August 31, 2021 – Pretty lighting today on our sail. We checked out the beautiful steep forested north shore of Orcas Island before crossing Presidents Channel to Waldron Island. Here we admired the many Gary oak trees and their changing colors. We spotted a Peregrine falcon on the cliff. As we drifted near Sandy Point we found a large minke whale. This area was historically referred to as “Minke Lake”. These whales like to forage along the deep basin. After some awesome minke views we kept going to explore one of our favorite areas, New Channel, north of Spieden Island. It was fun looking at the variety of wildlife here including bald eagles, harbor seals, black oystercatchers, a great blue heron, and the exotic animals on Spieden Island. We returned via the San Juan shoreline.
Ferry with dark sky
Orca seaplane
Turn Island
Nob Island
Harbor seals on Low Island
Little McConnell Island
Bald eagle
Sailing along Orcas Island
Sailing along Orcas Island
Waldron Island
Waldron Island
Huge Madrone tree on Waldron
Cedar spires
Gary oak trees on Waldron Island
Gary oak trees on Waldron Island
Gary oak trees on Waldron Island
Peregrine Falcon on Waldron Island
Foliage changing color near Pt Disney
Pt Disney, Waldron Island
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Minke whale dorsal fin
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Common murres
Harbor porppoise
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Minke whale off Sandy Point, Waldron
Looking west towards Canada
Pretty scene
Bull kelp forest and Ripple Island
Cormorants in New Channel
Harbor seals on a small rock
Bald eagle on its lookout post
Harbor seals huddled up
Fallow deer on Spieden Island
Black oystercatchers with chick
Mouflon sheep on Spieden Island
Great blue heron
Sika Deer on Spieden Island
Battleship Island
Route map 8-31-21