July 4, 2020 – Short sail and with the ebb changing to flood being in our favor we decided on a fast sail to Salmon Bank. Sailing close hauled to Big Rock and following the Lopez Island low tide shoreline passed Shark Reef to Deadman Island. We spotted harbor seals, black oystercatchers, and a bald eagle perched on top of the island. Whale Rocks also had a bald eagle, harbor seals and a line of harlequin ducks. We caught the tail of the ebb out to Salmon Bank to scan for minke whales. Many rhinoceros auklets, cormorants and gulls were gathering to collect bait fish. We found two minkes lunge feeding – one we know as “Minke Mouse” with a nick in the leading edge of the dorsal fin, and a new whale we’ve named “Serendipity” due to the dip in front of the dorsal fin. We returned with the flood tide making good time with some good sailing.
Bald eagle
Black oystercatcher
Deadman Island
Harbor seals near Whale Rocks
Bald eagle with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Minke whale – one we nicknamed “Serendipity” due to the scoop in the back
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale – one we nicknamed “Serendipity”
Minke whale – one we nicknamed “Serendipity”
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale surfacing in the bait ball
Gulls feeding on bait fish
Minke whale we nicknamed “Minke Mouse”
Minke whale we nicknamed “Minke Mouse”
Minke whale we nicknamed “Minke Mouse”
Minke whale we nicknamed “Minke Mouse”
Minke whale we nicknamed “Minke Mouse”
Minke on Salmon Bank
Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Family sailing adventure
Pair of bald eagles
Route Map