August 8, 2024 – A fun sail south with lots of wildlife. A bald eagle was perched right outside Friday Harbor. Rounding Turn Island State Park we spotted raccoons, harbor seals and a bald eagle busy having breakfast. Tacked our way sailing down the channel exiting Cattle Pass checking out wildlife on Deadman Island including a great blue heron also having a bite to eat and more harbor seals. There were many Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks – some were fast asleep while others were busy goofing around in the water splashing all about. When we searched Salmon Bank we spotted a minke whale near the southern tip of the bank. It was a familiar minke whale with a nick on the leading edge of her dorsal fin. She gave us some great views as she traveled north and we paralleled her. As we passed Goose Island we saw double-crested cormorants on their tall nests and gull chicks looking more grown up day by day. Harbor seals were sunbathing on the beach.
