August 8, 2022 – We sailed south and spotted many harbor seals, some bald eagles and saw many cormorants and gulls nesting on Goose Island. As we arrived at Salmon Bank we had some nice views of a minke whale. We headed up island offshore of the west side of San Juan Island and got some distant views of the members of the L11 matriline. L85 was busy foraging off Eagle Pt. In the distance we saw the L94’s who traveled offshore and south. The L77’s were busy porpoising as if they were chasing something. Perhaps engaged in play ? Chasing salmon? Chasing harbor porpoise? Despite distant views we all enjoyed sailing and drifting listening to the exhales of the orcas as they surfaced in glassy seas with mountain backdrops. We returned via Salmon Bank where multiple minke whales were engaged in lunge feeding. After that epic minke encounter we went to see the Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks and the harbor seals by Deadman Island.
Sailing by Turn Island
Sailing by Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Bald eagle fly by
Speckled seal watching us
Harbor seals on Goose Island
Cormorants on Goose Island
Tip of Goose Island and Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Surf scoters
Harbor porpoise
Minke whale surfacing sequence
Minke whale surfacing sequence
Minke whale surfacing sequence
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale swimming toward us
Minke whale swimming toward us
View of minke whale underwater
View of minke whale underwater
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident L85
Southern Resident L85
Southern Residents L94’s (?)
Southern Residents L94’s (?)
Cattle Pt with Mt Baker
Southern Resident L85
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s porpoising/chasing
Southern Residents L77’s with Olympic Mountains
Noodles
Southern Resident orca with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident orcas with Olympic Mountains
Lunging minke whale on Salmon Bank
Lunging 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
Rhinoceros auklet with fish in bill
Lunging feeding minke whale on Salmon Bank
Lunging feeding minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale surfacing on Salmon Bank
Minke whale surfacing on Salmon Bank
Minke whale surfacing near our sailboat
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Cormorants on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Nursing Steller sea lion pup on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Bald eagle on top of Deadman Island
Harbor seals on Deadman Island
Route map 8-8-22