August 17, 2023 – Trip highlights include harbor seals, Steller sea lions, a sea otter near Whale Rocks sleeping in the bull kelp, tons of diving birds on Salmon Bank and a bald eagle on Deadman Island. With a pod of Biggs/Transient orcas south of Bird Rocks in Rosario out of range and Southern Resident orcas inbound from Victoria out of range we decided to search for minke whales by Salmon Bank, but despite perfect visibility and sightings in the morning we couldn’t find any. We’re wondering if the change in tide had anything to do with it. Earlier in the day there were Biggs/Transient orcas down by Smith Island (also out of range) who actually made it up to Iceberg Pt as we were almost back to Friday Harbor. Timing is everything!
Mt Baker
Big Rock and Lopez Island coastline
Harbor seals by Deadman Island with Cattle Pt Lighthouse in background
Harbor seals by Deadman Island with Olympic Mountains behind
Bald eagle on Deadman Island
Bald eagle on Deadman Island
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks – bull kelp forest in foreground
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Sleepy sea otter by Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lion with cormorant and Cattle Point Lighthouse
Sleepy sea otter by Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Fried egg jellyfish
Large group of common murres
Nesting gulls and cormorants on Goose Island
Harbor porpoise
Turn Island
Route map 8/17/23