October 19, 2023 – A southerly sail down San Juan Channel visiting some of our favorite areas. There was a nice pod of harbor porpoise in the channel giving us many good views. In Cattle Pass bald eagles watched us sail by as harbor seals snoozed. Several Steller sea lions thrashed around their lunch alerting gulls looking for scraps while many others hung out at Whale Rocks. A pair of bald eagles was hanging out on Long Island and another on Goose Island. We circled all of Salmon Bank and despite several really nice active bait balls, we did not find any minke whales today. It was a chilly day with threatening drizzle, but we eventually got some much appreciated sunshine!
Harbor seals in the pass by Turn Island State Park
Bald eagle in the pass by Turn Island State Park
Steller sea lion near Turn Island State Park checking us out
Cormorants and harbor seals on the rocks south of Turn Island State Park
Harbor porpoise
Bald eagle on Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lion scarfing his fresh catch for lunch
Steller sea lion thrashing around his fresh catch for lunch
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Watching the sea lions
Harbor seals by Mummy Rocks
Harbor seals by Mummy Rocks
Pair of bald eagles on Long Island, Washington
Misty rain over Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Looking south from Salmon Bank – happy for the sunshine
Bald eagle atop of Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Bald eagle on Goose Island
Bald eagle on Goose Island and another atop Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Harbor seal on Goose Island
Another bald eagle on Goose Island by the vacant cormorant nests
Another bald eagle on Goose Island by the vacant cormorant nests
Harbor seals on Goose Island
Cormorants and harbor seals on the rocks south of Turn Island State Park
Pacific Madrone tree on Turn Island State Park
Funky Juniper tree on Turn Island State Park
Trees in the sunshine on Turn Island
Route map 10/19/23