August 7, 2017 – Afternoon/Evening sail with the same minke whale we found earlier! It is easy to ID since it has a small nick on the leading edge of the dorsal fin. The whale popped up several times amongst groups of diving birds consisting of common murres, rhinoceros auklets, and cormorants. We noticed some abandoned nests on Hall Island where the cormorants nest. And, the number of sea lions on Whale Rocks increases every day.
Harbor seals
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
This is the same minke whale we saw earlier today on our morning sail and also on Aug 4th
Minke whale surfacing in near the birds
Minke whale surfacing in near the birds
Minke whale giving us many good looks at him/her
Rhinoceros auklet with fish
Many empty cormorant nests on Hall Island – maybe they are foraging
Harbor seal with pup on Hall Island
Bald eagle chick near its nest on Long Island
Long Island
Steller sea lions with Cattle Point Lighthouse
Steller sea lions, gulls and cormorants on Whale Rocks
Line of female harlequin ducks swimming near Whale Rocks
Bald eagle watching the sunset
Harbor seals near Deadmans Island
Black oyster catchers going to bed
Harbor seals – Deadman’s Island
Great blue heron
Heermann’s Gull
Deer
Sailing in the sunset back to Friday Harbor
Washington State Ferry with pink sun