.