July 7, 2022 – A sailing adventure south out of Cattle Pass to Salmon Bank where we found multiple minke whales. Other trip highlights included the sea otter by Turn Rock, lots of harbor seals hauled out including two unusual “black matte naked harbor seals” missing pelage (one by Reef Rocks and the other by Deadman Island) – we’ve been documenting one over the last 5 years or so and were surprised to find a second one today! We spotted many harbor seals with new pups, plus Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, bald eagles and a large nest on Long Island, hundreds of rhinoceros auklets, nesting cormorants and gulls, and belted kingfishers.
Sea otter near Turn Rock
Sea otter near bull kelp forest at Turn Rock
Sea otter near bull kelp forest at Turn Rock
Sea otter at Turn Rock
Bald eagle
Harbor seals on the rocks
Bald eagle
Harbor seals on the rocks
Harbor seals on Shark Reef
Harbor seals on Goose Island with Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Cormorants on Goose Island
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Auklet on floating driftwood with gulls
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Passengers relaxing watching the minke whales
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Harbor seals by Hall Island
Harbor seal mom and pup
Harbor seal mom and pup
Many harbor seals hauled out
Belted kingfisher
Belted kingfisher
Huge bald eagles nest on Long Island
Steller sea lions with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Heermann’s Gulls
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Big bull Steller sea lion surrounded by smaller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Big bull Steller sea lion surrounded by smaller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
“Black matte naked harbor seal” on Deadman Island
“Black matte naked harbor seal” on Deadman Island
Harbor seals on Deadman Island
“Black matte naked harbor seal” on Deadman Island
Harbor seals on Shark Reef
Big Rock
“Black matte naked harbor seal” on Reef Rocks
Route map 7-7-22