Sept 16, 2025 – A great trip sailing south today. We found the sea otter by Danger Rock eating clams. Viewed the cormorant rookery at Goose Island before checking out the rowdy Steller sea lion colony at Whale Rocks. A bald eagle with lunch in its talons and a large group of black oystercatchers were hanging out on Long Island. Great blue herons were fishing on bull kelp forests. On MacArthur Bank we had amazing views of humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” as she was lunge feeding on bait fish. We also saw a minke whale, too. Harbor seals were resting by Deadman Island as we came up through Cattle Pass. A really fun full day sail.
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” lunge feeding
Harbor seals hauled out
Sea otter eating clams
Sea otter eating clams
Great blue heron
Harbor seals
Double-Crested Cormorants at Goose Island
Brandts Cormorants at Goose Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions playing
Branded Steller sea lion “962R” at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Bald eagle with fresh catch in talons
Black oystercatchers on Long Island, WA
Common murre
Crew member Eric getting the photos
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory”
Minke whale
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory”
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory”
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” about to burst through the bait ball
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” lunge feeding
Great blue heron standing on bull kelp
Harbor seals at Deadman Island
Route map 9/16/25