Logan Stecker | M/V Kestrel | July 20th 2025 | 2:00 pm
A great day exploring the San Juan Islands – today we unintentionally circumnavigated the main set of large islands!
Stop 1: Spieden Island
Taking the North side of Spieden we found multiple bald eagles! These glorious birds have made a tremendous recovery after herbicide pollution (DDT) led to their endangered status in years past. Now they are doing well and, in this area, now they have the densest population in the lower 48 states at the San Juan Islands. This side of the island is sheltered from winter storms and has many more trees and was a beautiful setting to begin our search.
Stop 2: Search Mode
We then began our search for whales that haven’t been seen today. This involved cutting through John’s pass, passing Waldron, and going up to Patos Island to see the full expanse of the Strait of Georgia on this calm day to see what we could over a large area. We moved along Sucia Island and stopped for seals along a reef laying about being cute. Many pups were greeting us showing the evidence of the current pupping season! We continued to Matia Island and down to Clarke and Barnes islands. We made it down Orcas Island and began watching more seals out on the Peapod islands before we got word of our next encounter…
Stop 3: The Whales
Through Obstruction pass coming up to us was a group of transient killer whales! Our more abundant, mammal-eating orca friends were right near us, so we spent the rest of our evening enjoying their company. This group was identified as the T036As led by the mother, Leland, and included her kids and even 1 grandkid T036A1A, Drift. We got great looks of them as they explored along Orcas Island including beautiful view of blows and some fluking. After meeting our time with them, we came back to Friday Harbor, taking perhaps the same path they swam to meet us.
What a great day exploring the water!