June 21, 2025 – Today we had our first minke whale encounter of the year! “Stubbs” was foraging on Salmon Bank giving us some great views. Other wildlife sightings included bald eagles, harbor porpoise, harbor seals, black oystercatchers, cormorants and various diving birds and gulls engaged in feeding on bait balls… also a bald eagle who made several dives to catch a large fish (flounder?) but gave up in the end.
Minke whale “Stubbs” on Salmon Bank foraging
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Bald eagle on Turn Rock
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Cormorants, Goose Island
Double-crested cormorant nests, Goose Island
Double-crested cormorant nests, Goose Island
Brandts and Pelagic cormorants on Goose Island
Rhinoceros anklet with fish in bill
Minke whale “Stubbs” on Salmon Bank with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Gulls grabbing bait fish
Minke whale “Stubbs” on Salmon Bank foraging
Minke whale “Stubbs” on Salmon Bank foraging
Minke whale “Stubbs” on Salmon Bank foraging
Minke whale “Stubbs” on Salmon Bank foraging
Minke whale “Stubbs” on Salmon Bank foraging
Olympic Mountains
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Male Steller sea lions
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Harbor porpoise with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Harbor porpoise
Pair of bald eagles, Lopez Island
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Bald eagle in the water grabbing a fish, San Juan Channel
Bald eagle with large fish (flounder?) in talons, San Juan Channel
Bald eagle fishing
Bald eagle flying after giving up on fish it was trying to catch
Black oystercatchers
Big Rock, Lopez Island
Route map 6/21/25