August 5, 2023 – We went south today after leaving Friday Harbor. As we sailed through the narrow channel behind Turn Island we spotted many harbor seals resting on the rocks. Since it was a flooding current we swooped inside of Griffin Bay to find a back eddie as we went south in San Juan Channel. The cormorants on Goose Island were sitting on their nests and the gull chicks have gotten so much bigger. On Salmon Bank we had a great encounter with a minke whale nicknamed as “Stubbs”. It was foraging with some lunging in bait balls as birds circled around. We had some fantastic views. Next we popped by to see the Steller sea lion colony at Whale Rocks before checking out a bald eagle and more harbor seals by Deadman Island. We rode the fast current up the channel as we made our way back to Friday Harbor
Route map 8/5/23
Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals south of Turn Island
Harbor seals south of Turn Island
Harbor seals by Danger Rock
Harbor seals by Danger Rock
Bald eagle chick by Goose Island
Adult bald eagle near chick by Goose Island
Harbor seals on the beach of Goose Island
Harbor seals on the beach of Goose Island with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Cormorants on Goose Island
Gulls with growing chicks on Goose Island
Cormorants on Salmon Bank marker
Minke whale on Salmon Bank with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale surfacing
Minke whale surfacing
Minke whale surfacing
Minke whale surfacing
Sailing whale watching minke whales
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale dorsal fin and rhinoceros auklet
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Bald eagle overlooking Deadman Island
Bald eagle flying overhead
Goose Island and Cattle Pass
Sailing up San Juan Channel
Sailing San Juan Islands
Sailing by Turn Island, San Juan Islands
Rhinoceros auklet with fish in beak