August 10, 2023 – We decided to go south today despite the flooding current to try our luck finding some cool wildlife including minke whales. There were plenty of harbor seals hauled and a bald eagle perched in the trees south of Turn Island. We had a nice sail to the middle of Griffin Bay before using the engine to get through Cattle Pass. There was an eagle chick perched in the trees above its parent near Goose Island nearby the nesting cormorants and gulls. After rounding Cattle Point Lighthouse we scoured Salmon Bank for minke whales. There were plenty of birds present including gulls, cormorants, common murres, rhinoceros auklets, grebes, and phalaropes. We struck out on the bank finding a minke whale, but came across one as we were headed towards Whale Rocks. The minke whale surfaced a few times close by and even went lunging through a bait ball before it vanished on us. As we found this minke whale we heard another boat just found another near the Salmon Bank channel marker. We continued on to Whale Rocks to see the Steller sea lions before returning through Cattle Pass and back to Friday Harbor.
Bald eagle near Turn Island
Harbor seals just south of Turn Island
Harbor seals resting on submerged rocks
Harbor seals hauled out
Bald eagle chick near nest by Goose Island – parent was perched below
Cormorants on Goose Island
Harbor seals hauled out on Goose Island – Cattle Pt Lighthouse in the distance
Minke whale surfacing between Salmon Bank and Long Island
Minke whale foraging between Salmon Bank and Long Island
Minke whale foraging between Salmon Bank and Long Island
Common murre
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Sailing around Turn Island State Park
Sailing around Turn Island State Park
Route map 8/10/23