April 14, 2023 -We made fast progress cutting through the inter-islands on a mission to see a pair of humpback whales known as BCX1068 ‘Split Fluke’ BCY0458 ‘Raptor’. The two were tread milling in place making little progress against the ebb tide between Cypress and Blakely Islands. Other wildlife highlights included harbor seals, harbor porpoise, and bald eagles. Upon closer inspection of one of our photos we noticed the bald eagle was sitting inside the nest again at Upright Head, Lopez Island.
View opening up as we round Upright Head
Bald eagle tail and wing poking up from the nest at Upright Head
Bald eagle
Bald eagle with fish
Humpbacks BCY0458 ‘Raptor’ & BCX1068 ‘Split Fluke’
Humpback with Eagle Cliff on Cypress Island
Humpback whale tail flukes
Humpback whale BCY0458 ‘Raptor’
Humpback whale BCX1068 ‘Split Fluke’
Rhinoceros Auklets in flight
Rhinoceros Auklet
Humpback whale BCY0458 ‘Raptor’
Humpback whale BCY0458 ‘Raptor’
Humpback whale exhale
BCX1068 ‘Split Fluke’ tail flukes
BCX1068 ‘Split Fluke’ tail flukes
Humpback whale BCY0458 ‘Raptor’ tail flukes
Humpback whale BCY0458 ‘Raptor’ tail flukes
Humpback whale with backlit blow
Humpback whales with backlit blows
Humpback whale BCY0458 ‘Raptor’ tail flukes
BCX1068 ‘Split Fluke’ tail flukes
Humpback whale BCY0458 ‘Raptor’ tail flukes
Humpbacks BCY0458 ‘Raptor’ & BCX1068 ‘Split Fluke’
Humpback whale with tug boat
Ochre sea star
Black tailed deer on the hillside
Peninsula at Upright Head, Lopez Island
Picnic Pt, Shaw Island
Rounding Canoe Island looking south to Cattle Pass
Ferry with Olympic Mountains
Harbor seals in Hicks Bay
Pelagic Cormorants on Reid Rock
Mt Baker
Sunset over Friday Harbor
Route map 4/14/23 pm