Sept 18, 2025 – Despite the flood current we headed south by coming through Turn Island Pass and sticking close to shore to Pear Pt. From Goose Island cormorant rookery we crossed to Whale Rocks Steller sea lion haul out. Cut inside Long Island seeing a nice group of black oystercatchers before heading out to MacArthur Bank looking for humpback whale blows. We found humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory”. Amazing views as she lunged through the birds gathered at bait balls. Pretty special to watch her feeding revealing her baleen. Caught the tail end of the flood up to Turn Island where the sea otter was resting in the kelp forest before returning to Friday Harbor.
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” lunge feeding !
Sailing by Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals and Olympic Mountains
Double-crested cormorant nests, Goose Island
Cormorants on Goose Island and Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Cormorants, Goose Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Black oystercatchers on Long Island, WA
Black oystercatchers
Active bait ball
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” feeding
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” lunge feeding !
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” lunge feeding !
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory”
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory”
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” charging towards a bait ball
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” lunge feeding !
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” lunge feeding !
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” lunge feeding !
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” with rainbow exhale
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” with rainbow exhale
Sea otter
Route map 9/18/25